Wrestling Parents, we need to talk. And yeah, this one’s gonna sting a bit, but it’s coming from love and experience. So hear me out.
Your Kid’s Medal Isn’t the Scorecard You Think It Is
That gold medal from this weekend?
Might not mean development.
That first-round loss?
Doesn’t mean they’re regressing.
Parents, you’re measuring the wrong things.
Why Weekend Results Lie
Every tournament is a mixed bag:
- Different opponents
- Different weight classes
- Random draws
- Travel, rest, sleep, stress, homework load
Yet every Monday, parents obsess over:
“He won this weekend, so he’s killing it.”
or
“She lost early, something’s wrong.”
But here’s the truth:
Wrestling isn’t about weekend wins.
It’s about SYSTEMATIC DEVELOPMENT.
What Actually Matters
Want to know if your kid is developing? Look for this:
- Are they setting up their shots with purpose?
- Are they trying new finishes and setups, not just spamming their go-to move?
- Are they holding good stance and handfighting longer?
- Are they wrestling with intentional style and structure, or still going with the “whatever happens” mindset?
Progress happens in practice. It shows in the way they drill, adjust, and approach matches. That’s the real scoreboard. Not a bracket sheet.
Here’s What Most Parents Never Learn
Even if your kid is winning youth tournaments, they may still be:
- Wrestling sloppy
- Winning on physicality, not skill
- Reinforcing bad habits
- Falling behind in long-term development
And that’s the scariest part. Because you’re being fooled by shiny medals.
And the opposite is also true.
Your kid can lose and still take HUGE strides technically and mentally.
You just don’t know how to measure it, yet.
Learn How to Truly Measure Progress
Parents who understand this develop champions.
The rest ride emotional rollercoasters from weekend to weekend, and damage their relationship with their kid along the way.
Learn what real development looks like inside the Wrestling Parent Masterclass.
I break it all down.
👉 Go here now – because your kid’s future is bigger than this weekend’s results.
Be The Best… always! (on and off the mat)
Georgi I. Ivanov
Olympian | Mentor