A wrestling clinic took place not long ago at a Yorkton elementary school, and hopes are now there that it could help to launch a more detailed wrestling program which could be launched within the city at some point.
That's the idea behind a recent youth wrestling clinic sponsored by the Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association. It was held recently at St. Alphonsus Elementary School in central Yorkton.
Instructor Jordan Astrope, a technical co-ordinator for the Association, said the clinic was focussed on kids at the elementary school age, and hopes that he has perked enough interest to come back and do it again.
"We want to create some interest, teach proper safety."
Astrope pointed out that there is no wrestling club available for kids at this age.
There were eight participants at St. Alphonsus that night.
The hope is there that interest within this age group rises and there can be more wrestling events and meet for kids who are in Gr. 5 or younger. Astrope added that elementary school is a great place to get started and he likes the chances of a possibility of coming back at some point.
He went on to explain that even the coach or instructor doesn't need a lot of experience or background because most of the basics come naturally at that age.
The clinic at St. Alphonsus was a first in Yorkton and Astrope said that hopefully it won't be the last. "This is the first one," he insisted. The reason for that being we "just never had enough kids interested (before)," he attested.
The clinic offered participants the chance to learn the very basics of the sport. That included the basic positions, moves and the fundamental concepts of wrestling. Towards the end of the night, students got into practicing takedown techniques, a prelude to a more complex move, recalled Astrope.
"They're grasping it pretty quickly."
Astrope said the key to that clinic was trying to keep it fun. Keeping kids interested was actually pretty easy, especially with this group because they are younger and easier to teach. When the kids catch on quickly, it makes his job a little easier, he added. He also added that the wrestling program is something the Association is hoping to do all over the province. The ultimate goal of the program is to be able to construct a more detailed eight-week program that will be designed to give kids the chance to learn the basics and then practice them under the supervision of the Association.
