When kids start a sport young, they're more inclined to stick with it as they get older. That's the idea behind a recent youth wrestling clinic, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association (SAWA) which was held at St. Alphonsus School.
Instructor Jordan Astrope, technical coordinator for the Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association, says the clinic is focused on elementary school aged kids, to get them involved in the sport.
"Currently there is no wrestling club or wrestling activity for this age group," Astrope says.
The hope is that interest in the age group increases and there can be more wrestling events and meets for young kids. Astrope says that elementary school is a great place to get started.
"Naturally, they're wrestling to begin with. Even a coach or a leader of the program doesn't need to have a big wrestling background, a lot of this stuff comes naturally to these kids," Astrope says.
This clinic was a first in the city, and as a result the kids learned about the very basics of wrestling. The focus was on basic positions and moves, and the fundamental concepts of wrestling. Astrope also had them playing wrestling based games, to keep it fun and keep them interested.
Keeping kids interested in the sport is something that Astrope sees as pretty easy, especially with the group assembled at the clinic. He notes that many of the kids were able to name wrestling moves and quickly caught on, something he says makes his job easier.
The hope is that as interest increases, a more elaborate program can be implemented. Astrope says that his ultimate goal is an eight week program, where kids meet once a week to build on the skills they learn from week to week.
