My question is simple.  If a high school program has only one coach, can that coach really give the individual time to each wrestler that they will need to be a successful program?  Will the new guys suffer in their development that much or will the returning wrestlers be stuck as a so-so wrestler.  Even if the practices are well structured, can the coach keep an eye on the growth of his team when some work hard and others hardly work.  Can this team progress at a normal level from year to year in comparison to other teams?  Will this team ever be able to compete against top teams in the state? 

It takes a village but, one person can make a difference. No one wins by himself.

I believe one coach CAN make a differance.  Depending on his experience and expertise.  And is motivated to develop a championship tea.

This question is kind of loaded. 

    Being that for the 9 years that I coached at Holmes I was in essence the only coach for about 5 of them, I may be more qualified than others to answer this question.

    1st  Most teams that only have 1 coach usually have very small teams (not able to fill 1/2 the wt. classes).

    2nd  You will also have to take into account the parent backing. 

    I came to Holmes in 2000 I had huge expectations.  I was the assistand at Campbell for 12 years proir, plus young and gung ho. 

    My record speaks for itself.  The team in no way was as competitive as others in Nky but we had our fair share of talent (Matt Gibson, Craig Spicer, Daniel Blevins and John Golsby) With video equipment, tape recorders (for notes) or just pencil and paper a coach can still improve each wrestler no matter how many there are. 

    The biggest problem with these teams are people to wrestle at practice.  Example:  Golsby (The most successfull I had at Holmes) had no-one to wrestle at practice his Junior and Senior year.  Yet he was still able to develop into a better than average wrestler.  On a larger team I believe that he would definatly have become an even better wrestler from the daily competition at practice. 

    To answer your question YES (1) coach is able to still make a difference if he is willing to put the large amount of time into it.  Plus if he puts this much time into it others will take notice and offer their help latter.  Many of my ex-wrestlers came back to help because they knew that I needed the help.

Bulldog

Excellent point made... so if the program has a decent number of kids in it (25-30) but the coach can't spend a lot of time (outside of practice) with the team then it would be safe to assume that the program could produce some tough kids but they will ultimately be held back without more one on one time. 

Bulldog

Excellent point made... so if the program has a decent number of kids in it (25-30) but the coach can't spend a lot of time (outside of practice) with the team then it would be safe to assume that the program could produce some tough kids but they will ultimately be held back without more one on one time. 

If you have a coach that is unable or unwillig to spend time outside of practice.  Ie: one on one after practice, or going over tapes then this is possible.

But I would have to say that even if you have that many kids on a team with only one coach.  The coach has several options. 

1.  Divide the team into several groups depending on experience.  (refrain from dividing them into ability, because even if they are unsuccesful they still have the knowledge.)  By doing this you can have several speeds of coaching.  IE. moving faster with the most experienced kids. and staying with the basics with the most inexperienced.

2.  The coach can take those wrestlers with the most experience (usually the senios) and make them player coaches.  Meaning have them help the least experienced. Pair each experienced kid with an inexperienced kid. This will actually help both wrestlers.  By teaching moves or technique the teacher becomes more proficient and will sometimes notice their own mistakes and weaknesses.

3. IF you have the space and time.  Actually hold two practices.  Experinced kid get instruction while the inexperience work on conditioning and weight training.  Then swith 1/3 of the way through practice.  Experienced work on conditioning while the inexperinced get instruction.  Then 2/3 through practice have the entire team get together for live wrestling, team technique, team signals/code words, and team conditioning.

This is the one I prefered and found to be most effective.

Finally if you have a coach that is unable or unwilling to spend time outside of practice IE:  one on one after practice to work on specific things.  Or to view tapes and game plan.  I would be looking for someone who can or will or pushing hard to find a parent or ex-wrestler to help out with coaching during practice. 

That last statement is not ment to downgrade any coach that is willing to spend at least some time with the team.  But I find it hard to believe that any coach is unwilling to put extra time into the team he is coaching.  Unless he has taken the team just to keep it from folding until someone else can take over.  (If the last is the case then I applaude you for steping up to the challenge, and would add that there are many people willing to help out if you ask and actively look for them.  Even coaches from other teams will help out. 

The Ky wresting community is one big family usually willing to help out one another if you ask.  It is what has helped our sport grow and increased the competitiveness throughout the state.

great suggestions and thanks for the help.  I really like the idea of having two practices, then joining the kids at the end for live wrestling time.  thanks again!!!

As a proud parent, I have to say One coach CAN make a difference. My son is lucky enough to be coached by Chuck Anderson at Seneca. We usually have a full roster, and only One coach. He does have ex-wresters that help when they can, but most of the time it is only Coach Anderson. He loves the sport, and though the team usually doubts it, they are all his boys.

Through intense, work, practice, training, summer camps, this man takes boys that usually have never touched a mat before their freshman year and turns them into top ranked wrestlers. He has been doing this now for 41 years. The man is old school and tough as nails.

After what he has done for my son's confidence, work ethic, and self pride I can think of no better coach out there. So I have to say emphatically, one coach CAN make a difference and in my son's case HAS made a difference.

Thank you for the chance to sing the praises of a coach that would never think of telling anyone how hard he works. I know that he is not the only coach with this level of determination and drive. I don't know the names of all the other coaches, but they all have my thanks. They deserve a lot more praise than they get!

As a proud parent, I have to say One coach CAN make a difference. My son is lucky enough to be coached by Chuck Anderson at Seneca. We usually have a full roster, and only One coach. He does have ex-wresters that help when they can, but most of the time it is only Coach Anderson. He loves the sport, and though the team usually doubts it, they are all his boys.

Through intense, work, practice, training, summer camps, this man takes boys that usually have never touched a mat before their freshman year and turns them into top ranked wrestlers. He has been doing this now for 41 years. The man is old school and tough as nails.

After what he has done for my son's confidence, work ethic, and self pride I can think of no better coach out there. So I have to say emphatically, one coach CAN make a difference and in my son's case HAS made a difference.

Thank you for the chance to sing the praises of a coach that would never think of telling anyone how hard he works. I know that he is not the only coach with this level of determination and drive. I don't know the names of all the other coaches, but they all have my thanks. They deserve a lot more praise than they get!

Coach Anderson coached me over 30 years ago.  He was tough then and it sounds like he still is.  He took us to Iowa State during the summer and did many other things he obviously didn't have to do.  There were times when I didn't understand why he was doing what he was doing. Only now do I realize how devoted he was and how much I learned from him - not only in wrestling, but in life lessons as well.  I agree one coach can make a difference.

This question is kind of loaded. 

     Being that for the 9 years that I coached at Holmes I was in essence the only coach for about 5 of them, I may be more qualified than others to answer this question.

     1st  Most teams that only have 1 coach usually have very small teams (not able to fill 1/2 the wt. classes).

     2nd  You will also have to take into account the parent backing. 

     I came to Holmes in 2000 I had huge expectations.  I was the assistand at Campbell for 12 years proir, plus young and gung ho. 

     My record speaks for itself.  The team in no way was as competitive as others in Nky but we had our fair share of talent (Matt Gibson, Craig Spicer, Daniel Blevins and John Golsby) With video equipment, tape recorders (for notes) or just pencil and paper a coach can still improve each wrestler no matter how many there are. 

     The biggest problem with these teams are people to wrestle at practice.  Example:  Golsby (The most successfull I had at Holmes) had no-one to wrestle at practice his Junior and Senior year.  Yet he was still able to develop into a better than average wrestler.  On a larger team I believe that he would definatly have become an even better wrestler from the daily competition at practice. 

    To answer your question YES (1) coach is able to still make a difference if he is willing to put the large amount of time into it.  Plus if he puts this much time into it others will take notice and offer their help latter.  Many of my ex-wrestlers came back to help because they knew that I needed the help.

Ahh but what a waste.  When you left Campbell Co.  you were at the top of your game. 

After getting to Holmes you lost that.  You were never able to succeed even close to where you should have been.

Expectations were high when you reached Holmes and you never fulfilled those expectations.  You were never able to come close to duplicating what you helped build at Campbell Co. 

You have to agree that the tenure at Holmes was a failure.  I'm not sure if you were not the right one for the job or if you gave up after not having the dedication you had a Campbell.

It is nice that you finally came back home.  Maybe once again you can help build the great prgrams that Campbell had when you left in the 90's. 

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Someones coming for your title!

Many contenders..... but there can be only one.

That was not ment as a personal dig. 

It was a comment on how 1 coach can only make a limited difference. Between the amount of time needed physical and mental pressure brought upon an individual it is very difficult for one coach to make a difference. 

My point was that he did an excelant job at CC but when he got to Holmes he was not able to accomplish the same thing.  The coach must fit the school and he must have the right supporting staff to become succesfull. 

You can take a great coach and put him in a bad situation and he still will not be able to succeed.  And on the other hand you can take a poor coach and put them in a great situation and they will succeed.

I am not trying to win any award here just "Giving the facts maam" 

larue county has done pretty good with coach canter