This time of year you pin. No chances. However, early in the year I think you need mat time. But, it needs to be done right - do not humilate the other kid. It does not help either of the wrestlers if one pins the other in 10 or 15 seconds. You can tell when one wrestler just totally out classes the other. A quick pin will just discourage the other kid from ever wrestling again, and we need to grow the sport not decrease it. And, your kid can learn to get the tech fall in a manner where it looks like the other kid is fighting his way off his back. Its also a good time to try new moves, work things they are unfamiliar with like the cross body. It can backfire, 3 years ago at Paola I heard a dad tell a kid in my son's bracket that his grandma was there to watch him. He obviously was not very good. I told my son not to pin him. It was a 3 way tie for 1st, since the other 2 pinned this kid, my son got 3rd. Still would not change a thing and neither would my son.
