General Match Strategy 

PRE-MATCH STRATEGY

1. Get yourself in perfect physical condition. Work hard to build up your body, eating right, and get the proper rest. Even though major away competitions are fun, get to bed early the night before a match.
2. Pay attention to what the coach says about your opponent and plan accordingly. Plan to use a different initial attack if your opponent has watched you.
3. Know your opponent's style and his strong and weak points. Do not allow his past record or build to destroy your confidence. Study him carefully before weigh-in and remain impersonal toward him until after the match.
4. Specialize in at least one series of moves from each position (top, bottom, standing) and learn at least one other series. Have a desperation take-down move (preferably a throw) available if you need it.
5. Practice these moves hundreds of times to perfect them.
6. Know/learn the current wrestling rules for the style you are competing in.
7. Never let your opponent know if you have been injured, sick or are under weight. It may give him the added confidence that he needs to defeat you.
8. Never sell yourself short or lose sight of your goals.
9. For general preparation, do more than what is required by the coaching staff, as well as working hard to do what is required correctly. Make a personal commitment to become the best that you are capable of becoming. Wrestle off-season if there is a program available. Go to all the open tournaments you can.

GENERAL MATCH STRATEGY

1. Don't be afraid to lose, have an offensive philosophy going in, and constantly use a proper attack.
2. Make your opponent wrestle your style. Force the match and keep him off balance by attacking first and continuously.
3. If you have reach, speed, or balance on a man, use these to your advantage. Mix-up them up in your attack, the odds favor you.
4. If you are stronger, overpower him. If you are weaker, don't fight his strength but instead concentrate on perfect technique. Technique will win over strength nearly every time.
5. If you are in better shape, set a pace he can't stand but don't do all the work. Make him lift your weight every time possible.
6. Keep a cool head and remain poised and confident. Never allow calls by the referees or actions by your opponent or the fans upset your wrestling attitude or technique. Never make the referee mad at you.
7. Never stop wrestling until the whistle blows. This includes not giving up a defensive move until the referee calls the points.
8. Do not do anything in a match that you haven't worked hard to perfect in practice.
9. Never let your opponent know that you are tired.
10. Be a "chain wrestler", always performing a second move if the first doesn't work. Use holds, which blend together, either as a fake to set-up, or as a follow-up.
11. A desperation move is risky and should only be tried at the end of the match when you "must" get points. Remember, a loss by one point is as bad as a loss by several points.

TAKEDOWN STRATEGY

1. Relax when you are out of range. Being tense takes valuable energy.
2. Keep a proper body position (stance) when you are in range, especially when you are walking into a man. Don't stand straight up or with your hands near your head.
3. Never shoot a leg from farther out than an arms length.
4. Never shoot a takedown without first destroying your opponent's stance. Set up all takedowns!
5. If you tie up, control all tie-ups and fight for the inside position. If you can't control a tie-up, don't tie-up!
6. When moving, step with the foot in the direction you are going. Never cross your feet.
7. Keep moving your feet in short (about 12") steps, constantly changing your lead foot and never developing a pattern.
8. Concentrate on getting the deepest penetration possible when you shoot. Aim a few feet behind your opponent.
9. Keep your head inside and tight when you step to your opponent's outside and place your head outside and tight when stepping to the inside of his legs.
10. Never allow your head to get lower than your hips (overextended), even while you are in motion.
11. Never allow both of your knees to touch the mat at the same time. Always keep a trailing foot behind for support.
12. When attacking the legs, never stay on one knee any longer than necessary. Either follow-through or withdraw IMMEDIATELY!
13. If possible, take your opponent to his back on your follow-through.
14. When withdrawing, keep to the inside with proper body position and take small steps.
15. If you are taken down by your opponent, land with your props wide and extended outward. Your arms should be slightly forward, never down and backwards. Also, your hips should be parallel to the mat and lower than your head. Then hit an offensive maneuver as quickly as possible. Takedowns are not awarded until control has been firmly established.
16. When countering takedowns, stay off of your knees and use your weight to stop your opponent's motion and destroy his body position.

TOP WRESTLING STRATEGY

1. MOVE FIRST on the whistle or immediately after assuming the top position to make your opponent counter you rather than attack you.
2. Either control your opponent's HIPS, destroy his PROPs or attack his HEAD.
3. Learn how to ride from both sides.
4. Stay behind your opponent's arm pits, unless you are attacking his head.
5. Make your opponent carry your weight as often as possible.
6. Ride on your toes in order to have maximum mobility and produce maximum pressure.
7. Remember you have four props of your own that you must protect in order to maintain a good base.
8. Keep a wide base and do not fall to your side or drop your head. Keep your hips parallel to the mat as often as possible.
9. BREAK YOUR OPPONENT DOWN! The closer he gets to the mat, the greater will be your leverage for pinning combinations.
10. Grab an ankle pick at the shoelaces & get it off the mat as quick as possible. Lift up first then drive forward.
11. When you chop a man down, cut the arm where it bends and move your outside knee forward in order to prevent your head from dropping. Keep your knee in his butt.
12. After your opponent is broken down, WORK FOR THE PIN IMMEDIATELY, a man on the defense cannot be on the offense at the same time.
13. If you get three points ahead, work nothing but pinning combinations.
14. Nearly always, get perpendicular to pin your opponent.
15. Use a half nelson to apply pressure on your opponent's head, place your palm on the head, not the neck.
16. Keep chest on chest (or back low on chest) with your head up and knees off of the mat while pinning.
17. Vary your style and technique; do not keep using the same attack unless consistently successful against your immediate opponent.
18. If your opponent is in the process of reversing and you feel that you are equal or better than him on takedowns, back off and give him "one but not two."
19. If you are behind late in the match and feel that you cannot turn your opponent over but can take him down, let him go and work for a takedown (providing the score is close).
20. Learn to use your legs. Keep your hips on top and parallel to the mat. Keep your weight low on his back with your elbows below his armpits in a cross body ride. Never force legs on your opponent.

BOTTOM OR DEFENSIVE STRATEGY

1. Be ready to move at all times. Watch the referee.
2. Adapt your referees position to the move which you intend to do.
3. Move first and keep the top man countering you. Don't get tied up or lose the offense.
4. Specialize in a series of moves. You should also have a second series which you know well and go to in emergencies.
5. Always keep a good base or return to it quickly if you lose it. Listed below are important ingredients of a good base:

   a. Keep your props wide

   b. Keep your arms slightly bent

   c. Keep your head above your hips

   d. Keep your center of gravity over your base

   e. Keep your hips and shoulders parallel to the mat.

6. Protect your props. When one of your props is being attacked, either remove it completely or get all your weight on it as quickly as possible.
7. Destroy the top man's props! One of the most effective ways of doing this is to get HAND CONTROL.
8. Know the five directions you can go and try to use height to your advantage as often as possible. Remember that the lower and more spread out your base becomes, the less mobility you have.
9. When turning to face your opponent, use a HIP-HEIST to make your quickest turn.
10. Never reach back over your opponents back.
11. Don't lay on your stomach, come up to your knees by bringing one knee up to the side and pushing back over it.
12. If you can't get up off of your stomach, keep your head up and elbows in. Be alert for all nelsons, turn the head away from the half and pull the hand off immediately.
13. If you can't get out, get off of the mat and get a fresh start before you get broken down to tied up. Do not do this in an obvious manner or you will be penalized.
14. Practice all moves with a top man on both sides. If you still have trouble escaping from one side, learn how to change your man over by moving your weight and hips.
15. Practice with your eyes closed to learn how to "feel" weight shifts.

AFTER MATCH STRATEGY - (Regardless of a WIN or LOSS!)

1. Shake your opponents hand graciously and don't throw your head gear.
2. Analyze the mechanical errors you made and make a note on where you need work.
3. Analyze your pre-match and match attitude and mental mistakes.
4. Do your best to correct them at practice.

SUMMARY OF WRESTLING BASICS

1. Try to watch what works for others against your opponent, then use them.
2. Force your opponent to wrestle your style by initiating first.
3. Plan at least 3 "chain" moves in a row. The first two tend to set up your opponent for the third move.
4. Learn all moves even though you might never use them. It will help you counter against them.
5. Stay level headed even under extreme pressure by your opponent. Stress uses up energy very fast and keeps you from being methodical.
6. Don't continually use a move that fails more than twice.
7. Keep your head up on the bottom and try to stay off your knees.
8. Always keep your elbows close to your body.
9. Shift your body so you don't carry your opponent's weight.
10. Don't use moves in a match that you haven't first developed in practice.
11. Shoot only if you can reach out and touch your opponent's elbows and stand with your feet apart and your hands out in front and low.
12. Fake that you have lots of energy left during a break. Never let on to the referee or your opponent how tired you really are.
13. Explode off the bottom on the whistle, don't just move or sit there.
14. Take direct shots and shift stance continuously to prevent telegraphing.
15. Don't hold on to a move that is blocked or can't be completed.
16. Practice all out the same as a match, but don't practice conservatively. You can't loose at practice so try a lot of moves and technique.
17. When facing an opponent who knows as many different moves as you do, stick with basic technique and traditional moves.
18. Be perpendicular to your opponent and keep your head down when pinning.
19. Always drive the head into your opponent on a takedown, never walk around with your butt up.
20. The best time to move again is right after a successful move.
21. Practicing even once a week off season puts you way ahead of those who only practice during the season.
22. Wrestling has many styles, each emphasizing different techniques to accomplish the same objective. The more styles you learn, the more sophisticated and "rounded" your attack will be.
23. Fight to the very end, never quit, especially if your opponent is stalling.
24. Conditioning is a personal responsibility.
25. You only get out of wrestling what you put in.
26. Everyone draws a terrible referee occasionally and not much can be done about it.
27. Don't expect sympathy when you get hurt, especially in high level matches. Sympathy makes it hurt more and prevents you from concentrating on getting the job done.

Goal Setting Guidelines

Do you have Championship Aspirations?

I encouraged you to set some challenging, ambitious long-term goals for yourself. If you only set easily obtainable goals, you will never reach your highest levels of achievement. Do not be scared to strive to live your dreams.

To increase the likelihood that you will achieve your highest goals, you must set a variety of smaller goals. Setting numerous short-term goals will provide you with continuous challenges. These challenges will increase your level of motivation and enhance your performance.

It does not matter if you are a beginner, a veteran college wrestler or an experienced coach, goal setting allows you to focus on the areas you need to improve on and objectives that you want to achieve.

Here are some goal setting guidelines below that will help you identify and achieve your highest goals during the upcoming season and the years to come.

1. Be Specific, setting technique and training goals, as well as performance goals.
2. Set a variety of goals, including a combination of short, medium and long-range goals.
3. Make your goals personal. Personal goals are more meaningful because they are what you want for yourself, not what others expect of you.
4. Make your goals challenging yet realistic. Many of your short-term goals should be easily achievable while others should be lofty.
5. Post your goals. Write your goals down and refer to them often. Post your most important goals in your bedroom, on the fridge and/or in your locker.
6. Do not fear failure. If you only set easily obtainable goals, you will never reach your highest levels of achievement. There is no crime in not reaching your goal but only in failing to set one.
7. Evaluate your goals. Refer to your goals regularly. Check them off as you achieve them and set new goals. You must constantly evaluate where you are and where you are heading.
8. Design a strategy for achieving your goals. Decide how much and what type of work it will take to achieve your goals. Then design and follow a training schedule that will allow you to reach them.
9. Make a Commitment to your goals and work plan. Anyone can set a goal. Those who achieve their goals have the discipline to stay focused on their training and the perseverance necessary to work through the inevitable frustrations.
10. Believe in yourself! There is a big paperweight rock on my desk staring me in the face as I share my thoughts with you. It says if you do not believe in yourself...chances are that nobody else will.

It does not matter who believes in you as long as you believe in yourself. If you wish to excel in wrestling or life, you must have meaningful, concrete goals and you must believe deep down inside that you will achieve them. I encourage you to make a commitment to achieving your highest goals today!

Author Unknown

FOCUS

Chances are you’ve heard it yelled to a wrestler by his coach. Often, after a tough scramble, a controversial call, or a big move. That one word, is meant to be both insight and comfort. FOCUS, the coach yells! FOCUS, you can win this match. FOCUS, your still in it. FOCUS!

The wrestler that has it is often the one that can achieve that championship status, whereas, the wrestler who is still seeking focus is still trying to climb to the top. Wrestling coaches know that their wrestlers at some point during the season in the heat of a match will only have a couple of fleeting seconds to return to FOCUS. The difficult thing is to teach wrestlers what focus is and how to achieve it, when the coach yells from the corner after the out-of-bounds break to focus.
As a wrestling coach yells to focus, the coach is engaging the wrestler to return back to only the moment of the match that is right of front of him/her. The coach is urging him/her to recognize the situation at hand, leave the referees calls, the adrenaline rush, and the past scored points aside. Focus is a powerful tool for a wrestler to have at his/her command. So, as a coach do not neglect to teach what it means to wrestlers.

F-O-C-U-S can be better understood by wrestlers, if it is viewed as a five-letter acronym instead of just an often hurled word in the heat of match. Teach wrestlers to view each letter as a distinct action that must be undertaken to achieve focus.

First of all, the F of focus stands for forget. Forget anything negative that has occurred. Forget the referees call. Forget the locked-hands call that tied the match. Forget the cheap shot that you received out of bounds from your opponent. The coach is yelling at the wrestler to focus, but to achieve this the wrestler must forget anything negative.

Second, O if the wrestler is to be focused, then he/she must organize him/herself. To organize, the wrestler must recognize what is the moment of the match. What is the exact situation that must be wrestled? A successful wrestler first forgets the negative and then organizes for the precise situation that he/she is in. For example, a wrestler has just given up a reversal on the edge and went out of bounds. Much has happened in this change of control. There might be only a few seconds left, the wrestler might have just went down by a point, the match might be slipping away. Hopefully, the wrestler in the few moments he/she has to get set on bottom will know how to organize for that situation. A wrestler organizing for the moment in the match must recognize the score, the time left in the period, the position to be wrestled, and the attacks to be wary of that his/her opponent will initiate. There is a great deal of information to process in a short time for a wrestler to be organized and focused. It is up to the wrestlers coach to help to teach a wrestler the skill of organizing for the moment of the match during a whistle break.

Third, C Now the wrestler must, Concentrate, on the action that must be taken to win in that moment. A good and focused wrestler will know if they are on bottom and there is only a 12 seconds left in the third period and they are down by one, that it is important to be organized for that precise moment. Most coaches would probably be hoping their wrestler realizes that with the limited time on the clock, their more advanced scoring maneuvers, such as a granby roll, would take too long to score. A wrestler who is concentrating must pick the best and precise move to win.

Fourth U, In the seconds before the whistle initiates a re-start of action in the match the wrestler must unwind. Unwinding is really a simple process. It is a matter of the wrestler taking control of the moment. When a wrestler is at a critical point in the match you would hate to see him/her rush back to the center without being focused on the moment. The process of unwinding is that reassuring deep breath that can give that wrestler a moment of pause. In a way, to see a wrestler pause and unwind is also reassuring to the coach in the corner. Teach wrestlers to draw in a deep breath on a three-count, hold it, and exhale on a three count.

Finally, the last part of focus is Step. The acronym of F-O-C-U-S walks a wrestler through forgetting the negative, organizing for the moment, concentrating on the movement, unwinding to take control of the rush of adrenaline, and the step to be taken at the sound of the whistle. Now it is not enough to say to a wrestler hit the inside stand-up. Rather the process of focus should help coaches teach the speed, the force, and the fury that needs to go into the precise step to be taken at the initial whistle. In the practice room coaches, can teach focus by going through a match situation and as the coach talks to his/her wrestlers about unwinding and getting set he/she should reinforce what kind of maximum speed and power they are looking for in that step.
Too often coaches see wrestler go through the motions. They might be repeating that standup for fiftieth time in practices. Their feet and hands are moving to the right points. Their head position is fine. But something is lacking their is not the right speed to that step. F-O-C-U-S, specifically STEP is what those wrestlers are missing. Every coach wants to see his/her wrestlers hit that step in a higher gear. By breaking down the word focus coaches can renew wrestlers attention and achieve higher focus for the speed, force, and fury of any particular step.

Focus! Coaches will yell this to their wrestlers often in the up-coming season. If the wrestlers are truly going to understand what focus means, then they need to learn a process that can be done quickly in the heat of a match, which will actually help them achieve focus. Forget, organize, concentrate, unwind, and step…….when you a hear coach yell focus that is what they expect their wrestler to do. However, the wrestlers that separate themselves from the others to become champions, will undoubtedly learn a higher level of focus.

Written by Ted Witulski-NCEP