How to stay confident right after a loss? (wrestling)

[Lapu-Lapu]

It all starts in the room. Practice and drill your ass off.

[Wrestler152]

Originally Posted by TheGauntlet7

Wow, 0-22? You must be really mentally tough. How did you stay with it?

Because I loved it. I loved every second of it,still do. The technique alone kept me up at night. I sucked, I'm barely average now, but I was wrestling 160 while I weighed 145ish because it was the only available Varsity spot.

[TheGauntlet7]

Originally Posted by Wrestler152

Because I loved it. I loved every second of it,still do. The technique alone kept me up at night. I sucked, I'm barely average now, but I was wrestling 160 while I weighed 145ish because it was the only available Varsity spot.

ross pointon ftmfw

[CheesyDevin]

Ok, take it from a wrestler.. Your a freshman, these guys that are beating you have more than likely been wrestling since they were freshmen or earlier, stay positive and remember that by the time your a junior or a senior you will be dominating.. Hang your head high and remember that you are doing one of the toughest and most brutal sports in High School. The only guys that dominate and win states their freshmen year are kids that have been wrestling since they were toddlers.. Don't let any of the negativity get to you, I know how bad it feels to lose, I know how bad it feels to lose your first match in a tournament and your consolation match and have to watch your teammates wrestle while you watch from the sidelines..

[SIG Nature]

Originally Posted by TheGauntlet7

You are a freshman on varsity, chill out. Recognize that you are better than most people your age, unless you are varsity because there was no one else in your weight class. Just don't cry like a bitch after every loss, the only tears you can shed are after winning states or something.

1st year sophomore.

[SIG Nature]

Originally Posted by Marcos Avellan

www.blackbeltpsychology.com/losers-crystal-ball

Watch this, it may help.

This helped. Thanks a lot, man.

[Dirty Holt]

I have lots of first year wrestlers and some that are quite bad. I tell them the same thing I will tell you: Do not judge success by wins/losses at your experience level. You need to set specific goals that are small that you can control, then increase the difficulty of those goals as you progress. Examples:

I have a kid who got pinned in the first round every match for 3 years before I started coaching. His goal the first tournament was to try to last for 30 seconds without getting taken down, and if/when he went to his back, do not get pinned for 10 seconds. Next tournament it was 40 seconds for a takedown, get off your back the first time. Now we have moved to things for this particular kid to at least get a hold of a leg within the match. It sounds stupid but this kid was 0-27, all first round pins. He got his first win this year.

We have a kid who is fairly good, very athletic, hasnt made it to state. High risk, high reward type thrower. His goals are to stay in good position the whole match. He must score with 1 leg attack before he tries to throw. This particular kid is also not allowed to make weak appearing facial expressions or make any postures/actions that show mental weakness.

The trick to all of these is to make them attainable, very hard, and very dependent on specific drilling/tactics/strategies within our practices.

[TheGauntlet7]

Originally Posted by Dirty Holt

I have lots of first year wrestlers and some that are quite bad. I tell them the same thing I will tell you: Do not judge success by wins/losses at your experience level. You need to set specific goals that are small that you can control, then increase the difficulty of those goals as you progress. Examples:

I have a kid who got pinned in the first round every match for 3 years before I started coaching. His goal the first tournament was to try to last for 30 seconds without getting taken down, and if/when he went to his back, do not get pinned for 10 seconds. Next tournament it was 40 seconds for a takedown, get off your back the first time. Now we have moved to things for this particular kid to at least get a hold of a leg within the match. It sounds stupid but this kid was 0-27, all first round pins. He got his first win this year.

We have a kid who is fairly good, very athletic, hasnt made it to state. High risk, high reward type thrower. His goals are to stay in good position the whole match. He must score with 1 leg attack before he tries to throw. This particular kid is also not allowed to make weak appearing facial expressions or make any postures/actions that show mental weakness.

The trick to all of these is to make them attainable, very hard, and very dependent on specific drilling/tactics/strategies within our practices.

Whoa you sound like a very good coach. If you're serious about you're location(Olympic Training Center) besides schools are you a coach for olympic trials or something?

[seamus1979]

"if this was easy, everyone would do it"
i recite that to myself when i have a bad session

[Dirty Holt]

Originally Posted by TheGauntlet7

Whoa you sound like a very good coach. If you're serious about you're location(Olympic Training Center) besides schools are you a coach for olympic trials or something?

I was an OTC resident athlete for 4 years, having a small level of success at the national/international level. I tore my ACL for the third time and now I compete in bjj while coaching a highschool with no middle school feeders, and a gym with some very high level MMA fighters. I would never be able to coach at the Olympic level simply because I never even made it to the Olympics, nor was #1 on the world team for USA.
I wouldnt want to anyway.