School of Thought: Wrestling lessons apply to life
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WRITER INTRO: As a follow-up to last week's entry, Parkersburg South's Wrestling Coach Shaun Smith weighs in on the various ways to transfer the grit and determination gleaned from wrestling into other aspects of life. When Shaun isn't in the wrestling room, cheering on his athletes, or his classroom, he can be found spending time with his family.
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In life, self-discipline and responsibility are important qualities for anyone to have. When implemented appropriately, these qualities allow individuals to be more successful in personal endeavors because they are so closely intertwined with accountability. This is especially true for the sport of wrestling. As someone that has been involved with wrestling for 30 years as both a competitor and a coach, it is my strong opinion that the potential attributes that can be attained within this sport are endless. However -- specifically narrowing in on self-discipline and responsibility -- wrestling is one of the best sports to help a person obtain those qualities.
In most ways, wrestling IS discipline. Competing in wrestling involves much sacrifice for one to be their very best. It requires precision and repetition of drills and moves to develop the muscle memory required to improve. It requires a high level of dedication and hard work to reach an athlete's fullest potential. Regarding weight management, proper dieting is crucial for wrestlers to feel their absolute best competing in their respective weight class. While this aspect of the sport is often criticized, there is responsibility embedded, as it keeps wrestlers aware and responsible for what they are putting into their bodies. If the human body is not fueled in the best way, there is a potential for failure at a pivotal moment. The sport of wrestling requires a lot of sacrifice physically and mentally to achieve one's goals; but there is a very direct correlation between the personal discipline of a wrestler and their successes.
As a coach, my goals vary from year-to-year and from wrestler to wrestler. However, the main focus I hold for my athletes is always the same -- progress and the process to getting their hands raised repeatedly. Winning is everyone's end goal in athletics, but the biggest reward as a coach comes when you see your wrestlers improving from the start of a season to the finish, and from season-to-season as they grow and mature not only as an athlete, but also as a young adult.
Being a part of a wrestler's progresses and climbing of that proverbial ladder as their coach is a special privilege. Another goal of mine as a coach is for everyone to understand the value of teamwork. At one point or another, each wrestler has been a part of a team in some capacity. The importance of connecting and coming together to achieve the same thing is undervalued. When an entire team "buys in," they can achieve a lot of special things together -- on the mat and off. Coaching plays a huge part in the cohesion of a team coming together as one unit. The competition season is full of highs and lows, and a coach must be able to keep their team motivated and concentrated as individuals and as one entity. My overall hope for any athlete that I coach is to guide them in a positive direction.
You cannot reach all individuals in the same way. Some athletes come into the wrestling room better prepared than others; some are more coachable, more disciplined, harder working, etc. than others. However, it is my job to instill those virtues in all my athletes so that they can reach success. I want all my competitors to appreciate the time that they have with their peers and team. It is through those experiences together that they learn the true value of working together and how important it is to be able to rely on someone to help them achieve something bigger than themselves. All this, an invaluable lesson for each of them to carry forward in their lives.
Wrestling is one of very few sports that doubles as an individual and team sport. You can have a lot of success in wrestling, solely competing as an individual. There are more opportunities to compete in such a way that you simply cannot do in most other sports. This is beneficial because it allows athletes to be able to participate in events that occur within a season. Plus, there is a lot to be said for athletes that are willing to compete in a head-to-head type of sport in front of numerous fans.
On the other side, the team aspect of wrestling is very special. By having various weight classes throughout different age groups, it allows for anyone to be able to participate because you compete against others that are the same size and age. Although it is more known to be an individual sport, wrestling still includes numerous benefits of a team sport. There are dual meets and tournaments that the outcome is concluded among the collective results of each wrestler.
Teammates are extremely important for the overall growth of a wrestler. In a combative sport like wrestling, the ability to have teammates that can push you to improve is so important. Great training partners are crucial for the overall development as well as support in the more challenging periods. In those environments, there tends to be the most growth amongst everyone. Along with the training, there tends to be an inseparable bond among a team of wrestlers that compete their hardest and always work to make themselves and everyone around them better. In some circumstances, it can be just as rewarding seeing your teammate accomplish their biggest goals due to the bond that is shared among the group. Although wrestlers compete out on the mat alone, your teammates can guide you through the toughest wins and losses, again something that it easily transferable into day to day life. These many instances are what make wrestling such a great sport. It is truly a sport for everyone.