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Decision-Making drills

Drills you can run at practice.

Team drill
Partner Call-Out Drill
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Partner Call-Out Drill
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Opponent
Player movement
How It Works

Teach young wrestlers to communicate with a partner by calling out their next move before executing it during drills.

More drills
What You Need
wrestling mat
Your Focus

Verbal communication during drills builds the habit of intentional, cooperative practice that is foundational to effective team training environments.

1
Set Up

Pair wrestlers for a cooperative drilling exercise on basic stance and motion.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Before each movement (step left, level change, etc.), wrestler calls out the movement name to their partner.
B.
Partner responds 'ready' before the movement is executed.
3
Check It

Say it before you do it, words first, then movement

Goal

You've got it when your partner knows what's coming and is ready for it, calling your move makes drilling safer and sharper.

Helpful Cues
Say it before you do it, words first, then movementYour partner needs to hear you clearly, no mumblingListening is part of communication too, stay tuned in
UPLVL IT

Wrestler calls the movement, and partner must mirror it simultaneously without a 'ready' pause.

Source: USA Wrestling Core Curriculum
Team drill
Vocal Encouragement Live Rounds
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Vocal Encouragement Live Rounds
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Opponent
Coach
How It Works

Build the habit of vocal team support by requiring wrestlers not currently drilling to actively encourage those who are.

More drills
What You Need
wrestling mat
Your Focus

Team culture in wrestling is built or broken in the training room; wrestlers who vocally support teammates create an environment where everyone trains harder.

1
Set Up

Divide the team into two groups: one group wrestles live rounds while the other stands on the perimeter.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Wrestlers on the perimeter are required to actively encourage their teammates, calling names, shouting technique cues, or cheering effort.
B.
Coach monitors and notes which wrestlers are leading vocal support; passive sideline behavior is addressed immediately.
3
Check It

Say a name, not just 'let's go', make it personal

Goal

You've got it when your encouragement is specific and loud enough for the drilling wrestler to hear, you're fueling their effort, not just making noise.

Helpful Cues
Say a name, not just 'let's go', make it personalYour energy feeds your teammate's energyBe the voice in their corner when they need it most
UPLVL IT

Assign sideline wrestlers as 'corner coaches', they must give one technical cue per round, not just encouragement.

Source: USA Wrestling Core Curriculum
Team drill
Loss as a Lesson Debrief
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Loss as a Lesson Debrief
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Opponent
Coach
How It Works

Build a constructive response to losing by teaching wrestlers to immediately extract specific technical lessons from defeats.

More drills
What You Need
wrestling mat
Your Focus

Young wrestlers often respond to losses with shame or avoidance, which prevents the learning that losses contain.

1
Set Up

After any live round where a wrestler is scored on or loses, coach initiates a 2-minute structured debrief.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Wrestler answers three specific questions: What position did I give up? What did I do before that position? What will I do differently next time?
B.
Coach validates the analysis and adds one specific technical correction if needed.
3
Check It

Losing a round is free coaching, take it

Goal

It's clicking when you can name one specific technical thing to fix right after a loss, not frustration, just information.

Helpful Cues
Losing a round is free coaching, take itDon't ask 'why did I lose?', ask 'what exactly happened and why?'The drill after the debrief is the most important one today
UPLVL IT

Wrestler must write the three answers on a card after the debrief and bring them to the next practice.

Source: USA Wrestling Core Curriculum
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