P.A.L Finals

This is for most of the wrestlers the last tournament of the year, and for some what will qualify them for CCS, county championship tournament.  Now, I was seated 1st in this tournament, and really didn't have to wrestle much because of this, which I took as an opportunity to practice my coaching.  At at this tournament you it isn't just varsity, or JV, there is a girl bracket, JV,  varsity, anyone that is on the team has a chance to wrestle.  That means there is almost always some one from your team on the mat wrestling.  This allowed me many opportunities to coach my teammates.  After finishing up with one match I was usually onto another match of my teammates, yelling out to them to get into various positions to score.  Many of my team mates did well and it was fun to coach them.  Since there were so many matches there were a few times that the coaches were on different mats and needed help coaching.  Since I had so few matches I had so much down time I did a lot of coaching.  I had about three Hours worth for the day, of just yelling to my teammates during a match, or talking to them afterwards, to tell them what they did right, wrong, and what they need to work on.

Saturday

Yet another tournament I went to this weekend.  I was able to participate in this one as well.  The tournament took place at El Camino high school, and its called the Colt Invitational.  This tournament is usually a short one, and the finals, are not under a spot light, its just put the medals on your clipboard, go to the mat, and wrestler for the better medal.  I got roughly 2 hours of coaching done, helping my teammates on the mat, and off,  giving them advice that I thought they should have done in the match, and what they should do to improve. One of the wrestlers was Rubeen Salem, he was wrestling against, a really good wrestler, that I myself have wrestled before, so I knew he was in for a tough match.  Unfortunately when I got to the mat to try an help him out, he was already wrestling, and I didn't have time to warn him of his opponents skill level.  Nonetheless I was shouting out what he should do during the match.  I don't know if he was able to hear me, but I was yelling out to him regardless to try and keep him from getting pinned, and lasting all 3 rounds against his opponent.  To my surprise actually he DID last all three rounds, and finished a full match without getting pinned by the other wrestler, which actually took me by complete surprise.  After his match I had to wrestle, so after my match I went up to him, and told him how seriously proud I was of him to stand a good chance against the person he wrestled.  I gave him some advice (like seriously get lower with your stance!) that I hope he will work on, to be able to beat his next tough opponent.  This tournament we only had one coach so I had opportunities to coach my teammates all day.

Arthur~

3 days ago I was at a tournament with my team.   This was a perfect opportunity to coach my fellow team members, along with a few friends from other teams that might be there.  One of out former team members was coming along with us also. (I'm going to butcher the last name i know it) Arthur Gorgeiyev, former CCS champion.  My mentor decided it would be a good idea to take mental notes on how Arthur coached.  He was coaching wonderfully actually, even my coach was impressed.  He was calling out moves, and various positions for out wrestler to move to that even he didn't do when he was wrestling, but it appears he knew them quite well.  I took note of this as well, to be a good coach you have to know a large amount of the sport you are trying to coach.  I got my chance to coach for a few of my teammates, and watch how my mentor, and Arthur coached throughout the day.  It totaled around 7 hours.