When an Hour of Wrestling Practice is NOT an Hour of Wrestling Practice
I try my best not to make everything I write about my children. However, the truth is much of what I write comes directly from my experience with my sons. This is even more so when I write specifically about youth wrestling. I’m either pulling from a recent experience with my boys, or an experience with another parent, coach, or wrestler in our circle.
With that said, If you know me well then you know why this weekend I had a mild epiphany. I always found it amazing when a wrestler who didn’t start wrestling until 8th or 9th grade can get good enough to beat a wrestler who started at 6 years old. When I see this I always think to myself, how is this possible?
This is possible because an hour of wrestling practice is not an hour of practice for everyone. Each second of wrestling practice is not equal to each wrestler.
A wrestler who starts at 6 years old who does not love practice by the time he or she is 13, is not going to get an hour of practice out of an hour of practice. This wrestler may get 10 or 15 minutes out of an hour practice. On the other hand, a wrestler who starts in 8th or 9th grade who loves to practice and is determined to get better will get the full 60 minutes out of an hour practice.
Over multiple seasons, the wrestler who starts in 8th grade is able to equal or surpass the total amount of practice time as the wrestler who starts at 6 years old. This is why a wrestler who seemingly has far less experience is able to win.