Coaches/Family at Matside????

[76sdad]

Is there a rule for the number of coaches and or family members allowed at matside during a match?
Is it up to the Ref to get it under control or up to the tourney/district host ??
Poor lil Johnny seems so confused as to which of the 4 or 5 Adults screaming, (sometimes from 2 sides of the mat) for him/her to do this move or do that move. I myself find it pretty entertaining but the kids seem really confused. And at the past few events it seems that there are alot more coaches at matside for 2 kids on the mat.

[Hippi]

I agree with you!! Something needs to be done! Mat side has become a circus. I believe the referees should take control of their mats because the coaches, wrestlers and parents won't listen to anyone else... and if you are loitering along the mats "Take a Knee" so the rest of us can see!

[MyThreeSons]

It is suppose to be 2 coaches max per kid... parents and other wrestlers are not allowed there!!! If the adults from each team would follow this things would be alot easier, but i see so many times a ref tell the others to leave and they scoot back 3 feet... then when the whistle blows and the ref isnt looking anymore they scoot back up and nothing is solved. I say hit the kid for stalling if the corner is not in compliance with the rules... and again if they come back so now your costing your wrestler points. I know you can't change rules at this point in the season but I wonder if something can be done for next year. And while im on this rant... PARENTS: Tourney's are not a free babysitting service. Take care of your kids... don't let them run around knocking into people and acting crazy... they are a reflection of you and your club. What happened to the school at Marceline is uncalled for and will give this sport a black eye. Wrestling is already at the bottom of the totem pole for most schools, and I can bet that having damage to a school isn't gonna help to improve that. My wife who is going to have to have shoulder surgery has had young and old kids just bump right into her pushing her aside as they try to chase each other around. I had stomach surgery earlier this year and the day after getting released from the hospital (ok i shouldn't of been at the tourney, but come on it's wrestling season ) I was pushed in the stomach by unattended kids. I'm ok with kids having fun... it's hard to keep them entertained I get that. But atleast keep a better eye on them and teach them some manners, excuse me goes along way.

[MoWest]

First thing that needs to happen is limit the number of coaches card per club. This will eliminate dads, moms, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandma, and grandpa from having a card so they can get in free to tourneys, get into hospitality rooms, get close to mat, and at state get on the floor. Until this happens, nothing will change. And since it's all about the money, and coaches cards are money, nothing will change. But really, limit the number of cards per the number of kids in a club. 2 cards per 10 wrestlers or 2 cards per 5 wrestlers. It's ridiculous how many mom's and dad's have cards. Why?

[MyThreeSons]

There are a ton of parents and wrestlers that don't have coaches cards that are matside... I think that's who they are talking about. Limiting cards per club won't clear the mat side. But if it starts costing the wrestler they are cheering for points I bet they will leave then.

[cage fighter]

There are never simple answers to growth huh? I like Mowest's idea and see their points. I also think you nailed some good reasons why so many parents and random people have cards. The problem with limiting cards is some clubs have only parent coaches that don't care about other wrestlers, only their own. Some parents HAVE to coach their child too. It would have to be more like a 2-5 ratio. My Three Sons has another point. That will only clear a small portion of the people. Penalizing wrestlers for adults’ actions will be hard. What if the person yelling is just some random dad from another team that doesn't like your wrestler? Who gets the stalling warning then? I see this tons, it's usually the coach standing directly above the opposing coaches or the coach across the mat.

I've also coached against entire towns it seemed like before. I find it comical because you will never see that scene in high school or in college. I also think it only creates confusion for the wrestlers and puts more pressure on them when your mom and sister's voice is showing panic and everyone else is screaming GET UP! The refs could do a better job clearing the mats if too many coaches are there. The rule is 2. For the rest of the families and coaches being on the floor it goes down to having only a few entry points to the floor. Then it only takes a couple people to man that post all day checking cards as people enter. Now if random wrestlers are sitting mat side then I think the coaches and parents should tell them that is not the correct place to be and get back in the stands or out in the lobby or cafeteria. Some parents think that this is cute and shows support. It causes dangerous situations for both wrestlers and spectators. Wrestlers can fall on you while wrestling and spectators could accidently step on wrestlers sitting and laying mat side when walking by. If you want to show support, make up a cheer and do it as a team in the stands, IMO. If there is a repeat offender then it's up to a tournament director or assigned floor security personnel to get involved and have them stay off the floor or remove them from the tournament.
You can’t sit next to the mat in high school and bang on the mat so you might as well prepare for high school wrestling too, mom and dad. That’s one of the many characteristic wrestling can reveal. If your wrestler can be independent and stand on their own or not! Man I love this sport!

[fishsticks]

I agree with Cage on the part about penalizing the wrestler - too many variables and then it would just generate more arguments over the scoring. The ref already has a lot to do without policing parents. Coaches, sure the ref can easily remove a coach or two from matside but if he has to police every single person around the mat then he will not be able to watch the match as carefully as necessary. It is really the job of the tournament host to handle the matside issues caused by extra people around the mat.

I cracked up about the "coaching against the whole town" part. Which of us hasn't been trying to coach a match with the other kids parents/relatives/friends standing behind us screaming various instructions or just screaming? I love that parents get involved but keep it in the stands - your kid will hear you if you yell loud enough. Like Cage said you can't be matside in HS so the kid and parents should be preparing for that anyway.

That said, what a great sport. If our biggest issues are too many people matside trying to root for their children or friends we are doing pretty well.

[tigerfan]

Everything mentioned above is good stuff. I have to agree that before a match the referee can move people back, but when the whistle blows he has to keep his eye on the wrestling action and should not even be aware that there are people surrounding the mat. I really want him watching for the safety of the participants. Hopefully tournament adminstrators can do a better job of moving people back.

[momofthreeboys]

I too don't know how you could fix this problem. There are some good suggestions here. The only thing is, I find it quite amusing to watch some of the matside antics. I watched a mother (I presume) slide from one corner of the mat to another as the boys wrestled and moved around on the mat. It was absolutely hilarious. I think we have coaches for a reason. They are the ones with the knowledge and I let them coach. I too have seen some very perplexed children due to 4 or 5 people giving them different moves to be doing. It would be nice if the coaches coached and the kids wrestled and everyone else sat in the stands. I do realize the next wrestler or two needs to be ready and their coach may be there, but stay out of our way. Us, the ones that do sit in the bleachers to watch our children. I have kindly asked people to please sit so I can watch my son and have gotten some pretty horrible looks. I guess it wouldn't upset them that someone was in their way when they were watching their child. I don't mind a parent coaching their child but follow the rules of 2 coaches at matside.

[d_seago]

I believe it is the teams responsibility to manage their coaches and parents. Our club sometimes has issues but we try to address them. Other than a reminder from the ref or tournament host why should it be an issue? Don't punish the wrestler, it is certainly not their fault. It is a rule. Teams, coaches, and wrestlers should follow the rules. Maybe the adults should act like adults.

Dan