Midget Mania !!!!!

[G-MAN]

There Are A Lot Of Teams That I Am Noticing That Are Bringing 8year Old Kids To These Midget Qualifiers. The Problem I Have With This Is, The Majority Of These Kids Have A Hard Time Winning At The Bantam Weight Let Alone At The Midget Weight. There Are A Few 8 Yr Old Kids That Can Hang With The 9 & 10 Lets Only Bump These Deserving Kids Up For Two Reasons, 1. For The Saftey Of The First Year 8, I Saw A First Year Kid Get Stacked On His Head And I Thought His Neck Was Going To Snap. 2. So That At The Midget State We Can Have The Best Compitition Possible. I Am Only Mentioning THIS Because Every Time There Kids Lost They Were Using This "first Year Kid" Statement As A Excuse, But They Were Really Solidifing What I Am Saying Here.let These 8 Yr Old Kids Build There Confedence At The Bantam Level.

[Coach Ryan]

I understand your concerns and have pondered them. I would say safety should be a considered issue at all times, but some believe the way to develop is by wrestling tougher kids. I remember back when there were only weight divisions...ages were irrelevant.....What are elite tourneys about.....and I had to walk uphill both ways....lol. Just teasing. If the kids shouldn't be out there, that is between coach, wrestler, and parent. I've seen 8 yr olds bump up and stack 10 yr olds on their neck. Part of the sport, coaches are there to use their discretion. Just my outside opinion, because I'm all for bumping up.

[G-MAN]

I Agree With Bumping Up The Kids That Can Hang, Just Not Every Kid!

[CrossTown Coach]

:D I understand your concerns and have pondered them. I would say safety should be a considered issue at all times, but some believe the way to develop is by wrestling tougher kids. I remember back when there were only weight divisions...ages were irrelevant.....What are elite tourneys about.....and I had to walk uphill both ways....lol. Just teasing. If the kids shouldn't be out there, that is between coach, wrestler, and parent. I've seen 8 yr olds bump up and stack 10 yr olds on their neck. Part of the sport, coaches are there to use their discretion. Just my outside opinion, because I'm all for bumping up.
There is The 3rd Annual Illinois Bantam Championships at Bloom Trail, this is a tough tournament for the 8&U's to compete in. If the 8yr old isn't ready to move up there's nothing wrong with that child wrestling with his/her age group. Alot of 8yr old competed & placed in both last year.

[G-MAN]

No Disrespect Meant Toward You Guys At Tinley You Do An Excellent Job With The Boys . I Made A Mistake Singling You Out, I Was Just Trying To Make A Point About A Lot Of The 8yr Olds That Arent Ready Yet.

[notorious]

No offense taken.

[lenny]

In 2004, Tinley Park had a Midget Champion and Midget medalists who were 8 years old. The age isn't what qualifies a kid as a good enough wrestler. I don't know why you would tell a kid who wants to wrestle up to be a part of something that is being promoted that he doesn't deserve the chance. I think that would be wrong!

[G-MAN]

Thanks For Proving My Point! Robertson & Bandy Are Fine Examples Of The 8 Yr Old Wrestlers That Proved They Belonged. Once Again I Was Not Trying To Single Out Tinley, I Should Have Worded My First Post Differently, I Was Trying To Say We Should Just Be More Selective In The Kids We All Bump Up. I Know Kids From Our Program That Were Having Fine Seasons Before Being Bumped Up At All Levels And Had Their Progress Stoped At The End Of The Season And Didnt Return The Following Year.

[lenny]

I no we bump up kids but it is only to give them a chance when it comes to state. last year we had an 8 yr old state champ. Lets give these little one chances. anything could happen on any given tournament day.
GO BULLDOGS
our best wrestlers our mainly at 9 yrs old though so we will be a force to be reckoned with next year:D

[miami51]

You are right!!! these coaches bump up kids move them around and try to win
at any cost. So what the kid is unbeatable at 7/8 and he is a first year wrestler wow that is great! so lets bump him up so he can lose and he will feel better for losing to a better kid rather than winning. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. By the way what weight class did this 8 year old win? was it a lighter division?
you wana build confidence let the kid beat up the kids at his age and next year he will have better matches.

[Coach Ryan]

Wow! This is a difference of opinion, that's it. The ones that do it think we're right, other have their opinions. I will post exactly the same thing that I tell parents at our team. I won't bump up the kids that are .500, but if you have a kid with a handfull of losses and he isn't being challenged, move him up. If you don't wrestle better competition, it is hard to continually improve. I personally don't want my kids to level off or get sloppy because they are not being challenged. I did it with my own child and many others. If they get pounded, you can move them down a week to regain confidence. I don't know of many being forced to bump up. If a kid wants to go to midget state he needs to at least test the waters during the season. I know myself and my 9 yr old would rather he wrestle 11-12 and lose to a good kid by 3-4, than wrestle 9-10 and pin everyone in 20 seconds(not that he does, this is for example). Which is better for his confidence? Well, my boy feels much better about himself when he loses a close one to a good kid, than we he takes 1st in a weak bracket. He may be heart broke for a few seconds, but then he feels much better later on. Good luck to you on whatever decision you make.

[Spartandog]

When you chose to single out a specific team, for your misinformed opinion on this subject, you in fact challenged the integrity of a fine organization. Offense has been taken, make absolutely no mistake about that.

If you have any reason to believe the organization is in any way overstepping any boundaries when it comes to the responsible handling of these fine young men (and lady), bring it to me. If you can't bring yourself to do that, inform the IKWF board ... they care about matters like this more than many may think, or mistakenly assume...

[G-MAN]

Booo Hooo!! It Was A Dead And Over With Untill God Himself Had To Get His Two Cents In.

[Spartandog]

Take those two cents... and in the future.. spend them more wisely...

[G-MAN]

Wow!!! The Great One Spoke Again.

[TourneyFan]

Just curios, are 8 year olds allowed to wrestle in the midget duals next week? How about 7 year olds?

[ugly1]

If it is like years past, then 7 year olds are not allowed to wrestle. 8 year olds can though.

[G-MAN]

IF IM NOT MISTAKEN ARENT YOU THE ONE THAT SAID (6 DAYS AGO) TO LET IT GO THAT WERE BEATING A DEAD HORSE?:confused:

[bigred]

Does that mean that a whole universe could be inside my fingernail?:confused:

[G-MAN]

I Removed It Myself Because Of All The Crying It Caused In The South! I Heard Their Was A Few Flooded Basements ? :D

[bluecoach128]

I moved my son up at bears bash sunday for the simple reason 8 & under can't give him a real feel for wrestling by moving him up to 9 - 10 he now knows his matches won't always be a cake walk.I't is always better to do this for kids that ride the fence between 8 & under and 9-10 .These kids dominate 8 year olds but when moved up they can still hold there own.