If you have time don’t let your (perceived) lack of knowledge stop you from doing it.
My dad coached me in youth tackle football despite never playing. They needed a guy to show up, set up drills, and be positive. At the end of the season pretty much every parent talked about how my dad was their kids favorite coach because he made the kids want to come to practice. He made it fun.
Fast forward about 15 years later. I played college ball and got coached by some guys with seriously impressive coaching trees. I moved back to my hometown and volunteered to coach. Nobody gives a shit that I got coached at receiver by a dude who played with Jerry rice, Michael Irving, and Tim brown. The technique I learned isn’t necessarily useful at that level anyway although I’m happy to teach it to more willing kids. It’s more so about showing up, setting up drills, and being a positive influence on the kids.
You probably have more base knowledge than my dad so I’d say give it a shot. Like we always say, can’t be harder than actually wrestling, right?
Plus you will relearn old movement patterns again and starting building up your skill again! It’s what happened to me! Plus it’s so fun seeing wrestling from an adult perspective. It really made me appreciate wrestling all over again.
Just have to not let the “man had I known then what I known now” thoughts get to you lol.
Completely agree though. It’s funny telling a kid something and then being like “this seems so simple why didn’t I understand this” but it’s just part of any discipline really. Always learning.
I tell this to all my friends - if you have an adult attention span, you can provide a world of help.
I spend hours thinking of how I can explain technique as clearly and concisely as possible. Nevertheless, as soon as we break and the kids start working with their partners, it’s incredible how many kids will forget what we just talked abt 10 seconds ago.
Oh man, the little guys do not have an attention span at all. They all remember that they need a water break or use the restroom every ten minutes though!
Your humility alone will make you a huge help. The detriment of many youth coaches is thinking they’re experts when they have a novice understanding of the sport at best. You’ll learn and as others have said, it’s mostly about the basics anyway. If you understand solid positioning and a few basic techniques you’ll help a ton. With young kids, just keeping them on task and pointing out basic errors (like reaching back, falling to their hip, reaching out for a tie up etc.) is huge. Just having another adult to keep the train on the tracks and be a positive influence will be a huge benefit.
Stevan Micic's dad did not wrestle, no wrestling background. He did do BJJ. However, he has coached his son to the very top. A lot to that including his dad studying the sport very hard, his son being coachable and wanting to be coached, etc. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zemFHCihw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zemFHCihw)
The main takeaway here is you can totally add value.
Yeah. We have a kid who I think just committed D 1. His father was a Judo and Sambo guy from Turkey, but technically not a wrestler.
However he has done some coaching and was very helpful.
Study film. That’s what I did to be a better coach. Watch the videos from Kolat and John smith doing move tutorials and you’ll learn a lot about coaching moves. Also being a wrestling coach has a lot to do with monitoring their training throughout the year and telling them what they need to do to get better as well as keeping their mindset positive
Fair point. I just like the idea of helping coach a sport my kids are in. They have all done BJJ for several years and I help but not during the actual class
Former coach here with my perspective. I have had as many as 12 dads on a team of ~30 volunteering.
Only 1 was there the whole practice everyday.
What I asked from the dad coaches:
1. Regardless of your experience level please try to learn what I am teaching that way we provide consistent direction.
2. Let me know when and when you cannot make it. Nothing crazy we had a group chat. But with 2 coaches and 30+ kids at meets wanted to know we had enough help. For example a couple dads would always be there for the last hour of practice as they would come to the school directly from work instead of stopping at home first. But that was known.
3. If you’re good at something else (strength, conditioning, etc) and would like to take ownership of that area, that great. I never made the lifting or cardio decisions. Just made sure I communicated which day I expected to be hard sparring. (Monday and Thursday).
4. Behave as if you were a coach. (The obvious stuff like not being a jack ass).
5. You’re here to help the whole team not your son.
Edit: it is an enormous help.
Thanks, also:
If it is needed let the other coaches be the tough love guys. Your relationship is dad first. You are already required to be the tough love guy in all the situations that actually matter in his life.
You’re probably already there but if not I hope this helps.
As someone who has built a program from the ground up: took over as a high school coach with 4 kids on the team, built a varsity program then started feeder school programs for my high school (middle school and a grade school), just having extra adults in the room is great. At one point, I had volunteer coaches that never wrestled and didn’t even know the rules. They were a huge help.
I looked for a sub like this on a whim after contemplating if I should go for it. Yall have been amazing in this thread. Super appreciated and I spoke with my boy last night if he would like me to try and be an assistant coach and he was 100 percent on board.
Thank you for your input encouragement. It's greatly appreciated!
You absolutely can be of help. I only wrestled about 5.5 years but also had a BJJ background and was very good at running warm ups and teaching basics. There is always a role for someone like this.
Do you have a few techniques you are good at? Teach those. Other more advanced coaches can teach theirs. I helped start a local club and sourced a D 1 level wrestler. He had a long drive and could not make class until later, so I taught the first half (warm up and a basic technique) and then he arrived to teach something more advanced.
The school was booming. Unfortunately, neither of us were getting paid. I had to leave because I had paying clients and the D 1 guy had a 2 hour drive and we could not do it w/ out some financial compensation.
But the point is you definitely have something to contribute, especially if you can work for free.
I have another friend who runs a small academy and he is always willing to let someone help even if they only have a high school background.
I wrestled 3 years in high school and tried club wrestling at a D1 school with hopes to make their team. I got injured a month or so in and was done. Fast forward 15 years and my kid wants to wrestle. I go to practices and watch, he hits middle school and the coach is shit. I just step in to help because it’s him alone at tournaments and suddenly the kids are asking me to coach and not him. I start helping out with the youth & MS program, my other kid wrestles and I’ve been doing it over a decade now. I’ve moved up to an assistant with the high school team (admittedly as my kid progressed) but the coaches trust me enough to have me in a corner, teach the new kids the basics, and help run practice. The kids appreciate me and I know the kids that my kid is hanging out with and their parents. Win all around. As someone else mentioned, it is mostly about being there, if you have some basic knowledge then great, if not have a plan (maybe even from the head coach) and have the best kids in the room help show things and lead. Either way, I don’t know of a youth program out there that isn’t willing to have someone that will show up, be there.
Coaching a little over a decade but yeah getting up there. Showing up and knowing the basics, then learning from other coaches at the lower level (like with a 10yo in OP’s case) will go a long way. I used to be in charge of the “booger eaters” but there is such a wholesome feeling when you see it click with a 5 year old. lol
I’m in my third year as a HS assistant coach, and I never wrestled. I do have a MMA/BJJ background, but no formal wrestling. I’m working on my USA Wrestling coaching and officiating certificates at the moment.
Especially for in season town teams, youth sports need all the help they can get. You’ll likely have more experience than most. I never wrestled yet helped coach and served on the board for my son’s town team over a span of 8 years I believe. I did everything I could to help our program, and I believe I made a significant difference for our kids. Even without wrestling experience. Offer your assistance and you’ll find your spot. Youth sports need good people more than anything.
I was in the same boat having graduated high school back in 1995. I wanted to be part of my kid’s wrestling experience. The head coach will show a move and both the assistant coaches and kids just watch. Afterwards, we walked around the room to make sure the kids have a good enough grasp of the move. It’s a beginner room so it’s not high level technique; doubles, half Nelsons, standups, tight waist lace breakdowns, spin behinds. Tons of repetition. You can watch all kinds of videos on YouTube to get reacquainted with the moves. The big thing is being there for the kids at practice and at tournaments. Do it, you won’t regret it!
For me I like to let other people coach my son and I work with him at home. He goes to a wrestling club most nights.
The biggest reason that I set it up like this is that he learns better from other people. So, definitely be involved and feel out the amount that you coach him. If he works well with you the. Good. If he works better either someone else then good too. Just be there to chat with him either way
talk to your coaches and respect them. I was an assistant coach this year (after 20 years off) and was appalled by the parents who had prior experience. just wildly disrespectful to our head coach and damaging early on in the season. 3 separate individuals. so.much.drama.
basic communication and relationship building skills is all.
Absolutely do it! I had 22 career wins on varsity and last year won assistant coach of the year in my section. Wrestling ability isn't always what makes a good coach. The ability to positively connect with young people and be an advocate for them is what is important.
One of the new coaches this year owns Hart Jujistu. He’s known only jujistu his entire life, but he still took the time to coach wrestling because both of his daughters joined the new official girls team this year. I recommend just going and learning. Be a coach, because jujistu, while different, can transfer to wrestling pretty well. Watch what the other coaches do and point out, use youtube and instagram to help sharpen your eye sight as what to look for. You’ll do great, go do it for your kid!
I've coached MS wrestling for ove 20 years. I always welcome fathers assistants under two conditions, show up consistently and you're there to coach all the kids not just your own. If I can't plan for you to be there you are mostly useless to me. If you want to coach your kid do it at home. My job is to coach every kid in the room, your job is to help me do that. Also, my school requires assistant/volunteer coaches to have up-to-date first aid/cpr certification. Call your VP and get in contact with the coach at least a month prior to the season.
That said, MS kids are the best. Watching them change over the years is a trip and seeing them succeed brings me great joy.
If you have time don’t let your (perceived) lack of knowledge stop you from doing it. My dad coached me in youth tackle football despite never playing. They needed a guy to show up, set up drills, and be positive. At the end of the season pretty much every parent talked about how my dad was their kids favorite coach because he made the kids want to come to practice. He made it fun. Fast forward about 15 years later. I played college ball and got coached by some guys with seriously impressive coaching trees. I moved back to my hometown and volunteered to coach. Nobody gives a shit that I got coached at receiver by a dude who played with Jerry rice, Michael Irving, and Tim brown. The technique I learned isn’t necessarily useful at that level anyway although I’m happy to teach it to more willing kids. It’s more so about showing up, setting up drills, and being a positive influence on the kids. You probably have more base knowledge than my dad so I’d say give it a shot. Like we always say, can’t be harder than actually wrestling, right?
Really good advice. Thanks brother!
Plus you will relearn old movement patterns again and starting building up your skill again! It’s what happened to me! Plus it’s so fun seeing wrestling from an adult perspective. It really made me appreciate wrestling all over again.
Just have to not let the “man had I known then what I known now” thoughts get to you lol. Completely agree though. It’s funny telling a kid something and then being like “this seems so simple why didn’t I understand this” but it’s just part of any discipline really. Always learning.
No problem man, if you commit I’m sure the fun and getting back into the sport will outweigh whatever concerns you have.
Good advice!
Just yell “Shoot the half”! No matter the position they’re in and you’ll do just fine as an assistant coach.
Bear hug!
My coach loved yelling “Use some torque and leverage!” No matter what position we were in
Lmfao that’s just a fancy way of saying the classic LETS WRESTLE… *claps hands* WRESTLE, WRESTLE, WRESTLE… Come on! WRESTLE UP!
This made coffee come out of my nose because I had an assistant coach like this
It ain’t a wrestling team without one haha!
#SQUEEEEEEEEEZZZEEE!
Coaching at that age is less about the technique and more about being a positive life mentor/teacher.
I tell this to all my friends - if you have an adult attention span, you can provide a world of help. I spend hours thinking of how I can explain technique as clearly and concisely as possible. Nevertheless, as soon as we break and the kids start working with their partners, it’s incredible how many kids will forget what we just talked abt 10 seconds ago.
Oh man, the little guys do not have an attention span at all. They all remember that they need a water break or use the restroom every ten minutes though!
On Monday i’m gonna let my high schoolers know that you just called them out as “little guys” lolololol
Tell them no potty 🚽 breaks either!
Your humility alone will make you a huge help. The detriment of many youth coaches is thinking they’re experts when they have a novice understanding of the sport at best. You’ll learn and as others have said, it’s mostly about the basics anyway. If you understand solid positioning and a few basic techniques you’ll help a ton. With young kids, just keeping them on task and pointing out basic errors (like reaching back, falling to their hip, reaching out for a tie up etc.) is huge. Just having another adult to keep the train on the tracks and be a positive influence will be a huge benefit.
Stevan Micic's dad did not wrestle, no wrestling background. He did do BJJ. However, he has coached his son to the very top. A lot to that including his dad studying the sport very hard, his son being coachable and wanting to be coached, etc. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zemFHCihw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zemFHCihw) The main takeaway here is you can totally add value.
Yeah. We have a kid who I think just committed D 1. His father was a Judo and Sambo guy from Turkey, but technically not a wrestler. However he has done some coaching and was very helpful.
Study film. That’s what I did to be a better coach. Watch the videos from Kolat and John smith doing move tutorials and you’ll learn a lot about coaching moves. Also being a wrestling coach has a lot to do with monitoring their training throughout the year and telling them what they need to do to get better as well as keeping their mindset positive
You can be of help. Many kids have no positive male role models, you can be that! Ask the coach what you can do
100% be a good role model if nothing else!
Majority of the shots you dont take you miss (yeah go for it i’ve js been waiting to use this quote)
Fair point. I just like the idea of helping coach a sport my kids are in. They have all done BJJ for several years and I help but not during the actual class
3 good reasons: Dad lore , Dad lore , and Dad lore
Absolutely get involved! Just don’t be one of the crazy parents and keep it fun. Enjoy the community and help our great sport by giving back!
Former coach here with my perspective. I have had as many as 12 dads on a team of ~30 volunteering. Only 1 was there the whole practice everyday. What I asked from the dad coaches: 1. Regardless of your experience level please try to learn what I am teaching that way we provide consistent direction. 2. Let me know when and when you cannot make it. Nothing crazy we had a group chat. But with 2 coaches and 30+ kids at meets wanted to know we had enough help. For example a couple dads would always be there for the last hour of practice as they would come to the school directly from work instead of stopping at home first. But that was known. 3. If you’re good at something else (strength, conditioning, etc) and would like to take ownership of that area, that great. I never made the lifting or cardio decisions. Just made sure I communicated which day I expected to be hard sparring. (Monday and Thursday). 4. Behave as if you were a coach. (The obvious stuff like not being a jack ass). 5. You’re here to help the whole team not your son. Edit: it is an enormous help.
Thanks! Great insight here
Thanks, also: If it is needed let the other coaches be the tough love guys. Your relationship is dad first. You are already required to be the tough love guy in all the situations that actually matter in his life. You’re probably already there but if not I hope this helps.
As someone who has built a program from the ground up: took over as a high school coach with 4 kids on the team, built a varsity program then started feeder school programs for my high school (middle school and a grade school), just having extra adults in the room is great. At one point, I had volunteer coaches that never wrestled and didn’t even know the rules. They were a huge help.
I looked for a sub like this on a whim after contemplating if I should go for it. Yall have been amazing in this thread. Super appreciated and I spoke with my boy last night if he would like me to try and be an assistant coach and he was 100 percent on board. Thank you for your input encouragement. It's greatly appreciated!
The jiujitsu alone is beneficial. Add on that you actually wrestled too. Absolutely you'll be helpful.
Thanks I'm gonna give it ago because of all this encouragement. Thanks to all!
I hadn’t wrestled since high school. Spent last year volunteering. Plan is to be an assistant this year. Very rewarding.
If you keep an open mind, ask questions more than you give answers, and be a student of the game and watch tape, you will be a great asset!
Watch tape?
You absolutely can be of help. I only wrestled about 5.5 years but also had a BJJ background and was very good at running warm ups and teaching basics. There is always a role for someone like this. Do you have a few techniques you are good at? Teach those. Other more advanced coaches can teach theirs. I helped start a local club and sourced a D 1 level wrestler. He had a long drive and could not make class until later, so I taught the first half (warm up and a basic technique) and then he arrived to teach something more advanced. The school was booming. Unfortunately, neither of us were getting paid. I had to leave because I had paying clients and the D 1 guy had a 2 hour drive and we could not do it w/ out some financial compensation. But the point is you definitely have something to contribute, especially if you can work for free. I have another friend who runs a small academy and he is always willing to let someone help even if they only have a high school background.
Just do it. Be part of your kid's life and it's always good to do community service + hobby.
I wrestled 3 years in high school and tried club wrestling at a D1 school with hopes to make their team. I got injured a month or so in and was done. Fast forward 15 years and my kid wants to wrestle. I go to practices and watch, he hits middle school and the coach is shit. I just step in to help because it’s him alone at tournaments and suddenly the kids are asking me to coach and not him. I start helping out with the youth & MS program, my other kid wrestles and I’ve been doing it over a decade now. I’ve moved up to an assistant with the high school team (admittedly as my kid progressed) but the coaches trust me enough to have me in a corner, teach the new kids the basics, and help run practice. The kids appreciate me and I know the kids that my kid is hanging out with and their parents. Win all around. As someone else mentioned, it is mostly about being there, if you have some basic knowledge then great, if not have a plan (maybe even from the head coach) and have the best kids in the room help show things and lead. Either way, I don’t know of a youth program out there that isn’t willing to have someone that will show up, be there.
You only wrestled 3 years....but have been coaching for several. That is years in the sport.
Coaching a little over a decade but yeah getting up there. Showing up and knowing the basics, then learning from other coaches at the lower level (like with a 10yo in OP’s case) will go a long way. I used to be in charge of the “booger eaters” but there is such a wholesome feeling when you see it click with a 5 year old. lol
I’m in my third year as a HS assistant coach, and I never wrestled. I do have a MMA/BJJ background, but no formal wrestling. I’m working on my USA Wrestling coaching and officiating certificates at the moment.
Especially for in season town teams, youth sports need all the help they can get. You’ll likely have more experience than most. I never wrestled yet helped coach and served on the board for my son’s town team over a span of 8 years I believe. I did everything I could to help our program, and I believe I made a significant difference for our kids. Even without wrestling experience. Offer your assistance and you’ll find your spot. Youth sports need good people more than anything.
I was in the same boat having graduated high school back in 1995. I wanted to be part of my kid’s wrestling experience. The head coach will show a move and both the assistant coaches and kids just watch. Afterwards, we walked around the room to make sure the kids have a good enough grasp of the move. It’s a beginner room so it’s not high level technique; doubles, half Nelsons, standups, tight waist lace breakdowns, spin behinds. Tons of repetition. You can watch all kinds of videos on YouTube to get reacquainted with the moves. The big thing is being there for the kids at practice and at tournaments. Do it, you won’t regret it!
For me I like to let other people coach my son and I work with him at home. He goes to a wrestling club most nights. The biggest reason that I set it up like this is that he learns better from other people. So, definitely be involved and feel out the amount that you coach him. If he works well with you the. Good. If he works better either someone else then good too. Just be there to chat with him either way
Go and help, just don’t focus on your child only.
talk to your coaches and respect them. I was an assistant coach this year (after 20 years off) and was appalled by the parents who had prior experience. just wildly disrespectful to our head coach and damaging early on in the season. 3 separate individuals. so.much.drama. basic communication and relationship building skills is all.
You can 100% help. And the world will be better if you do.
Buy a mat and teach him specifics at home, along with regular practice
Absolutely do it! I had 22 career wins on varsity and last year won assistant coach of the year in my section. Wrestling ability isn't always what makes a good coach. The ability to positively connect with young people and be an advocate for them is what is important.
Don't be just another coach. Join your local association and officiate. Your kid will be a better wrestler for it too.
One of the new coaches this year owns Hart Jujistu. He’s known only jujistu his entire life, but he still took the time to coach wrestling because both of his daughters joined the new official girls team this year. I recommend just going and learning. Be a coach, because jujistu, while different, can transfer to wrestling pretty well. Watch what the other coaches do and point out, use youtube and instagram to help sharpen your eye sight as what to look for. You’ll do great, go do it for your kid!
I've coached MS wrestling for ove 20 years. I always welcome fathers assistants under two conditions, show up consistently and you're there to coach all the kids not just your own. If I can't plan for you to be there you are mostly useless to me. If you want to coach your kid do it at home. My job is to coach every kid in the room, your job is to help me do that. Also, my school requires assistant/volunteer coaches to have up-to-date first aid/cpr certification. Call your VP and get in contact with the coach at least a month prior to the season. That said, MS kids are the best. Watching them change over the years is a trip and seeing them succeed brings me great joy.