assisting clubs to provide a safe and friendly environment for
young wrestlers AIM: To provide young athletes with a quality wrestling experience commensurate with their age, physical development and ability
The Grapplers program achieves this by
assisting clubs to provide a safe and friendly environment for
young wrestlers
providing a structured program that takes into account the
wrestler’s age, physical maturity and ability
providing athletes with recognition of their achievements both
competitive and non- competitive
promoting healthy sporting practises to young wrestlers, their
parents and coaches
providing education for coaches in the youth sport stream
There are three stages in the program:
Stage 1 - Red – Novice wrestlers (from 5 years) –
This stage aims to encourage beginners to develop good basic wrestling skills as well as education in benefits of sport, benefits of proper preparation and hydration, intro to wrestling
Stage 2 Blue – Intermediate wrestlers ( from 5 years)
This stage aims to build on the basic skills and introduce a greater range of wrestling skills.
Education in competition skills, nutrition, weight management, reinforcement of hydration, different styles of wrestling
Stage 3 Black – Advanced wrestlers (from 12 years)
This stage aims to introduce wrestlers to more complex skills including throws.
Education is provided in anti doping strategies, anti smoking/alcohol, sport psychology,
Each wrestler taking part in the program will receive a booklet (a different one for each stage) which sets out the program and contains the educational material. The coach/club receives a poster and resource booklet to support the program.
At the successful completion of each phase the wrestler is sent the next level book and a drink bottle or similar in recognition of their achievement.
Wrestlers and parents:
A quality sporting experience
Education in a wide range of sports health issues
Development of skills in a structured program
Safe youth friendly environment
Recognition for competitive and non competitive achievements
Clubs and coaches:
Well trained young athletes
A program that is easy to implement at club level
A program that assists in motivation of young wrestlers for long
term involvement in wrestling
Assistance in implementing program into club
Promotion by the AWU as a “Youth Friendly club”
AWU and other stake holders:
Increased number of young well trained motivated wrestlers
Increased number of clubs meeting AWU endorsement standards.
Better awareness of a variety of health issues in community.
1. Clubs register with the AWU to take part in Grapplers Program
2. Clubs receive basic information on Program and assistance to meet eligibility requirements
To be eligible to run the Grapplers Program at your club, a club must
o be an AWU endorsed club (be a member of State Wrestling Association)
o have an NCAS accredited coach
o be able to meet all legal duty of care requirements
o have implemented the AWU Safer Clubs program
3. Once clubs have meet these requirements, they will be accredited to run the Grapplers Program and will receive:
a Grapplers Kit – containing a wall poster of National Youth
Framework , Grapplers progress chart, resource material for Grapplers program,
set of Grapplers wrestler logbooks
Promotion on AWU website as an accredited club
Certificate of accreditation
Access to the Wrestler of the Month award scheme
4. The club issues the Grapplers wrestling logbook to young wrestlers, the coach delivers the program (it is adaptable enough to fit in with most wrestling training schedules). As the wrestler achieves the skills listed in the program, they are assessed by the coach and it is signed off in the wrestlers’ logbook.
5. On completion the completed logbooks are returned to AWU
6. The AWU will issue to the wrestler – a certificate of achievement, a recognition award ie drink bottle/lanyard or similar and the new log book for the next stage of the program.
Grapplers progress chart (example)