Practice sessions.
Because of space limitations and to facilitate more personalized instruction for your boy(s), our program runs split practice sessions. Details will follow after the first full week of practice. We will try to accommodate any scheduling conflicts. Please remember that our primary objective is to make sure that each boy has many other boys of equal age, weight, and experience to practice with. This will ensure that he has the best opportunity to learn and to improve.
As required by the Athletic Department, no parents are allowed in the wrestling room or locker room during practice sessions. Additionally, parents must be prompt when picking up their children at the end of practices.
Practices will be held at the TJ High School wrestling room. Please do not use the door that goes directly into the wrestling room from the outside. Unless otherwise notified, we will not have practices on days when the high school is closed – whether it’s planned (holiday) or unplanned (school closing due to snow).
Web Site.
Information about the program, useful wrestling links, schedule, etc., will be posted on the web site.
League Information.
TJ is part of the Keystone League, a developmental league comprised of 28 youth wrestling programs in Western Pennsylvania. There will be 6 Keystone site matches during the season. At each site match, wrestlers will be paired in at least two individual matches based on their age, weight, and experience level. Each wrestler that has wrestled in at least 4 out of the 6 scheduled site matches will qualify for the Keystone League Finals Tournament in February. For more information, go to their web site at www.keystonewrestling.teamlobby.com
Keystone site matches are scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays. 8 and under wrestlers typically wrestle in the mornings. Older wrestlers typically wrestle in the afternoon. Details will be provided once they are scheduled by the league. Our coaches will also be at other tournaments throughout the season, including the PA Junior Olympics tournament held in early March. These tournaments are highly competitive and optional. We will provide more details during the season.
TJ Site Matches
To help fund program, TJ will host a Keystone site match. Volunteers and donations will be required to help make it a success.
Good Sportsmanship
TJ is recognized as a program with high-character parents that understand the importance of good sportsmanship. Let’s keep the tradition going! Please refrain from yelling at referees, wrestlers, coaches and spectators during matches. Unsportsmanlike behavior can and will result in suspension from the League and program.
Support Your Wrestler
Encourage your Child. Wrestling is a competitive, intense sport that brings out the best in each wrestler – win or lose. Wrestling in live matches is encouraged, but not mandatory. The coaches will encourage your child to wrestle competitively in matches because, win or lose, it will help him improve. But, we will never force your child to wrestle in live matches. We ask you to do the same and be as positive and supportive as you can be throughout the season.
Teach your child that this sport is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Every child’s learning curve is different, so be patient. With determination and hard work success will come.
Set Goals. We ask each parent to talk with your son and set three personal goals for the season. These goals could be winning a match, executing a move, or any other tangible goal. This will help motivate your child to do his best at the challenging sport of wrestling, while teaching him about the long-term personal rewards of goal setting in life.
Parents are encouraged to limit participation in wrestling and other extracurricular activities when academic and/or discipline issues would merit higher priority.
Parents must be supportive of the coaches and their decisions. Parents should talk to the coach in private regarding issues concerning a child, but not during events and when emotions dictate – after a cooling off period.