Wrestling coaches need to research

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 36

Wrestling coaches need to research

By

ALISTAIR ARMSTRONG

New Zealand wrestlers need to adopt more advanced training methods if they are to close the gap in standards between them and their overseas counterparts, says a visiting American coach. Fred Powell. Mr Powell. who with another American. Mr Rick Arnold, is on a month-long coaching exchange tour of New Zealand, says experiments in the United States have cut out the ‘‘trial and error" aspect of some athletes' training. “What has helped us is that we have a lot of wrestling in schools, so we can experiment with different training programmes because we have a greater populace with which to work." he said. "Wrestling needs anaerobic versus aerobic exercises. I am talking about diet, a running programme,

lifting and endurance. You need a short burst of strength as well as enduring qualities, ‘‘l'm not sure that New Zealand coaches have been given the opportunity to be exposed to research into this.” Mr Powell, who is a former United States collegiate champion and a fifth place-getter in the world freestyle championships, also suggests that New Zealand try to increase its exposure to international competition. “You gain knowledge of technique by being exposed in this way arid your competition has been limited.” he said. “As we all know, there is no substitute for experience?' •' ' ' The 39-year-old .Pennsyl-vania-based coach, who has guided two United States

elite teams (aged 16-18) to success at the world championships, also emphasises the importance of good coaching for youngsters. “Most of my time is spent teaching proper positions and other basics. Unless there is that foundation, you can not build to the more advanced techniques,” he said. “I owe most of my success to my earlier coaching. Had I not had the coach I had at high school, from the age of about 12 to 17, I would never have reached the levels that I did. “You can try all you want, be in the best condition, and have a great attitude, but that won’t get you to championship calibre without good coaching. That is what we are working for here." Mr Powell has already

visited wrestling clubs in Dunedin and Timaru and will be spending a few days in Christchurch before heading up to the North Island, where

his tour will wind up at the national championships and the South Pacific congress meeting in Auckland in a fortnight.