Coach Reeves:
How long are you going to be at your dual tonight? I doubt you will be there 8 to 10 hours. How crowded is that gym going to be? I doubt it is going to be as packed as youth tournaments are at the start of the day. I've been to high school duals before and I've never been there that long or had any trouble getting myself in position to view the match I wanted to see. Normally there is only one or two mats going on at the same time at duals that I have been to. This is a lot easier viewing for the half-packed gym at best.
Even if you are willing personally to sit there far from the action of the mat that you are interested in for 8 to 10 hours, let's face it you are a wrestling devotee. We do not have to hook you or me now for that matter on the sport. Do you think that the majority of the sport viewing public though shares your view that the experience of wrestling is like no other sport. I don't think so, otherwise it would not be wrestling programs being cut back at colleges to make room for other sports. I'm beginning to share your view but only because my son is having success in it the last six years and thus have now had the opportunity to grow into my love for the sport. Believe if he had not shown an aptitude for it those first two years you would not have had to twist my arm to get him involved in a new one at that time. Most people new to the sport and with other sport experiences are not going to be drawn in by 8 to 10 hour days and two to three hour waits between matches in these small sardine packed gyms.
I know the split tournament format probably does add to the tournament day for the volunteer coaches and tournament workers. Mike Juby also stated that as the problem as to why it has been slow to take hold. I don't have a solution unless coaches might just go to the morning session with the younger kids if this is a problem for them. They might be able to have other coaches or Dads such as myself to cover the 2nd session for older kids who probably don't need as much coaching. I occassionally do that now for my sixth grade son and I never wrestled. I don't think he always needs the most experienced coach at his matches now. I did recently get a Bronze card so I could do this. Tournament workers normally only have their one tournament a year so I don't think it would be so bad for them. My main thing is I think it can be a more enjoyable experience if it was a shorter faster paced day and we were all closer to the action.
If controlling the crowd at these packed small gyms during these long tournament days were really possible, I have to believe it would be being done on a regular basis by now. Let's face it, most facilities we use just are not big enough to properly handle all these people. I really believe we need to consider trying a new way.
