Strategy is an area of wrestling that is often overlooked. Some coaches and wrestlers work on strategies for individuals or for certain teams. However, you will not often find a wrestling coach who studies and uses wrestling strategies on an ongoing basis. World-class competitors devise and study strategies all the time.
Various strategies can be used in many different aspects of a match. For example, there are five characteristics of an individual that will determine how effective he will be as a competitor. Strategies can be developed to compete against each opponent's mental, cognitive, physical, technical, and athletic abilities. It would be very easy to map out a profile of each one of the above components. A wrestler can develop a strategy that will allow him to effectively compete against each one of the five components mentioned above. For example, it can be determined that a wrestler who may be extremely well built may not be mentally tough. In this situation, the opposing wrestler might be well served if he wrestles a physical match and puts maximum pressure on this particular opponent. By doing so, he will have exploited a glaring weakness and given himself a better opportunity to achieve success.
Let's take a quick look at the five characteristics that generally determine a wrestler's ability to be an effective competitor.
1) The first and most important component is a wrestler's mental makeup. This component will generally determine how much success a wrestler will achieve. If a wrestler is mentally tough, he will be able to overcome obstacles and physical deficiencies that might otherwise slow his progress. Mentally tough competitors are generally self-motivated and possess an intense desire to excel. They thrive on competition and hate to lose. A mentally tough competitor is the type of opponent that other wrestlers generally do not like to face.
2) The cognitive wrestler tries to outsmart or outthink his opponent. This may be an effective strategy against some opponents, but it will only take a wrestler so far. Generally, this type
of wrestler is not in the best condition and may not have the physical tools to compete with
others in his weight division.
3) The physical aspect of a wrestler is determined by how well conditioned he is. Conditioning is an extremely important aspect of wrestling. The outcome of many matches is determined by a wrestler's level of conditioning; Confidence„ concentration, and mental toughness can be improved if a wrestler is in top physical condition. A well-conditioned wrestler will be able to use his strategy to the best of his ability. On the other hand, if a wrestler is not in good condition, his ability to carry out a strategic plan will be diminished.
4) The athletic ability of a wrestler can be a tremendous asset if he is a gifted athlete and a serious liability if he is a poor athlete. There is no substitute for speed, great balance, strength, and cat-like body awareness. If a wrestler has great athletic ability and is strong in the other four areas, you are looking at a serious competitor. Although this may be true for some wrestlers, there are many who are not strong in all five areas.
However, having great athletic ability can also be a liability. Sometimes great athletes do not
work as hard because learning athletic skills are much easier than others less endowed. The sport of wrestling requires that wrestlers push themselves hard, no matter how gifted they may be. The great thing about our sport is that there are many variables that make up the total wrestler. If a wrestler works hard and is smart, he can make up for any deficiencies he may have as an athlete.
5) The technical aspect of wrestling is also a very important element of the sport. A wrestler's success will generally be determined by his technical proficiency. Good technique will give a wrestler the tools he needs to score points and to pin the opposing wrestler. The better a wrestler's technique, the less physical work he will have to do for the greatest return. A good technical wrestler is the toughest type of opponent to plan a strategy for. He knows how to score points and take advantage of any weaknesses his opponent may have. If a wrestler knows the technical tendencies of a good technical opponent, it would help if he devised a Strategy that would limit the good technical opponents' scoring opportunities.
Wrestlers who spend a lot of time learning how to perform techniques properly will increase
their chances for success. Knowing how to perform wrestling techniques properly will also make the sport a lot more enjoyable. Learning low /risk high success rate techniques, constant drilling, and paying strict attention to detail will help a wrestler improve his technique.
Other aspects of wrestling need to be considered when developing a strategy. Below are areas that can very easily determine the outcome of a match: (1) The referee; (2) the out-of-bounds line; (3) stalling calls; (4) scouting; (5) the clock.
A wrestler can use each of these factors above to his advantage. This will require that a wrestler be aware of the tendencies of certain officials and his opponent. It will also require that a wrestler develop a strategy that will make the stalling call and the clockwork in his favor. Learning how to wrestle close to the out-of-bounds line can also be a big advantage for wrestlers. If a wrestler spends time preparing to dominate his opponent in each one of the above areas, his success rate for winning close matches will be much higher. Let's take a look at each one of these factors.
1) The Referee
The Referee should not be the one who determines the outcome of a match. All of us would like to think that officials make consistent calls and do not have biases towards individuals or teams. However, we all know that there will be occasions where this will not be the case. Therefore, we should not spend time hoping against hope for the perfect official for every match.
Coaches and wrestlers can spend time figuring out how to subtly encourage a referee to work to their advantage. My first recommendation to wrestlers would be to not put themselves in a situation where the referee can determine the outcome of the match. That is the safest strategy. Wrestle intelligently, aggressively, and be courteous to the referee.
There are some factors regarding the referee that are cut and dry. For instance, some officials are much quicker calling stalling than others. It is important for a wrestler to detect this tendency early in a match. If this is the case, it would be a good strategy to force a stalling penalty on the opposing wrestler. A strategically placed stalling call can change the momentum and advantage in a close match.
Some officials count near-fall points and call pins very quickly. Wrestlers need to be aware of this type of official. If this is the case, a wrestler needs to fight extra hard to Stay off of his back.
Some referees are real sticklers when it comes to lining up correctly or jumping the whistle. I have seen wrestlers lose matches because some officials are such perfectionists when it comes to technical calls. Wrestlers need to be aware of officials who have this tendency.
Generally, the official will talk to both teams before a match starts. This would be a good
opportunity for a coach or his wrestlers to make the official aware of certain illegal tendencies or stalling tactics of an individual or an entire team that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Coaches and wrestlers must keep in mind that officials are only human. They are not
programmed robots. They have feelings, and they are quite capable of making mistakes."Although some officials may be better than others, I believe all of them try to do their best. It would be a mistake to try to embarrass an official or attempt to force one to change a judgment call. Wrestlers will probably see the same official more than once. If you have a legitimate disagreement with an official's call, try to get him to come to the side of the mat or talk to him after the match.
An official can be your best friend or your worst enemy on a critical call. Treat him with respect, and your team will benefit from more judgment calls than they are hurt by.
2) Stalling Calls
There are many instances during a match where a stalling call can play a strategic role. A stalling call can easily 'determine the outcome of a close match. If a wrestler knows what he needs to do to avoid the stalling call and knows how to make it work to his advantage, he will be more likely to win most of his close matches.
There are techniques that wrestlers can use in certain situations that will generally prevent them from being warned or penalized for stalling: The area where a wrestler is most likely to be called for stalling is near the out-of-bounds line. If a wrestler consistently keeps his back to the out-of-bounds line, he will probably be called for stalling. It is important for wrestlers to learn how to circle back to the center of the mat. This is a technique that can be drilled and worked on in the practice room.
Any type of tie-up situation where one wrestler appears to be blocking off is construed as Stalling in the eyes of most officials. For instance, if one wrestler has an Under Hook and the opposing wrestler drops his head to block off, he could be called for stalling. Wrestlers must learn to pummel out of unproductive tie-up positions. Most officials will allow a wrestler to defend himself in a tie-up situation. However, wrestlers must understand the difference between defending and blocking off.
Wrestlers are often called for stalling when they are riding the opposing wrestler. It is very
important that wrestlers avoid giving away stalling points when they are in the top position. If a wrestler appears to be just riding the bottom wrestler, he will likely be called for stalling. The top wrestler must make sure that he is constantly attacking the bottom wrestler. Sometimes this will require the top wrestler to move more perpendicularly or to take a greater risk. In many instances, a wrestler will be better off giving up an escape rather than losing a stalling point. I say this because
a wrestler may end up doing both.
I feel that a wrestler is least likely to be called for stalling if he is in the bottom position. Officials are aware that the top wrestler is allowed to Start with the most control allowed from any position. Generally, the bottom wrestler is not expected to give up additional control to the top wrestler. However, the bottom wrestler must keep moving to avoid being hit with a Stalling penalty. The longer the bottom wrestler is broken flat to the mat, the greater his chances of being called for stalling will be.
Wrestlers can also make the Stalling call work to their advantage. There are certain tendencies that will give a wrestler the appearance of 'stalling. For instance, a wrestler may block when confronted with a tie-up situation, or he may have a habit of backing away when the opposing wrestler works to secure a tie-up. The sooner these stalling tendencies are detected, the quicker they can be exploited. The best opportunity to take advantage of the stalling call is when the opposing wrestler is tired. A tired look is a dead giveaway to an official and all of the people watching. If the tired wrestler does not respond to a relentless attack, he will surely be called for stalling.
There are certain techniques that a wrestler can use to make the opposing wrestler look like he is stalling. For instance, the more a wrestler can keep the opposing wrestler's back to the outer circle, the more likely the opposing wrestler will be called for stalling. Another strategy is to take several offensive attempts without giving the opposing wrestler a chance to counterattack. Of course, a wrestler's goal should be to score points in the process.
The best way to take advantage of the Stalling rule is to wrestle smart and attack your opponent from every position. Wrestlers who are in good physical condition will be better able to make the stalling call work to their advantage. The University- of Iowa wrestling teams of the Dan Gable era are a prime example of how well-conditioned wrestlers can take advantage of the stalling rule.
3) The Outer Bounds Line
The outer bounds circle will come into play many times during the course of a match. Many
matches are won and lost on the outer bounds line. It is important that wrestlers learn how to
wrestle when they are close to the outer bounds line and learn how to make that line work to their advantage.
Loss of concentration is the biggest mistake I see when wrestlers are close to the outer bounds line. Some wrestlers assume that a whistle will be blown, and some wrestlers assume that the opposing wrestler will also relax when he is almost out of bounds. Wrestlers should keep wrestling hard until they hear a whistle.
Unless it is to a wrestler's advantage, he must avoid wasting time or energy when wrestling close to or on the outer bounds line. For instance, if a wrestler needs to score, he can not afford to waste time close to the outer bounds line. This is where a wrestler can benefit from a good strategy.
If a wrestler attempts a takedown close to the line and does not score, he must think immediately in terms of getting a fresh start. Sometimes it will be too difficult to pull the opposing wrestler back towards the center. In this situation, a wrestler will be better off driving the opposing wrestler through the outer bounds line so that he may get a fresh start. However, in this situation, a wrestler must be careful not to be called for pushing the opposing wrestler out of bounds.
Many wrestlers waste good takedown attempts close to the outer circle. These wasted attempts telegraph what a wrestler's intentions are, and they cause wrestlers to spend a lot of energy trying to negotiate a finish close to the outer bounds line. Most importantly, precious time can be wasted near or on the outer bounds line. A wrestler would be better off moving quickly back to the center of -- the mat before he takes his best shots. If the opposing wrestler continues to gravitate toward the outer bounds line, he will probably be penalized for stalling. The time that wrestlers spend developing strategies for the outer bounds line, will be time well spent.
4) The Clock
The clock can also be a wrestler's best friend or his worst enemy. It is important for a wrestler to be aware of how much time is left in a period and how much time is left in a match. I have seen many wrestlers beaten by the clock, and I have also seen many wrestlers use the clock to their advantage.
The best way to make to clockwork to your advantage is not to assume anything about the
amount of time left in a period or in a match. Wrestlers should keep wrestling hard and maintain a high level of concentration until the whistle blows. A coach can really be helpful in this situation. If a coach keeps his wrestlers informed about the correct amount of time left in a period or in the match, his wrestlers would be less likely to lose their concentration at a critical time.
Wrestlers must realize that they cannot afford to waste time in certain situations. Sometimes
wrestlers will spend too much time on the bottom, for example, before they attempt an escape or reversal. This gives them less time to initiate an effective attack, and they may be giving the top wrestler more confidence. Another situation that I feel occurs far too often, is when a wrestler is behind in a match with less than thirty seconds remaining. I am referring to when both wrestlers are on their ·feet. Sometimes wrestlers will wait until the last five or ten seconds before taking a shot
In this situation, I feel that a wrestler needs to launch a relentless attack. He needs to take his best possible shots as soon as possible. If the opposing wrestler is playing the out-of-bounds line, the wrestler who is behind should shoot on him and drive him out of bounds if necessary. The key is to get a fresh shot and to take as many good shots as possible.
5) Scouting
Scouting an opponent can pay big dividends for any wrestler. Most wrestlers have certain mental, technical and physical tendencies that will not change drastically over a short period of time. These are tendencies that can be picked up visually by scouting an opponent. Once certain tendencies are detected, an appropriate strategy can be devised.
The best possible strategy is to make the opponent wrestle your style. In most instances, it would be unwise for a wrestler to change his entire style to prepare for one opponent. However, it is a good strategy to prevent the opposing wrestler from securing his best scoring positions. For instance, if the opposing wrestler is effective from the Under Hook position, the scouting wrestler should prevent him from getting into that position.
It would be beneficial for a wrestler to know what the opposing wrestler uses from each one of the three positions. For instance, if the opposing wrestler has a good Fireman's Carry or excels with Leg Rides, the scouting wrestler should work hard at not giving up those positions.
While scouting, a wrestler should also take notice of what might be an easy target for him. For instance, the opposing wrestler may lead with the left leg. The scouting wrestler might work on refining his set-up for attacking the left leg. Another situation may be that the opposing wrestler has a habit of keeping his head close to his knee while trying to Stand up from the bottom. The scouting wrestler may discover that his opponent may be easy bait for a Cradle.
The other two areas that can be scouted are a wrestler's conditioning and his mental toughness. It is easy to see when a wrestler gets tired during a match. If the scouting wrestler knows that his opponent does not have good conditioning, he may be able to make his own conditioning work
A wrestler's mental toughness may be more difficult to analyze. A wrestler's deficiencies in this area will not show up unless he is really pushed by an opponent. Some wrestlers can only take so much pressure before they crack. If the scouting wrestler detects this tendency in his opponent, he can use this knowledge to his advantage.
Wrestlers should not brush Scouting off as a nonessential part of wrestling. Scouting an opponent can and has often determined a match's outcome. Keep in mind that 'national and world-class wrestlers scout each other all the time.
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