Team Summer Camp

Taking your team to a wrestling camp during the summer can yield many benefits, but they require lots of planning and effort. The first thing you'll need to decide is which type of camp you want them to attend. You can choose from three types:

Technique Camps - for the great bulk of developing high school wrestlers, their greatest need is usually more familiarity with various positions, a broader range of set-ups and little bits of "know-how" about various moves plus the ability to correctly drill those moves.

Competition Camps - the emphasis here is matches, matches and more matches!

Intensive Training Camps - these are best suited for the more accomplished, older wrestlers. Don't have a wrestler attend one of these camps unless they are dedicated to the sport and capable of performing in an intense environment! It may do more harm than good.

Which camp is best for your team? It might be that a combination technique/competition camp would provide you with the best of both worlds. Do your homework in selecting one.

Some other things to consider include:

• Cost - some families may not be able to afford to send their kid to camp. Making sure that every kid who wants to go does go may require some fund raising activities.
• Supervision - it's far better to have an excess of adult supervision than too little.
• Transportation
• In-house Camp - an alternative to attending a summer camp is to conduct one of your own "in-house". This won't yield as many benefits, but can greatly simplify things. Don't do all the coaching yourself. Bring in guest clinicians including former outstanding alumni.