Junior Olympic Training Programs prepare international stars of the future

The 2006 Winter Olympic Games are all over the media at this time, as the world’s best athletes in winter sports are getting together to battle for medals in Torino, Italy. This is an exciting time for everybody who enjoys sports and get caught up in the Olympic spirit.

While the stars of today are performing for the world to see, the stars of tomorrow are getting prepared for the 2012 Olympic Games and beyond. USA Wrestling is busy working with the nation’s best young wrestlers and assisting in their development, helping to support the Olympic dreams of tomorrow’s heroes.

USA Wrestling has a system of Junior Olympic Training Programs which identify the top age-group wrestlers in the nation, then provide extensive training and preparation opportunities for them. These talented young athletes are exposed to the best coaches in the nation, and learn alongside other successful wrestlers who have similar experience and goals. This includes specific training camps and workshops which are available to athletes who have achieved success in the USA Wrestling youth programs.

The first step for young athletes to get involved in these training opportunities is for them to enter USA Wrestling’s age-group national championships. Each year, there are national tournaments on the following levels: Cadet (15-16 yrs.). FILA Cadet (15-17 yrs.), Junior (high school), FILA Junior (17-20 years) and University (18-24 yrs.). Earning a placement at these national tournaments provides a variety of options to the wrestlers who reach this level of achievement.

The National Coaches in men’s freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman have developed a number of training camps that provide specialized training for athletes who reach national achievements. The programs are administered by National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson and National Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett.

These camps are developed for top-ranked Cadet and Junior wrestlers to travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with the Senior-level Greco-Roman and Freestyle Resident Teams, as well as all of the USA Wrestling National Coaches. Special coaching attention is given to each young wrestler in addition to their opportunity to work out alongside our nation’s best athletes.

There are specific achievements that the wrestlers must reach in order to be invited to this program. The only cost to the athlete is their transportation to and from Colorado Springs, Colo. Room and board costs are free. Space is limited and once camps are filled no further applications will be accepted.

The following weeks are available for Big Brother/Future Freestyle Training Camps:

March 19 - 26

March 26 – April 2

May 14 – 21

June 4 -12

An additional Greco-Roman Big Brother program will be held at Northern Michigan Univ. at the U.S. Olympic Education Center from March 26 – April 2.

This is an intensive, one-week training opportunity for the elite wrestlers on the age-group levels, to be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 9-16. Only 55 spots are available in this program.

To qualify, a wrestler must be among the top three placewinners at the ASICS Junior and Cadet National Championships, or a top two finisher at the FILA Cadet Nationals who are currently enrolled in high school. If any spots remain, those who meet USA Wrestling Funded Access requirements will be considered.

This is a comprehensive, highly structured program specifically designed to develop the top young athletes into world-class competitors. The coaching staff includes World and Olympic champions, national champions and coaches and athletes from USA Wrestling’s National Teams.

For the second straight year, USA Wrestling will determine its FILA Junior World Team in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman through a training camp and World Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 4-12.

Based on specific achievements, athletes who meet eligibility requirements will come to the OTC and train with the national coaching staff. At the end of the week, the World Team Trials will be held, with the winner earning a spot on the 2006 U.S. Junior World Team. Last year’s Training Camp and Team Trials included many of the best young wrestlers in the nation, and the competition for the team was at an extremely high level.

Those that make the U.S. Junior World Teams and some invited athletes will then participate in a FILA Junior Final Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, August 9-12.

While the nation’s top young wrestlers are receiving instruction at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, talented and motivated coaches are also offered an opportunity to improve themselves through the Coaches Summer Study Workshops. The goal is to raise the level of freestyle and Greco-Roman coaching in the USA, and to build a strong network of international coaches in our nation.

These five-day education programs for coaches will be in conjunction with the Big Brother and Future Freestyle Camps for athletes. Featured topic are the psychology of coaching, physiological development and technical development. It is designed for coaches that have received NCEP bronze level certification or above.

Coaches must cover the costs of their own transportation to Colorado Springs. Room and board are covered by USA Wrestling. The cost of administrative materials is $100 for bronze certified coaches and $150 for coaches who have not achieved bronze certification.

Al l camp applications must arrive three weeks prior to the camp that is applied for. For information on all of these programs, contact:

Ike Anderson

National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach

Ianderso@usawrestling.org

719-598-8181

Dave Bennett

National Freestyle Developmental Coach

dbennett@usawrestling.org

719-598-8181

There is also a complete program of training opportunities for women wrestlers, working with the National Women’s Coaches and the top Senior-level women athletes in the nation. For more information contact:

Vlad “Izzy” Izboinikov

National Women’s Developmental/Resident Coach

Izzy@usawrestling.org

719-598-8181

Tomorrow’s Olympic and World medalists are being developed today. Young athletes who have the motivation to improve, and the proven performance to meet eligibility requirements, are encouraged to get involved in these Junior Olympic Training Programs. Future success is built one athlete at a time.

Gary Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling and is a founder of the National Wrestling Media Association and is a 2005 recipient of the NWCA Meritorious Service Award.

Gary Abbott