Homestead Youth Wrestling Club
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Program
Who is the Homestead Youth Wrestling Club for?
Our program is designed for K–8th grade students in the Mequon-Thiensville community. We welcome boys and girls of all experience levels, including children who have never wrestled before.
Does my child need previous wrestling experience?
Absolutely not. Many of our wrestlers will be new to the sport. We will teach wrestling from the ground up, emphasizing the fundamentals and creating an environment where beginners can learn, improve, and have fun.
What is the philosophy of the program?
Our goal is to grow wrestling in the Mequon-Thiensville community while helping children develop the skills and character to succeed on and off the mat.
We focus on:
Developing strong wrestling fundamentals
Building discipline and confidence
Teaching children how to overcome challenges and obstacles
Creating a positive environment where kids have fun
Building friendships and a sense of community
Helping young athletes develop a lifelong appreciation for wrestling
Is this a competitive wrestling program?
We want our wrestlers to experience success, but winning is not the primary measure of success.
Our focus is on teaching the fundamentals, developing confidence, and helping each wrestler improve. Competition will be introduced in a way that is appropriate for the athlete's age and experience.
As our wrestlers develop, those who want to pursue wrestling at a higher competitive level will have a strong foundation on which to build.
Does my child have to be a football player or participate in other sports?
No. Wrestling is for every athlete.
We welcome athletes from all sports, as well as children who are simply looking for a new activity. Wrestling develops balance, coordination, strength, body control, mental toughness, discipline, and confidence that can benefit athletes in virtually every sport.
Practices
When and where are practices?
Practice dates, times, and location will be posted on the club website before registration opens.
The season is expected to run approximately 17 weeks, from late November through March.
How long are practices?
Practices will be approximately 90 minutes.
What will my child do at practice?
Practices will be structured, active, and age-appropriate. A typical practice will include:
Warm-up and movement
Wrestling stance and motion
Fundamental wrestling positions
Takedowns and takedown defense
Drilling and skill development
Age-appropriate live wrestling
Games and activities designed to make learning wrestling fun
Our goal is for children to leave practice feeling like they learned something, worked hard, and had fun.
Will beginners and experienced wrestlers practice together?
Yes. Wrestlers will generally train together while coaches provide instruction and drills appropriate to each athlete's experience and ability.
We believe experienced wrestlers can help beginners learn, while beginners bring energy and enthusiasm that benefits the entire group.
What should my child bring to practice?
Wrestlers should generally bring:
Athletic clothing appropriate for wrestling (t-shirt, athletic shorts without pockets)
Wrestling shoes
Water bottle
Headgear, if they have their own
Mouthguard, if they have braces
Specific equipment requirements will be provided to families before the season begins.
What if my child misses practice?
We understand that children have busy schedules and participate in multiple activities. Missing an occasional practice is not a problem.
We encourage consistent attendance because wrestling is a skill-based sport, and regular practice is important for development.
Competition
Does my child have to compete?
No.
Competition is encouraged, but children will not be forced to compete before they are ready. Please talk to a coach before signing up your child for their first competition.
For beginners, we want the first competition experience to be positive and appropriate. Coaches will help families determine when their child is ready and which events are appropriate.
How many tournaments will the club attend?
Our initial plan is for new wrestlers to participate in approximately 2–3 beginner-friendly tournaments during the season. More experienced wrestlers will have the opportunity to participate in 3–4 local tournaments as members of the Junior Highlanders team.
Our goal is not to have children compete every weekend. Instead, we want to give new wrestlers positive, age-appropriate opportunities to experience competition while providing experienced wrestlers with additional opportunities to develop their skills and compete.
What are beginner tournaments like?
Beginner tournaments are designed to give newer wrestlers an opportunity to experience wrestling competition in a supportive environment.
Coaches will help families understand what to expect, how weigh-ins work, how matches are conducted, and how to prepare.
Does the club provide a singlet?
Yes. The club plans to maintain a supply of club-owned singlets that wrestlers can use for tournaments.
This is intended to reduce the cost and commitment for families who are new to wrestling and may only participate in a few competitions during their first season.
Singlets will be returned to the club after each tournament.
Does my child need wrestling shoes?
Wrestling shoes are recommended and will be required for competition. Additional information about appropriate wrestling shoes will be provided to families.
Does my child need headgear?
Headgear is strongly recommended for wrestling and required for the WWF state folkstyle series.
The club expects to have loaner headgear available to help new families get started. Families may also choose to purchase their own headgear for regular use.
Registration & Cost
How much does the program cost?
Official registration fees will be announced when winter registration opens
We are intentionally working to keep the program accessible to families while providing a quality experience for our athletes.
What does the registration fee include?
The registration fee is expected to include:
Approximately 17 weeks of instruction
Coaching from trained and certified coaches
Practice facility costs
Club-owned tournament singlet
Basic program equipment and supplies
Participation in club activities and events
Jr Highlander Wrestling Gear (shirt and shorts)
Additional costs, such as USA Wrestling membership, wrestling shoes, and individual tournament entry fees, may apply.
What is the USA Wrestling membership?
All wrestlers will be required to have a USA Wrestling athlete membership before participating in the program.
The membership is purchased separately by the parent/guardian and provides secondary insurance coverage as well as access to USA Wrestling's sanctioned events and programs.
USA Wrestling membership:
www.usawmembership.com
Are tournament fees included?
Individual tournament entry fees are not included in the club registration fee.
Most local tournaments are expected to cost approximately $20–$30 per wrestler to register, although fees can vary by tournament.
Most local tournaments can be found at www.usabracketing.com or www.trackwrestling.com.
Families will receive information about recommended tournaments and registration deadlines throughout the season. Coaches will also help families understand which tournaments are appropriate for their child's age and experience.
Are there additional equipment costs?
We will work hard to keep required equipment costs as low as possible, particularly for first-year wrestlers.
Families should expect to provide basic personal athletic equipment such as wrestling shoes and, eventually, personal headgear.
The club will provide or make available certain equipment to reduce the need for families to purchase everything at once.
Parents & Safety
How are the coaches trained?
Our coaching staff will be expected to complete USA Wrestling Copper or Bronze certification as well as CPR certification.
We believe qualified coaches and a safe environment are essential to building a successful youth program.
How does the club approach safety?
Safety is one of our highest priorities.
Coaches will emphasize:
Proper technique
Controlled drilling
Age-appropriate instruction
Safe wrestling positions
Appropriate progression into live wrestling
Sportsmanship and respect
We want children to learn how to wrestle hard while understanding how to wrestle safely.
What are the club's expectations for skin health and hygiene?
Because wrestling involves close physical contact, good hygiene is an important part of keeping our athletes and teammates healthy.
We ask that wrestlers:
Shower at home as soon as possible after every practice or competition.
Use soap and water to thoroughly clean their body after wrestling.
Arrive at practice with clean clothing and clean wrestling gear.
Keep wrestling shoes and personal equipment clean and dry.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, clothing, or headgear whenever possible.
What should I do if my child develops a skin rash or other skin concern?
Please notify the coach immediately if your child develops a rash, unexplained skin irritation, or other skin concern that could potentially be contagious.
Your child should also be evaluated by their primary care provider to determine whether treatment is necessary and when they are no longer contagious and can safely return to wrestling practice.
If there is any question about whether a wrestler should practice or compete, the health and safety of the athlete and their teammates comes first.
Our goal is to create a culture where athletes and families feel comfortable speaking up about skin concerns early. Prompt communication and good hygiene help protect the entire wrestling community.
What if my child is nervous about wrestling?
That's completely normal.
For many of our athletes, wrestling will be a completely new experience. Coaches will work to make the environment welcoming and positive while allowing children to progress at their own pace.
Our goal is to help children become more comfortable through small successes, encouragement, and repetition.
Can parents watch practice?
Parents are welcome and encouraged to be involved in the program. Specific guidelines for observing practices will be communicated once the practice location and schedule are finalized.
What if my child decides wrestling isn't for them?
We want children to give wrestling a fair opportunity, but we also recognize that every child is different.
Our goal is to create an environment where children want to come back. We believe fun, positive coaching, friendships, and early success are critical to developing a lasting connection with the sport.
Who can I contact with questions?
We encourage parents to reach out with questions at any time.
Contact:
Coach@homesteadwrestlingwi.com
Our Goal
We are building more than a wrestling team.
We are building a wrestling community in Mequon-Thiensville where children can learn the fundamentals of wrestling, develop discipline and confidence, overcome challenges, make lifelong friends, and have fun along the way.
We want kids to leave the program better wrestlers — and better prepared to face whatever comes next.