2014-15 BANDITS CAWLPROGRAM
PARENTS MEETING
As of: 22SEP14
1. Welcome to the Bandits CAWL Program Parents Meeting. My name is David Manville. I am the leader of the Bandits CAWL Program.
a. The Bandits CAWL Program is for advanced wrestlers, new 7-8th Grade wrestlers who are highly athletic and have a demonstrated capacity to learn quickly, and JV wrestlers under the age of 16 on 31DEC14.
b. The purpose ofthis meeting to arrive at common expectations and answer your questions. Hopefully, you have navigated our website and studied key documents prior to this meeting, so what I cover tonight only reinforces what you already know.
2. Introductions: Tom Bruno (President), Kate Hartman (Treasurer), Susan Manville, Jason Tibbetts (Bandits 1 CAWL Team and MS National Team Coach), Joel Hegg (Bandits 2 CAWL Team and ES Duals Team Coach). A little bit about myself:
a. I wrestled in HS, college, and internationally.
b. I've coached for 14 years now. This is the Manville's 7th year with the Bandits, and my second year as Head Coach of the Bandits CAWL Program.
c. I coach youth though NCAA D1 wrestlers, in all three styles. Each year I coach one or more National Teams. I am the VAWA Northern Region Representative.
3. Program Summary. To summarize our program:
a. TheBandits Club has a tradition of meeting the full spectrum of wrestler needs. We have expanded our capabilities in each of the last two years to fill gaps. Everything we do is purposeful. To understand the "method to our madness",I encourage you to go to our websiteand study theBanditsFull Spectrum Club document found under "Resources". Bottomline: Bandits leaders are committed to getting each wrestler to their personal "next level" as soon as possible.
b. The Bandits CAWL Program (specifically) requires significant parent and wrestler commitment. It is assumed that every wrestler in the program desires to be a champion and that parents and wrestlers are committed to fulfilling that goal.
(1) A critical document posted on our website under "Resources" is the Bandits CAWL Program Parent Checklist. Please print and check-off items soonest.
(a) Everything you need to know about registration, including the on-line registration form, is on our website under "Registration".
(b) A link to secure a USAW Athlete Card is both integrated in the registration process, and on our website under "Links". Last season's cards expired on 31AUG14.
(c) Wrestlers under the age of 8 on 31DEC14, must complete the CAWL Age Waiver Form found on our website under "Resources". Notarization is required. Please email the form to me when complete.
(2) Bandits actively support the transition from NVWF to CAWL.
(a) The transition to CAWL is challenging, but is requisite to wrestler development. Each of the Manville boys spent one year in the NVWF before joining the CAWL. Most of our boys had a "transition year" where they were dual registered NVWF/CAWL year. Dual registered wrestlers are expected to prioritize CAWL activities over NVWF activities, and use the NVWF to supplement our CAWL program (vs. the other way around). My advice is to cut the NVWF umbilical cord as soon as possible.
(b) Winning at the CAWL level will not come easy. To maximize the probability of winning, come to as many CAWL practices as possible, get as many matches in as possible, and wrestle GR & FS in the Spring/Summer. If you do, the winswill eventually come. Case in point: My oldest son (Mason), who recently won a Cadet World Freestyle Championship, was 3rd string on the Bandits CAWL Team his first couple years, and didn't win a CAWL Championship until his 7th grade year. The take away: Commit to our process, be patient, and winning at the highest level will eventually occur.
(c) To support the NVWF to CAWL transition, we offer a second CAWL Team (Bandits 2), and a non-CAWL ES Duals Team schedule.
(3) Bandits also actively support the transition from CAWL competitiveness to National level competitiveness. To support the transition, we offer a full MS National Duals Team schedule "in-house", and we support participation in certain National Tournaments when conflicts with CAWL events arise. We have multiple national caliber wrestlers in the room whose developmental needs must be met. Transition wrestlers are expected to pay attention in practice and do their best to keep up.
(4) We value academics and good character just as much as winning. To succeed in an NCAA program, wrestlers have to have all three. Our motto is "Champions in wrestling, Champions in life", and coaches will emphasize academics and character routinely to the kids.
4. Coaching. We have a highly qualified and experienced coaching staff.
a. We coach the USAW National Coaches syllabus, supplemented by the Keith Lowrance Granby System of Wrestling in the folkstyle season. The curriculum that Coach Bryan Hazard (Robinson SS, VHLS State Champions) and our program follows are very similar, and Bryan sometimes leads our practices.
b. We will push your wrestlers to continuously learn new techniques, and put them together in chain wrestling. Your wrestler will be challenged intellectually.
c. Ourpractices are more challenging than most HSs. Your wrestler will be challenged mentally and physically.
d. We lose coaches every year to the matriculation. We welcome new coaches. We have certain certification requirements. See me.
5. Goals. I am going to talk about individual and team competition goals in a minute, but I want to make absolutely clear that focusing on winning (and losing) does not make champions, in fact it retards development. Focusing on getting better one practice at a time,and one match at a time does. Coaches expect continuous improvement in the quality of your wrestler's wrestling. We do not celebrate wins when a wrestler performs below his/her current level of capability;but we do celebrate losses when a wrestler performs at/above his/her current level of capability. TrackingW-Lare counterproductive to our process.
a. Individual Competition Goals: As I said earlier, we're committed to getting each wrestler to their personal "next level" as soon as possible, and it is assumed that every wrestler in the CAWL Program is committed to becoming a champion. CAWL Program wrestlers should have goals to becomeCAWL, VAWA State and National Champions. Setting high goals (and not being afraid of falling short) is a critical life-skill. Please reinforce these goals with your wrestlers, even when they seem unachievable.
b. Team Competition Goals. All wrestlers are expected to support the following team goals through their participation and performance:
(1) Win the CAWL Dual Championship. The team with the best CAWL Dual record at the end of the year, is the CAWL Dual Champion.
(2) Win the CAWL CTC, qualifying as many kids as possible for the VA-MDChampionship.
(3) Win the VA-MD Championship.
(4) Win the VAWA State Championship.
(5) Win the VAWA ES and MS Dual Championships.
6. There are significant differences between the NVWF and the CAWL.
a. The first significant difference is that Team matters . . . a lot. Selfless behavior is valued and reinforced.
(1) Missing practices hurts your wrestler, his partners and thus the team outcome. Missing a lot of practices will cause your wrestler to feel lost, as well as slow down practices and the development of the entire team. Bad partners retard the development of other kids, and disruptive kids will be asked to find another club.
(2) Team scores are kept at all competitions. Skipping competitionshurts the team. A hole in a dual teamline-up costs the team 6 points (same as a pin, and the same as losing two matches) and negatively impacts the team outcome. Missing a tournament can cost the team as much as 12 team points (last year it cost us a State Championship).
(3) In duals, coaches may bump wrestlers up a weight class in order to secure the best team outcome, even though doing so puts your wrestler's individual outcome at risk (another reason to not track W-L).
b. The second significant difference is that wrestlers must make the weight associated with their weight class. Failing to make weight negatively impacts the team in the same ways that skipping events does.
(1) CAWL events (e.g. CAWL Duals and CAWL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT). Parents must select the appropriate CAWL weight class for their wrestler for the entire season and report it to their coach prior to the Christmas break. A standard 0.4lb allowance applies to CAWL events ONLY. Information regarding weight class selection is posted on our website under "Resources". Please study the Bandit CAWL Program CAWL Weight Class & Eligibilitydocument carefully.
(2) Non-CAWL Dual events (e.g. Bandits ES Duals Team or Bandits MS National Duals Team events). When parents commit to an event they are committing to fill a specific weight class. These weight classes (and sometimes weight allowances) vary from event to event. The standard CAWL weight allowance of 0.4lbs does NOT apply. Flyers for these events are posted on our website under "Competition Schedule"; read them carefully before committing.
(3) Home Scale. It is impossible to fulfillobligations to make weight without an accurate and precise scale home scale. Recommend a Weight Watcher's scale with 1/10 (0.1) lb read-out.
(4) Cutting Weight. Excepting normal weight loss that occurs when junk food is reduced/eliminated, and practicing four times per week, we do not recommend "cutting weight." That being said, wrestling in a higher weight class than necessary (giving up a weight class) will significantly reduce your wrestler's competitiveness. Large weight swings from dehydration and binge consumption are highly discouraged. A balance must be found which is unique to every wrestler. My advice is to "live lean". If your son is not lean now, then I recommend "leaning him out"now.
7. Practices. The practice schedule is posted on our website under "Practice Schedule". We generally do not practice on FCPS student holidays, and do NOT practice during emergency school closures. Pleasesubscribe to the FCPS school closure notification service on-line.
a. Be on time for practices (and competitions). Latecomers disrupt practice, and since they have not warmed up, create a safety hazard. I understand emergencies arise and the challenges of local traffic . . . please just do your best.
b. Practice four times per week somewhere. I recommend that you make all Bandits practices if possible, but understand that is not feasible for many. We cover new skills every night and integrate those new skills in subsequent practices in "chain wrestling". Wrestlers who only make 50% of our practices will be missing 1/2 of their "links". The minimum requirement is 2 Bandit CAWL practices per week. Thursday nights at Robinson are particularly intense and we desire 100% participation at those practices.
c. Help your wrestlers identify 3-4 appropriate practice partners which they rotate through over time (slightly below level, same level, slightly above level). Wresters are expected to pair-up on their own prior to practice or during warm-ups. No one wants their wrestler stuck with a bad partner. So if you want the best partners for your wrestler, ensure your wrestler is a great partner, and be on time.
d. Reinforce to your wrestler that he is largely responsible for the safety of his partner, and himself. Key to safety is coming to as many practices and paying attention during instruction so that techniques can be performed to standard. If you believe your wrestler is inappropriately partnered, say something immediately to a coach. If "little guys" and "big guys" become intermingled, say something immediately to a coach (or jump in between them). Instruct your wrestler that if he hears his partner "cry out", he must immediately stop. Instruct your wrestler to immediately "cry out" when hurt or he/she believes injury is imminent. Practices are intense. All wrestlers are expected to "go hard". Crying is not uncommon. However, safety is paramount.
8. Required Gear, Documents and Grooming.
a. Wrestling shoes with grips on the both sides of each foot are required to execute many techniques. If current shoes don't meet that requirement, no worries. When the current shoes wear-out or are outgrown, replace them with a pair with side grips.
b. We requirewrestlers to wear a head gearand mouth piece at practices (and competitions). Parents of wrestlers with braces must wear a mouth piece conforming to specific NFHS standards. See me.
c. Cut finger nails short amd groom hair to meet NFHS standards. While NFHS allows wrestlers with long hair to wear a "hair cover", I discourage use of "hair covers" for other than our lady wrestlers.
d. If you are in the CAWL Program, your wrestler likely already has a personal singlet. If you do not, recommend thatgo on-line and purchase one as the club does not lone-out singlets for personal use. All wrestlers are required to purchase a Bandits singlet (see "Uniforms paragraph).
e. All wrestlers are required to carry the following documents in their possession at all practices and events:
(1) Current USAW Athlete Card
(2) Proof of Age
(3) Proof of Grade
(4) NFHS Skin Disease MRF (when applicable)
9. Competition Participation. Our competition schedule is posted on our website under "Competition Schedule". Please study the schedule to understand your obligations, as well as opportunities.
a. CAWL Duals Events. Starting line-ups are determined by the coach mat-side, sometimes during the dual, in order to create the best match-ups to win the dual. Please do not focus on "starting". Coaches will do everything possible to get wrestlers who do not "start" an equitable number of "exhibition" matches. All wrestlers are encouraged to get as many "exhibition" matches in as possible. Coaches will qualify every wrestler for the CAWL Championship Tournament (2 x weigh-ins at "scratch" weight, and 5 x matches (exhibitions count)) for wrestlers who make ALL CAWL Dual events. Coaches will do their best to qualify wrestlers who do not make all CAWL Dual events for the CAWL Championship Tournament. We do not have designated "Starters" and we do not wrestle-off for this purpose.
b. To maximize competitiveness,every wrestler should compete in at least 50 matches prior to the CAWL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. Count on 10 matches at CAWL Dual events. Parents should get their wrestlersthe other 40 at Open Tournaments, Bandits ES Duals Team, Bandits MS National Duals Team, and (for transition wrestlers) NVWF tournaments. Contact Jason Tibbetts to commit to Bandits MS National Duals Team events, and Joel Hegg to commit to Bandits ES Duals events. The Bandit CAWL Program MS National Duals Team & ES National Duals Team policy is one our website under "Resources". All of the most competitive kids in the CAWL will get at least 40 non-CAWL matches in; not doing the same disadvantages your wrestler.
10. Skin Disease. Please do everything possible to prevent your wrestler from contracting and spreading a skin disease:
a. Ensure your wrestler showers/baths with antibacterial soap immediately after practice and competitions. Wash clothes prior to re-wearing. Inspect your wrestler for signs of skin disease daily.
b. If your wrestler contracts a skin disease, immediately begin treatment, send me and your wrestlers team coach an email, and do not come to practice. See the doctor soonest, bringing theNFHS Skin Lesion MRFfor the doctor to fill out. The MRF is posted on our website under "Resources". Please study the form now as it provides information on common types of skin disease, treatments, and timeframes for release.
c. If you wrestler has a non-contagious skin condition (e.g. eczema) that occurs in specific places on his/her body, then see your doctor at the beginning of the season to document that condition on a MRF. These types of MRFs are good for the entire season. If you do not, Medical Trainers/Officials may preclude your wrestler from competing should they confuse the non-contagious condition for a contagious condition.
d. As mentioned earlier, place a copy of completed MRF(s)in your wrestler's bag. It will be needed to participate in practice and competitions. Please don't force a coach to set your wrestler out of practice, or an Official to prohibit your wrestler from competing. Failing skin checks negatively impacts the team in the same way that skipping events or failing to make weight does.
11. "Making" the CAWL Program. We seek to avoid "cutting" wrestlers from the program. However, with the significant growth we've experienced that past two years, "cuts" are likely required this season for the following reasons: practice room safety, the ability to fulfill our promise to qualify every wrestler for the CAWL Championship Tournament, and to ensure our most advanced wrestlers' developmental needs are met. Wrestlers who are not able to keep up with the pace of instruction (especially those in weight classes that we have several wrestlers in) may be asked to return to their NVWF practice room. In cases where a refund of registration fees is applies, the full amount will be refunded. To mitigate impacts, the Bandits NVWF Program will run an Intermediate-ONLY practice this season, at least one night per week, at West Springfield HS. To maximize your wrestler's probability of "making" the CAWL program, ensure that they make every practice possible, are paying attention, and working hard.