INTRODUCTION

 

Of the many sports your child can participate in, Wrestling is perhaps the most misrepresented, misunderstood, and underrated. The ratio of participation to public awareness is remarkably lopsided.

 

Each year hundreds of thousands of kids participate in this sport, yet the average person knows as much about wrestling as they might know about rugby or polo -- which combined, involve far fewer athletes.

The purpose of this guide is to generate new interest and awareness among parents whose children want to participate in this exciting and rewarding sport.

 

Hopefully, this guide will help expose the myths and uncover the benefits wrestling has to offer, and most importantly, help parents understand how this unique sport best compliments other sports choices their child makes.

 

Doesn’t wrestling involve or eventually lead to the kinds of things professional wrestlers do on television?

 

If you’ve been exposed to high school or college wrestling, you may already realize that so-called “professional wrestling” (i.e. WWF) as depicted on television, is entirely different from the actual sport of wrestling. So different, in fact, that there is little, if anything in common. Consider this comparison...

 

Real Wrestling	"Professional Wrestling"
Based on self-discipline, hard work, skill and determination.	Based on theatrics, entertainment value and shock factor.
Conducted on a mat with regulation shoes, kneepads and headgear.	Conducted in a ring with boots and outrageous costumes.
Physically demanding, but relatively safe and non-violent. Does not involve or even tolerate actions intended to cause injury.	Violent in nature with contestants depicting punching, kicking, body slams, etc.
World-class wrestlers utilize skills, strength and endurance developed over a lifetime of practice and hard work.	Showcase events typically involve participants with no amateur (real) wrestling experience.