There are many components to being successful in the sport of wrestling, athletic ability being one. However, athletic ability is not something that we can control. What we can control is the time and effort that we put into get better. The best time to see noticeable gains of improvement is during the off-season and there a few things that can help you achieve that improvement. I believe that skill, strength, and mental toughness are all components that can be improved in the off-season. Coincidentally, all three coincide with each other. So when you see improvement in one area, you will see improvement in the others.
Part I- Skill- There are several ways to improve your skill level (local clubs, camps, dvd's). I am a big believer in what a club offers individuals. Essentially, club practices are an extension of your high school wrestling practices, only without weight loss being an emphasis. I believe that the ideal club offers technique, strategy, and a schedule for off-season tournaments. Exposure to different coaching techniques/strategies can help you improve because it gives you options. The fundamentals of moves are basically taught the same way, it's the little things that can help you make great strides. Having options from other coaches will just open more doors for you when you get into different positions on the mat. That's what great about options, take what you want to use, discard the rest. Unlike camps, clubs offer repetition over an extended period of time. In a camp, you may have the best technician in the country, but chances are you will forget 75% of what you learned by September. Clubs give you the chance to continue to improve in a supervised setting. When you have many pairs of eyes on your drilling, those things that you don't know you are doing wrong tend to get noticed. We all know that if you don't know you are doing it wrong in practice, you'll probably do it wrong in a match that counts. If you can't locate a local club, ask your coach! If your coach doesn't know, then ask the coach or wrestler that is recognized as the "best coach" or "best wrestler" in your area. Chances are they didn't receive that title for sitting on the beach!
Another great resource for improving are technique videos and dvd's. What's great about these tools is that you can work at your own pace while learning from the best instructors in the country.
Team Worldwide began as a small local club in Binghamton and gradually expanded to Elmira (NY), Rochester (NY), and Massachusetts.
Worldwide Sport Supply offers a huge line of technique and training dvd's. Use this link to see the offerings http://www.wwsport.com/Wrestling/Videos/tabid/144/Default.aspx
Call if you need any direction
1-800-756-3555
Mike