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It is important for each of us, as coaches, to transform this feeling of excitement into our wrestling programs. I am always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my awards programs at the end of the year. It doesn't matter, in my opinion, how many awards you give out to the worthy recipients, as that is dictated by your philosophy and budget. Here are some ideas I have used over the years and have found successful in our program.

Our elementary program is not high profile, but we have a healthy program of over 100 kids that compete with each other during the week and if they desire travel to open tourneys on Saturdays. Hence, we find it necessary to award these boys for their intramural involvement. This awards ceremony revolves around an "Ice Cream Night". Parents and wrestlers make their own giant sundaes and while they are enjoying the ice cream we conduct the awards ceremony. By the way, not always trophies and plaques, we award them with T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, travel bags, license plates, in fact even magazine subscriptions.

Our Junior High/Senior High Awards night presently is the conventional covered dish banquet. However, we have tried outdoor picnics and pizza parties. Again your philosophy and budget dictates the format and style.

The most important facet of this night is to award the wrestlers in front of their peers and parents. I once had a father say to me that I spend too much time talking about each boy and my response was simply, "Thank you as I am trying very hard to do just that."

Our awards are not statistical in nature, they are named after prominent wrestlers in our program, i.e. The Jim Martin Award, the Rob Meloy Award, the Paul Wysocki Award, etc. These awards are given for the positive qualities of their namesakes, such as out of season dedication, coachability, tenacity, etc.

Other awards that are given are for the coaches wives, fund raising Moms and Dads, concession stand workers, cheerleaders and advisors, mat maidens, even the bus driver. Again no trophies or plaques, but rather T-shirts, sweatshirts, single rose, restaurant gift certificates, tickets to States, season passes for senior citizens, etc.

Your philosophy should radiate in these nights of recognition. My philosophy is quite simply to pull the "Danville Wrestling Family" together. The wrestler should walk away feeling that his involvement in this great sport is appreciated by coaches, parents, and fans.

Remember, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money, but it is necessary to recognize and praise the young people in front of their parents and peers. We coaches must be cognizant of that duty.

Think about it, wouldn't it have been great to receive such praise from someone you respected as much as your coach.

It's spring time! It's a great time of the year and most certainly a GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE! As the flowers are coming up, the temperature rises, and the fairways are getting greener, a sense of vitality and rebirth comes upon each of us.

It is important for each of us, as coaches, to transform this feeling of excitement into our wrestling programs. I am always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my awards programs at the end of the year. It doesn't matter, in my opinion, how many awards you give out to the worthy recipients, as that is dictated by your philosophy and budget. Here are some ideas I have used over the years and have found successful in our program.

Our elementary program is not high profile, but we have a healthy program of over 100 kids that compete with each other during the week and if they desire travel to open tourneys on Saturdays. Hence, we find it necessary to award these boys for their intramural involvement. This awards ceremony revolves around an "Ice Cream Night". Parents and wrestlers make their own giant sundaes and while they are enjoying the ice cream we conduct the awards ceremony. By the way, not always trophies and plaques, we award them with T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, travel bags, license plates, in fact even magazine subscriptions.

Our Junior High/Senior High Awards night presently is the conventional covered dish banquet. However, we have tried outdoor picnics and pizza parties. Again your philosophy and budget dictates the format and style.

The most important facet of this night is to award the wrestlers in front of their peers and parents. I once had a father say to me that I spend too much time talking about each boy and my response was simply, "Thank you as I am trying very hard to do just that."

Our awards are not statistical in nature, they are named after prominent wrestlers in our program, i.e. The Jim Martin Award, the Rob Meloy Award, the Paul Wysocki Award, etc. These awards are given for the positive qualities of their namesakes, such as out of season dedication, coachability, tenacity, etc.

Other awards that are given are for the coaches wives, fund raising Moms and Dads, concession stand workers, cheerleaders and advisors, mat maidens, even the bus driver. Again no trophies or plaques, but rather T-shirts, sweatshirts, single rose, restaurant gift certificates, tickets to States, season passes for senior citizens, etc.

Your philosophy should radiate in these nights of recognition. My philosophy is quite simply to pull the "Danville Wrestling Family" together. The wrestler should walk away feeling that his involvement in this great sport is appreciated by coaches, parents, and fans.

Remember, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money, but it is necessary to recognize and praise the young people in front of their parents and peers. We coaches must be cognizant of that duty.

Think about it, wouldn't it have been great to receive such praise from someone you respected as much as your coach.

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