The Program
When does our season start?
Our Winter season starts the first week in November and continues until the end of February/beginning of March. Our Spring season starts at the beginning of March and continues until the end of May.
When will the schedule be available?
Our league schedule is usually available around the middle to the end of December.
When do we receive our apparel?
Once our registration is near completion, we will obtain your child’s sizes and place an order. Our goal is to receive apparel before our first league tournament in January. The apparel delivery timeline depends on the vendor’s supply and turnaround. In cases where an online team store is available, delivery times are determined by vendors.
When will we receive our singlet?
This depends on the available sizes; however, your child should receive their uniform before competing in the first match. To reduce costs to parents, our program loans uniforms to wrestlers to compete in for the season. After the season, all uniforms must be returned to the program. The full cost of the uniform will be charged to anyone who fails to return it after the season.
How much does it cost to register?
Registration costs $175 for 4-year-olds through 2nd Grade and $275 for 3rd through 8th grade.
When do I need to register?
Registration opens in September/October. You should register your child once you are sure he is committed to wrestling for the season.
Do you use Prince George’s County Boys and Girls Club “yellow cards”?
No, we do not use the yellow cards that the Prince Georges County Boys and Girls Club uses. Each child must obtain a USA Wrestling membership, which costs between $20 (Beginner) and $60 (Advanced). Note: The cost of USA Wrestling memberships is subject to change without notice and is determined by USA Wrestling.
How do I obtain a USA Wrestling Card for my child?
You can purchase a USA Wrestling Card from here.
How many days do we practice?
See chart.
| Grades | Day | Time |
| K4 – 2nd | Tuesday and Thursday | 6:00 – 6:45 PM |
| 3rd – 8th | Monday, Wednesday, and Friday | 6:00 – 7:30 PM |
*Practice days and times are based on the availability of our practice facility. Parents will be notified ahead of any changes ahead of time.
K4 – 2nd grade primarily participates in practice and will have a limited number of live wrestling matches each season. We focus on your child having FUN while participating in games and activities, engaging in daily agility, balance, and coordination drills, learning wrestling rules and basic techniques, and respecting opponents, coaches, and officials.
3rd – 8thgrade wrestlers participate in practices, league, and non-league tournaments. We introduce wrestling-specific strategies, help your child learn to focus through full practices, and increase the levels of competition.
What will be needed by the first day of practice?
Wrestlers must have an active USA Wrestling Membership, and it helps to have their wrestling shoes. They can wear clean socks if you don’t have their shoes in time for the first practice. We will be on a wrestling mat where outside shoes are not allowed.
Are parents allowed to be in the wrestling room during practice?
K4 – 2nd-grade: As space permits, we allow parents of our younger wrestlers to sit in the wrestling room for a few reasons; however, they must maintain a quiet presence and minimize interruptions to ensure our wrestlers remain focused on the practice. Coaches reserve to the right to ask parents to leave the room at any time during practice.
- Parental Support: For young children, having a parent nearby can provide emotional comfort, especially if they are new to the sport or hesitant about participation.
- Observation of Progress: Parents can see firsthand how their child is developing, learning new skills, and interacting with coaches and teammates.
- Reinforcing Discipline at Home: Parents who observe the coaching methods and expectations can reinforce discipline and proper behavior at home, supporting the coach’s efforts and helping the wrestler internalize lessons learned in practice.
- Ensuring Safety: For young kids, parents may feel more comfortable being present to monitor their child’s safety, especially in a contact sport like wrestling. It can provide reassurance that the environment is structured and well-supervised.
- Coach-Parent Communication: Parents can gain insight into our coach’s teaching style and priorities, which can foster better communication and mutual understanding between parents and our coaches.
3rd – 8th grade: We do not allow parents for our older wrestlers to sit in the wrestling room during practice for several reasons:
- Athlete Independence: Part of the growth process in sports is learning to be independent and accountable. Without parents watching, wrestlers can focus on improving their skills and taking personal responsibility for their performance.
- Coach-Athlete Relationship: Coaches must establish clear communication and trust with our athletes. Parents present might unintentionally interfere with this dynamic, as athletes could defer to their parents rather than fully engage with the coach’s guidance.
- Team Cohesion: Without outside spectators, practices can foster a stronger sense of team cohesion and camaraderie, where athletes are focused on working together and supporting each other.
- Minimize Distractions: Having parents present can create distractions for athletes and coaches. Wrestlers may feel additional pressure to perform or focus less on instructions.
- Space Limitations: Our wrestling room has limited space. Our older wrestlers are bigger and require more mat surface when practicing. Having coaches, wrestlers, and parents in the room at once significantly reduces the amount available for wrestling.
*In some cases, parents may still be welcome at special events or open practices, but the day-to-day routine typically benefits from a more focused, coach-led environment. Parents may also become volunteer coaches, at that time they can be in the room during practices.
Is fundraising required?
Yes, each family must participate in fundraising. We will give each family the option of selling the fundraising item or making a monetary contribution. In past seasons, our fundraisers have been highly successful and straightforward.
Cost
What are the fees associated with the program?
Sports Fee: $175 – $275 per child (uniform rental fee is included). Uniforms are borrowed and returned to the wrestling team at the end of each season.
USA Wrestling Card: $20 – $60 (cost dependent on parent selection of membership tier)
Shoes: $60 – $120
Headgear: $30 – $40
Mouthpiece (optional): ~$15, Athletic Supporter (optional): ~$30
Are discount opportunities available?
No discounts are available at this time.
Do I have to pay to participate in tournaments?
The sports registration fee covers the cost of our league tournaments. You must pay to participate in non-league tournaments. Each season, we usually participate in 3 to 4 non-league tournaments. The cost ranges from $25 to $40 per non-league tournament.
My family is new to wrestling, can my child come out to a few practices before registering?
Your child may participate in up to three consecutive practices before paying the sports registration fee. To inquire about this option, email [email protected].
What does the sports registration fee cover?
The following is a list of many, but not all, of the costs the sports registration fee goes toward:
-League entry fee our team must pay to participate in the league(s) our kids wrestle in.
-Facility use and cleaning fees charged to our program for using the facility.
-Marlboro Boys and Girls Club General Fund fees, which are used for acquiring and maintaining sports equipment; startup costs for new sports; and other costs associated with operating the Boys and Girls Club.
-Club membership fees for USA Wrestling and club liability insurance(s).
-Wrestling equipment (i.e., mats, ropes, etc.), cleaning products, and other items needed for the wrestling program to operate.
-Team uniforms (singlets) that our wrestlers compete in. Uniforms are borrowed and returned to the wrestling team at the end of each season.
Apparel and Equipment
Where can I purchase wrestling equipment (shoes, headgear, etc.)
Shoes and headgear are usually available at Dicks Sporting Goods (Crofton and Waldorf are probably closest). Additionally, numerous online vendors supply wrestling equipment. For informational purposes, the following is a list of some online vendors.
Do we offer apparel for parents, t-shirts, bags, etc., and when is money due?
Yes, we will offer Fan Apparel, such as T-shirts and hoodies. The prices are TBD, but we should know them by the first week of December.
Wrestling Etiquette
Can my child wear his wrestling shoes while in the car?
No, wrestling shoes are only worn while on the wrestling mat; they should not be worn outside unless they have protective sole covers.
Does my child need to wear a mouthpiece or athletic supporter (cup)?
Mouthpieces and athletic supporters are optional. However, some children find them uncomfortable while wrestling. The decision to use/wear these items shall be made between the parent and the wrestler.
Can my son wear athletic glasses while wrestling?
We have to get clarification from the referees on this question. Some referees allow it, while others don’t. We will try to have an answer before our first tournament.
My child has long hair; what do I need to do about it?
Your child will be required to wrap his hair using wrestling hair wrap, which integrates into his headgear. This item is available on various sports apparel websites.
Volunteering
How can I help?
First and foremost, please maintain a positive attitude toward your child’s sports participation. Please understand this is new for most kids, so there is a learning curve. Therefore, we need you to remain positive, encourage them to do their best and have fun, and support them even when they have not performed their best.
Do we accept parent volunteers?
Absolutely!!! Parent volunteers are ALWAYS needed. For more information, contact our wrestling staff at [email protected]
Tournaments
Will my child wrestle with more experienced children?
There are some tournaments where your child will wrestle kids who are more experienced than him. However, experience by itself does not make a wrestler successful. A child’s hard work and dedication are what makes him successful. We have seen numerous first-year wrestlers succeed in our program.
Where are tournaments held?
Most league tournaments occur on Saturday or Sunday at various schools in the Southern Maryland area, including Anne Arundel, Prince George’s County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and Calvert County. In addition, some tournaments may take place in Virginia.
How are the children paired up?
In some novice (beginner) tournaments, children are paired based on age, weight, and experience. However, in our league tournaments, children are paired based on age, weight, and experience level (as best as possible).
Can my child participate in wrestling and another sport simultaneously during this season?
The short answer is NO. Although we have had children participate in both sports simultaneously, our experience has been that children who do this are not successful at wrestling and, therefore, do not have a good experience. In addition, the practices and tournaments/games will often conflict, and one of the teams will suffer due to the conflict. Therefore, before registering, we encourage parents to speak with their children and assist them in deciding which sport they will participate in during the winter season.
How long are the tournaments?
Tournaments usually last 2 – 4 hours.
How many times will my child wrestle at a tournament?
Your child will usually wrestle no more than four times in a tournament.
Will wrestling make my child aggressive?
Although a certain level of aggression is helpful in any competitive sport, wrestling does not make your child aggressive. Of course, some children are naturally more aggressive than others; however, all children have the chance to be successful in wrestling through hard work, dedication, and practice.