Tournament Day
What to expect on tournament day
Wrestling tournaments are unlike most other sporting events - no one will be able to give you an exact time when your wrestler's match will be, trackwrestling navigation takes some time to get accustomed to, there are six plus matches going on at once, and scoring is difficult to keep up with even for experienced parents sometimes! This page will give you pointers on what to bring, what to expect and some tips from veteran wrestling parents.
The typical tournament day will begin around 7:30/8:00 AM for the youngest age group. You will want to arrive at least 30 minutes to an hour before stated start time to give your wrestler ample time to wake up and warm up. If your wrestler is weighing in onsite, make sure you note the weigh-in time as well. Occasionally, weigh-ins will begin/end early if the earlier divisions are finishing sooner than expected. Keep this in mind when planning travel times. Each age division lasts roughly 3-4 hours, depending on the number of competitors. Admission for spectators is typically $5/person at local tournaments and $10+/person at national level tournaments. The vast majority of tournaments offer concessions, but some do not open until the tournament officially begins.
What to bring in your wrestler's bag
Your wrestler will need:
- Singlet or compression shirt/fight shorts
- Wrestling shoes
- Warm-up clothes
- Water
- Snacks or concession stand money
- Nail clippers and/or nail file; just in case their nails are too long for weigh-in
- Slides/cleat skins to wear over wrestling shoes; optional, but recommended for cleanliness
- Headphones and mp3 player/phone; optional, for hype music
- Antibacterial/anti-fungal foam/wipes; optional, for use after matches
What to bring in your own bag
You're going to need some stuff too. Here are some ideas:
- Stadium seats, cushions or blankets to sit on; those bleachers are torture.
- Layers of clothing; gyms are always either too hot or too cold.
- Camera for pictures/videos and necessary accessories
- Phone charger; portable is best because there are few outlets available in most gyms
- A good book to read, laptop to work, etc; you'll likely have a lot of time between matches.
- Snacks or concession stand money
- First aid kit including bandaids/Neosporin, wet wipes, children's and adults pain reliever, etc; most tournaments have trainers available for wrestling injuries, but its good to have these on hand just in case.
Emotional notes
Wrestling is a whole 'nother ballgame when it comes to losing. Some kids are able to take it in stride, some don't seem to care either way, but others take it very hard. Be prepared for your wrestler to be upset when they lose. It's a good idea to reinforce good sportsmanship - shake your opponent's hand and the other coach's hand, don't throw your headgear or anklet across the mat, etc - and talk about how they might handle a loss beforehand. Also, don't be surprised if you get a little emotional yourself. Your wrestler might prefer a few minutes to him/herself, or they might prefer some uplifting words from you. Talking about this beforehand is a great way to avoid a meltdown. Wrestling is hard, and watching your child wrestle is hard too.