PARENT HANDBOOK

Welcome to White River Wrestling Club!

The sport of wrestling has many benefits, including the family you gain. The camaraderie among wrestlers is unique, and many wrestlers become lifelong friends. One of the greatest benefits your athlete will gain from participating in an organized wrestling program is the life skills they will develop, even greater than that it develops great character. These skills include time management, self-discipline and sportsmanship. Your athlete will reap the benefits of wrestling long after their competitive participation ends. This handbook has been prepared to help you and your athlete succeed in this program. Supporting him/her in wrestling can be a very rewarding experience. The more involved you are, the greater the benefits will be. You may soon find yourself cheering at competitions, timing during our tournaments or stepping into the large number of parent volunteer roles we need filled. Whatever your role, your athlete’s experience has much to do with your positive support. Please ask questions of your coaches, board members and fellow parents. We are all working towards the same goal: to provide him/her with the best possible experience in this sport and family.

Practice Schedule

OUR VISION

WR wrestling is community focused and family oriented. We are invested in growing the whole athlete, from instilling a great work ethic, learning responsibility, respect, healthy habits and to handle wins and losses with grace. We intend for these traits to help the athletes grow into responsible, respectful young adults who are leaders in their schools, communities and beyond.  Winning is a by-product of all these things. The hard work and dedication creates wins. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”.

Our wrestling club is a family and we are there to celebrate your child and family. They will always have someone in their corner cheering for them through wrestling and beyond.

What you need to Do:

  1. Purchase your USA card at USAmembership.com
  2. Provide copies of wrestlers birth certificates.
  3. Completed Parent/Wrestler Code of Conduct
  4. Accept invite to TeamSnap

CAPS JR WRESTLING:

Is the beginning wrestling program through White River Community Activities program. It introduces basic wrestling movements and helps develop a love for the sport.  Cost is $50

JR CLUB WRESTLING

Builds on the skills learned in the CAPS program and continues to develop love for the sport. It is a longer season, and takes the wrestlers through League Champions. Wrestlers in the club have the opportunity to compete for Varsity & JV during wrestle offs explained later in this handbook.

Cost is $200 (includes keeping your singlet)

*Your club fee covers Greco & Freestyle if you choose to continue on.

GIRLS CLUB WRESTLING:

It’s the first time ever there is a girls division! Girls will have many opportunities to wrestle just girls this season, but also will be wrestling boys at some points. They will also have their own singlets for “River Girls”.  Cost is same as club.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

BEGINNER- Every Tuesday & Thursday 6pm-7:15pm

ADVANCED- Every Monday & Wednesday 6pm-8pm

FRIDAY IS INVITE ONLY 6pm-8pm

*Potential for other open mat nights

PCJWL season runs from Oct 7th thru Jan. 19th 

State (optional) is Feb. 22nd

Greco/Freestyle season starts in March, stay tuned for more info closer to season

 

YOUR COACHES:

Nathan Storm (Head Coach)

Walker Meyers (Head Coach)

Christopher Mills

Andy Moe

Bryce Markey

Kyle Marrow

Dallas Pierce

Josh Lamothe (AD)

 

BOARD MEMBERS:

Each board member is assigned a specific area of responsibility. The following are the board positions and their general areas of responsibility:

President: Sid Crook-Hutsler

Vice President: Kristen Storm

Treasurer: Monika Leggett

Secretary: Michelle Paxton

Athletic Director: Josh Lamothe

Apparel: Tara Lamothe

Concessions: Nina Markey

PR: Aja Daniell

Fundraising: Christy Peck

IT: Isacc Leggett

 

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering is REQUIRED to help our season run as smoothly as possible. Many hands make the load light. This is a family endeavor: when your athlete joined the wrestling team, so did you! We cannot do it without you, so find a place to contribute and jump in.

6 Hours are required for each family unless you purchased the $250 buyout at the time of registration. Listed below are ways to volunteer. We will post a sign-up genius when volunteers are needed.

Parent help needed at our tournaments:

  • Set-up & Take-down
  • Weigh ins
  • Keeping Timing & Scorekeeping
  • Concessions
  • Entry at the door
  • Miscellaneous help

SKIN INFECTIONS:

One of the most important things to remember is proper hygiene. Athletes are encouraged to shower immediately after wrestling practice or competition. When showering, it is important to use a mesh scrub with antibacterial soap. This aids in removing any unwanted bacteria and infections the athlete might have picked up during skin to skin contact. Another important prevention technique is to thoroughly clean and disinfect all wrestling mats as well as equipment, including all uniforms and towels, after every use. Following proper hygiene practices and thorough disinfection techniques can greatly decrease the risk of obtaining skin infections among wrestlers.

When prevention is not enough it is important to start treatment at the first sign of the infection. 

The most common infection found in wrestling is Tinea Corporis, also know as ring worm. Tinea Corporis is actually a fungal infection and not a worm, as the name implies. This skin infection appears red and scaly in a ring formation with a clear center. Ring worm is highly contagious and can develop in many different areas of the building. If ring worm is suspected it is very important to begin treatment immediately. Treatments include topical antifungal creams or oral antifungal medication. Treatment should be applied twice daily for 1-4 weeks. Athletes may return to competition after 3 days of topical treatment use. Lesions should be covered during practice and competition and all equipment and towels should be washed daily.

PRACTICE POLICIES:

The following norms are to inform parents and wrestlers of the coach’s policies regarding practice. These policies are designed to provide the best possible practice environment for all. The bottom line: set a good example. Work hard. Be your own best coach. Respect leaders and coaches. Don’t let your teammates down.

Be on time: Actually, be early, with proper gear on and shoes laced up before start time.

Be mature: budget your time responsibly--If you need to see a coach for a pre-existing issue, do so before practice. That is not an excuse to arrive late.

Be a responsible student-athlete: take care of homework and academic needs. You are a WR junior hornet on and off the mat, work as hard at school as you do on the mat, be as respectful at school as you are at practice.

Be a worker: no talking while drilling.

Be respectful: when a coach, guest, or team captain is talking, you are not. Stop what you are doing, focus and give your complete attention to the speaker.

Be aware: of your surroundings while wrestling.

Be a ready teammate: always dress out and wear proper footwear (ie, wrestling shoes), even if injured.

Be involved: even if injured. You may not just sit on the sidelines. Walk around and encourage, take notes, work out (HARD) on the wall. During technique instruction, gather with the team, even if injured.

Be fully present: no phones or game consoles allowed.

 

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Each wrestler on the team will be given a singlet before the 1st tournament.

CAPS: We will give you a singlet at each tournament. It will be returned before leaving that tournament for Apparel to wash and prepare for the next week.

Club: You will be given the singlet you paid for before first tournament. It is your responsibility to keep it clean and wear at all club tournaments

Head Gear & Wrestling shoes are required for all tournaments. These are parent/guardian responsibility to purchase. We do have a limited supply of used shoes and headgear to provide if needed. 

OTHER WRESTLING OPPORTUNITIES:

Outside of our regular league tournaments. There are many different USA Tournaments that members of our club do attend.

These are at your own expense, but we often have many kids and a few coaches who attend.

Feel free to reach out to a board member or a seasoned parent when learning about these other very fun and competitive tournaments throughout the year!

You are able to look on both TrackWrestling and USA Wrestling for insight on upcoming tournaments.

Taking time to familiarize yourself with these sites will come in handy throughout the season. Our bigger tournaments and our post season will all be tracked on track wrestling.

CHALLENGE POLICY

What are challenge nights:

Challenges are intersquad matches set up to determine the rankings of individuals that will be ranked as the Varsity, JV, Exhibition wrestlers for the three dual meets with other clubs of our sub-division. Ultimately, they will represent our club at the post season league tournament series:  Subdivisions, Division and League Championship.

How is the pecking order predetermined prior to challenges? 

The assessment of the wrestlers by coaches is done during the first 2-3 weeks of practice.  A wrestler’s ranking in a particular weight class will be determined by past season results (i.e Varsity position) and/or coaches’ assessment where there is no prior documentation of wrestler rank. If a wrestler was Varsity or JV at a weight class the previous year and they are wrestling in the same class in the current year they will automatically be ranked at that same spot.

Challenge nights will be determined by the Head Coach: 

Challenges for wrestle offs will be scheduled by the Head Coach with the assistance of the board and Assistant Coaches. All wrestlers will be notified of the initial challenge nights as soon as is feasible.

Wrestlers may request a challenge beyond the initial placement. In the event a wrestler wants to challenge after the initial challenges, the Coaches will determine whether or not to allow a challenge. If a challenge is granted it will be scheduled by the coaches and the wrestlers will be notified. 

How are challenge matches set-up?

Prior to each challenge date the coaches and the Challenge Coordinator (Athletic Director: Josh Lamothe) will prepare a list of challengers for each weight class.  This will be done initially using last year’s results and then updated based on the coaches’ assessment of each wrestler’s ability.  All wrestlers may challenge during the first two challenge weeks.  If your wrestler wants to challenge, contact the Challenge Coordinator prior to Monday night to ensure he/she is placed on the challenge list.  An experienced wrestler with a realistic chance of winning and competing in the subdivision may challenge at multiple weights with the approval of the coaches.  This will only be allowed during the first 2 (two) challenge nights.

How do challenges work and what is the process?

The Varsity, Junior Varsity, and other challengers in each weight group must attend the designated challenge nights.  If you are unable to attend the challenge night, you must obtain prior approval by both the Head Coach and the Challenge Coordinator.  If you miss challenge night, you forfeit.

A challenge match will consist of 3 (three) rounds.  Each challenge match needs 2 wrestlers, 1 scorer, 1 timer, and an Official (ref).

9 and over = 1.5 minute for 1st round, and 1 minute for the next 2 rounds.

8 and under = 1 minute rounds for all three rounds.

  • The pecking order for each weight class challenge will go as follows:
  • The Varsity challenger must be beat 2 (two) consecutive matches to take a varsity position away from a wrestler.
  • The lowest ranked wrestler in a weight class challenges the JV wrestler, who is the number 2 ranked, first.
  • Whoever wins that match will then challenge the Varsity Wrestler, who is the number 1 ranked wrestler.

Wrestlers must be prepared to wrestle at the designated time.  When called for a challenge, wrestlers must have wrestling attire, socks and shoes on.  Singlet and Headgear are optional.  Wrestlers may have to wrestle several matches and must be prepared to wrestle a match every 20 minutes, as necessary.  Any breaks between matches for any wrestler where the wrestler is not engaged in team practice will be afforded the same break to the competing wrestler to keep competition on a fair platform.  This will be communicated clearly by the Challenge Coordinator and Head Coach to all wrestlers.

The wrestler must be courteous to the Official, Scorer, Timer, and their Opponent.  Any unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

During challenges there will be no parents inside the practice room. There will be NO parent engagement, NO coaching, and NO cheering for or against another wrestler.

What if my wrestler doesn’t make a Varsity or JV position?

PARENTS….. Whether your child makes Varsity, or JV, is not important! Your child will get plenty of wrestling during the season with all the tournaments and dual meets available. The important thing is that each wrestler will gain valuable experience in the sport of wrestling AND will be having a ton of fun doing it.

QUALIFYING WEIGH-INS FOR LEAGUE:

The Pierce County JR Wrestling League requires each wrestler to have FOUR weigh-ins to qualify for the Sub-Division Tournament.

Weigh-ins must be attained at 3 (three) of the 5 (five) round robins / dual meets during the season.  The dual meets only count for Varsity or JV wrestlers due to exhibition wrestlers do not compete in the dual meets.   Every wrestler gets a qualifying weigh in at Round Robins.

PARENTS – it is STRONGLY advised that your child gets as many qualifying weigh-ins at the designated meets. Keep in mind that only the Duals and Robins count toward a qualifying weigh in.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Pierce County Jr. Wrestling League rules REQUIRE a wrestler to have wrestled 3 (three) qualified matches in the weight class (or a one weight class below) that they are registered to wrestle in at the post-season league tournament.  Qualified matches are limited to PCJWL dual meets or round robin tournaments only.

If a wrestler cannot achieve the required number of qualified matches by season end, including the incumbent wrestler, they will not be allowed to challenge for a JV or Varsity position.

MATCH DAY HACKS:

  • You must weigh in in your singlet.
  • Cut fingernails night before
  • Eat breakfast AFTER weigh ins, NOT before
  • Every ounce counts in making weight for your weight class on match day
  • If your family is coming, think water and snacks. Although there is concessions always available for purchasing.