Popularity of the sport

[3rdchance]

Eddie,

 

These facts weren't meant to be argumentative but simply to give the topic a benchmark. Using your assumption that number of participants (which, IMO, guages only participant popularity), wrestling still ranks only #7 among boys. The real reason for posting these facts was to show that school participation is not a priority and therefore fan/parent popularity is very low. Again, IMO, at a minimum, if a school has a football program why not wrestling too? Throw out the fact that it is not a money maker at most schools and the liability can be staggering...it amazes me that more football schools aren't using wrestling as a strength and conditioning program and vice versa.

[fireplug]

bradley has a great program and it is due in part to the coaches. next is the success it has had just count to banners hanging in the gym. Then next door McMinn has 3 wrestlers this season. That is a crying shame. My son said that wrestling practice is harder than Marine basic training. That would make a good selling piont to young males.The few, the proud ,the WRESTLER. that means the ultimate sport is wrestling. I like how two guys can tear each other up and then sit and talk and be best of friends afterward. I must go see a few matches this year. Ps you forgot ring worm that was a top 10 in my book. pss I love to see a basketball court with mats from wall to wall.

Edited December 10, 2003 by fireplug

[best_of_the_west]

I'd say that one factor would be the masculinity thing. High school kids are so fickle that they will pick on a kid for anything. Also, I think that if you don't get started wrestling by your middle school years, you don't have a great chance of being really successful (unless you are a 215/275 or just an incredible athlete). With all that testosterone, teenage guys hate to lose. The schools with good middle school programs that promote the sport to kids starting at a young age are often the best schools around--just a thought.

[takedown3]

It is a grueling sport that makes many demands on the participant in a social environment that caudles losers. There is no one to blame in defeat.

 

It is the most entertaining sport there is!!

[nashvillewiz]

An after school match would be a great idea to get the students involved.

Another problem I see is that the football coaches need to make any player not doing a winter sport go out for wrestling.Also, some of the tournaments charge to much admission (7.00-10.00). The parents will pay but that is a lot for the students to pay.

[eddie haskell]

To get an idea of this sports popularity just look at coacht. There have been more posts on the football site this week then wrestling, and football season is over! Basketball has 5 times the number of posts. Why do people get more passionate over these things? I mean there is only one hot topic on the board and it hasn't been posted on since yesterday.

Edited December 11, 2003 by eddie haskell

[texas23]

Eddie Haskell (also know as Beaver's friend),

 

your right. In almost all instances on this board, no one cares that there is more post on the football board.

[morelanmn]

I believe wrestling isnt as popular as other sport is that it takes two people.

 

A kid can shoot hoops by his/her self.

A kid can kick a ball by his/her/ self.

A kid can hit a ball by his/her self.

A kid can throw a ball by his/her self.

 

Parents dont have to be involved in a lot of sports, they use them as sitting services.

 

How many kids have one parent in their life? Most single parents

are women, they don't want a hurt child and the other sports seem safer.

 

Also most schools have a basketball "monarchies", thus a place to put a mat

down will never be given up. Basketball 24/7 12 months a year.

 

Most of all some parents cant stand the fact that their child may not be the best

at a sport and they have no one else to blame.

 

Kids have and will wrestle, just let them.

 

Parents should be involved with their children.

 

Then look at some of the highchool coaches, How many of the coaches want

a kid to just do one sport? So most kids are brainwashed that its football or

nothing, its basketball or nothing, its baseball or nothing, its soccor or nothing.

How many football coaches said at the end of the season, I want you guys to wrestle to be better football players? Did any say guys I want you to do track

to give you better running skills? Did any say play soccor it help your game?

 

 

 

 

Michael Morelan

Edited December 11, 2003 by morelanmn

[eddie haskell]

I believe wrestling isnt as popular as other sport is that it takes two people.

 

A kid can shoot hoops by his/her self.

A kid can kick a ball by his/her/ self.

A kid can hit a ball by his/her self.

A kid can throw a ball by his/her self.

 

Are you saying that a kid can't roll around on a mat by himself? I'm sorry but that's a dumb argument. Yes a kid can throw a ball up in the air to himself but it really doesn't make him a better quarterback. A kid can't get better at catching by himself. In basketball there's only a limited number of things you can practice by yourself. I don't buy your argument.

[eddie haskell]

Then look at some of the highchool coaches, How many of the coaches want

a kid to just do one sport? So most kids are brainwashed that its football or

nothing, its basketball or nothing, its baseball or nothing, its soccor or nothing.

How many football coaches said at the end of the season, I want you guys to wrestle to be better football players? Did any say guys I want you to do track

to give you better running skills? Did any say play soccor it help your game?

 

 

 

 

Michael Morelan

Do you not think that there are wrestling coaches that say wrestling only or nothing? Probably not because then they would not have many wrestlers because most would choose something else. That is my whole point! What makes it so unpopular that people aren't willing to just be wrestlers, other than it is a hard sport. I'm sorry but I've done wrestling and a lot of other sports and it really isn't THAT hard!!

[sdkid]

eddie please its not that hard .come roll around with john lane and say its not that hard.

[wjr]

Then look at some of the highchool coaches, How many of the coaches want

a kid to just do one sport? So most kids are brainwashed that its football or

nothing, its basketball or nothing, its baseball or nothing, its soccor or nothing.

How many football coaches said at the end of the season, I want you guys to wrestle to be better football players? Did any say guys I want you to do track

to give you better running skills? Did any say  play soccor it help your game?

 

 

 

 

Michael Morelan

Do you not think that there are wrestling coaches that say wrestling only or nothing? Probably not because then they would not have many wrestlers because most would choose something else. That is my whole point! What makes it so unpopular that people aren't willing to just be wrestlers, other than it is a hard sport. I'm sorry but I've done wrestling and a lot of other sports and it really isn't THAT hard!!

Eddie it IS the toughest sport. Take a poll to see how many football players try to wrestle and get stomped. A lot of them (not all) THINK they can come out and dominate on the mats but they can't because they don't have the endurance, technique and tactics necessary to compete. FB players have terrific anaerobic fitness but to wrestle you need a unique blend of anaerobic and aerobic fitness. Football is the toughest sport when all you need is strength with quick bursts of speed (but play duration is usually no more than 5-10 seconds with at least a 30 second rest). I'd put basketball right up there with wrestling in terms of overall physical demands. IMO soccer would be the hardest in terms of aerobic type fitness. Baseball is in a category of its own.