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Getting More out of Summer Camps (June 2009) |
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Help your athletes become better wrestlers through Summer Camps
Every athlete, no matter how good or successful, can improve on his technical wrestling skills. I am a big believer that Summer Camps are for doing just that. You can help your athletes evaluate their strengths and weaknesses before camps, so they can get an idea what to work on this summer. If they pinpoint what areas they are looking to improve on, they can gear their summer training to work on those areas. When talking to your athlete, you might ask him the following questions:
"What do you think are your weakest areas in wrestling?" Try to get them to be specific, such as, "I need to learn to shoot", or, "I have trouble countering legs".
"What are your biggest strengths?" Finally,
What areas do you want to develop at Summer Camp?
Try to encourage them to work on strengths as well as weaknesses. Becoming better at your strengths is often overlooked, but it is important to do this. Have a go-to move? Find other ways to get to it - or develop other finishes for it.
You are always better off getting your athlete to express where he thinks he needs work, and what he wants to develop - be careful that you are not just telling him what you think the answer is. Self-realization is a powerful tool. Still, be there to guide him in the process. If he gave up 70 takedowns last year but tells you he's really good on his feet, he may need a reality check, which is where your guidance comes in.
Next, encourage him to match camps with his areas he wants to get better at. And encourage him to get help in his key areas when he is at camp, staying after with coaches there who can help him develop these skills. You should be able to do that at a quality camp - you can certainly do that at my camps. My coaches are all dedicated, quality individuals that you can learn a lot from. They and I make ourselves available after every session.
If your wrestler goes into camp with goals for improvement, he will get more out of the camp.
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