10/29/2024
Hello Families!
Thanks so much for your interest in our youth wrestling program. Here is the tentative plan for the 2024-2025 wrestling season (although we plan to be flexible as we figure things out):
1. We will be having a free kickoff workshop on Tuesday, November 12, from 6:30 PM to 7:50 PM. This will be a good introduction to wrestling for those who are new to wrestling but is also intended to get the kids excited about some of the things we'll be learning throughout the year. The kids can wear socks, athletic shorts, and a (not-too-baggy) t-shirt or muscle shirt.
2. Our regular practice schedule after that, beginning on Thursday, November 14th, will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30-7:45 with the exceptions of Thanksgiving Day and the week of Christmas. We are planning on our season ending when the high school season ends, which will be the middle of February. Practices will be held in the Highland High School Wrestling Room located next to the weight room downstairs.
3. To start out, the only equipment needed will be athletic shorts (not jean shorts or cargo shorts) and a t-shirt or muscle shirt (preferably something not too baggy). If your child continues wrestling or wants to compete in tournaments, they will need to have wrestling shoes, headgear, and either a wrestling singlet or compression or grappling shorts and a tight grappling or muscle shirt. We have a limited number of extra headgear and pairs of shoes of different sizes for kids to borrow if they don't have any. If your family has extras they would like to donate, please let me know.
4. The participation fee for the year will be $45. I'm still figuring out if the fees will be through a school account or something else, but I'll find out and let parents know. For anyone who has unique financial considerations, please let me know and we will provide a scholarship.
5. There will be several tournaments throughout the season that the kids will have an opportunity to compete in. We will select tournaments which have the option of pairing kids with similar experience levels. Most youth tournaments have some version of a beginner classification. These tournaments usually have an entry fee of $15-30.
6. Please follow our page by searching for "Highland Youth Wrestling Salt Lake City" or clicking this link and pressing the follow button- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087193857686.
7. We are in need of two or more team moms/parents that can help organize after-practice treats, team swag, and awards. Also, we have two coaches, but could use one or two more to help with the various age groups. If you are willing to help, please let me know!
8. The program is geared for 4th graders to 8th graders, but we will have some kids who are younger than that (Coach Tate's kids included). However, because of the age range, if you want to have a child younger than 4th grade participate, you must plan for you or the other parent to be present at all practices to help with the younger kids' fledgling attention spans.
Other than that, I'm excited for the program and look forward to giving these kids a great experience. I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30! Please call, text, or email with any questions. I haven't been able to compile all of the email from last year, so if you know anyone who would like to be included, please forward this to them or have them email or text me. Thanks!!
-Steve Burton
Cell: (801) 897-9789
