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- Wrestling Leader Library, opens in a new tab
- How to Become a Coach
- Certification
- Core Curriculum, opens in a new tab
- Rulebook, opens in a new tab
- Coaching Resources
- ADM Youth Hub, opens in a new tab
- Purchase Courses - Manage Tasks, opens in a new tab
- How to Print Replacement Card, opens in a new tab
- How to Purchase Plastic Card, opens in a new tab
Coaches Certifications Levels
Coaches must be current USA Wrestling Leader Members to take Copper and Bronze Level coaching certification courses or to have task credits awarded for Silver and Gold certification work. The Teal course can be taken without a membership.
USA Wrestling recommends coaches have a Copper Level Coaches Certification to coach athletes ages 12 and under and a Bronze Level Coaches Certification to coach athletes ages 13 and up.
We recommend all coaches take our Teal Level Coaching Certification. This course is especially designed for coaches working with girls and women.
Certification requirements may vary based on your state and the event. Check the tournament website under the “Coach Bands” tab for what coaching certification(s) may be required to coach at that event.
USA Wrestling Regional and National Level events (and many state events) require coaching certifications. Check the tournament website under the “Coach Bands” tab for what coaching certification(s) may be required.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $24.95
USA Wrestling recommends our TEAL coaching certification. This certification is not a current requirement to coach girls wrestling. Membership with USA Wrestling is not required to sign up and take this course.
It offers amazing resources including:
• Welcoming Girls and Women
• Female Specific Technique
• Team Culture
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Safeguarding Athletes & Coaches
• Empowering Girls and Women
• Best Practices &
• Fun Integration Theory
A great class for any coach at any level!
Price: $50
Time: 4 hours
USA Wrestling recommends a Copper Level Coaches Certification for coaching athletes ages 12 and under.
This certification focuses on three key goals:
1. Recruiting youth athletes
2. Retaining youth athletes, and
3. Helping youth athletes build self-efficacy in a more participation-based training environment (keeping training fun and intentional).
This four-hour online course costs $50 and contains six modules:
Module 1. History and Styles of Wrestling
Module 2. Core Olympic Values
Module 3. ADM and Your Coaching Philosophy
Module 4. Coaching and Communication
Module 5. Risk Management and Safety
Module 6. Nutrition and Competition Tips
Completed certifications update to a coach’s profile immediately upon completion of a course. A membership card can be printed online for free and a new plastic hard card will be mailed to the address on your membership profile, within 3-4 weeks, as a part of your course payment.
Price: $80
Time: 6 hours
USA Wrestling recommends a Bronze Level Coaches Certification for coaching athletes ages 13 and older. This certification focuses on developing a coach’s professional skills and the importance of using an “athlete-centered” coaching style. This is important for coaching athletes in both participation-based and high performance training environments.
This six-hour online course costs $80 and contains eight modules including:
Module 1. Coaching Philosophy and Ethics
Module 2. Safety and Injury Prevention
Module 3. Physical Conditioning
Module 4. Growth and Development
Module 5. Teaching and Communication
Module 6. Sport Skills and Tactics
Module 7. Organization and Administration
Module 8. Evaluations
Completed certifications update to a coach’s profile immediately upon completion of a course. A membership card can be printed online for free and a new plastic hard card will be mailed to the address on your membership profile, within 3-4 weeks, as a part of your course payment.
Access purchased courses
Process Focus: Raise awareness of key coaching skills and tools as identified by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Wrestling as necessary for creating a quality coaching environment.
Prerequisites: Copper and Bronze
Key Benefits:
- Gain an awareness of intentional aspects of quality coaching skills identified by USA Wrestling.
- Coaching clinics with USA Wrestling National Team Staff and other subject matter experts.
- Networking with coaches of all levels from around the nation.
- One on one work with USA Wrestling’s National Coaches Education Program (NCEP)
Office and the US Wrestling Officials Association on tasks.
Tasks include:
1. CPR/AED certification (CPR/AED task)
2. Developing and refining a coaching philosophy (and your values – 3D task)
3. Silver Coaches College (3 day in-person training task)
4. Learning and implementing relevant topics - your choice (Book report task)
5. Understanding Freestyle and Greco-Roman rules, scoring, and strategies (OEP task)
6. Technical Certification; Understanding relationships between practice planning and intentional implementation of key coaching tools;
- Overall safety of the environment
- Athlete-Centered Coaching focus
- 1:4 ratio of engagement teaching vs allowing athletes time to for drills/skills
- 4:1 ratio of positive communication to critiques (STC)
- Demonstrated teaching methodology (EDIP or other)
7. Podcast: Carol Graser on using a coaching approach to develop leaders
Costs: Travel to and from the Silver College will be the primary cost and may be reimbursed by your state office (contact your state office before attending to see if you may qualify for reimbursement). Silver College fees are typically $350 per coach and include training, most meals, and a gift.
Process Focus: Giving back wisdom earned throughout your career as well as skills and tools earned through the USA Wrestling Advanced Certification process.
Prerequisites: Copper, Bronze, and Silver
Key Benefits:
Cement all your previous learning through teaching (Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience) as well as advanced networking and diving into international travel.
Tasks include:
1. Coach Apprentice Program (CAP) - Plan for an International trip to support athlete safety and development. Coaches will plan all aspects of a trip abroad with a USA Wrestling age-group team
2. Book Report Task
3. Teach a session at a Silver College (ideally this is your last task to complete in front of your peers who provide you with feedback)
4. Submit a written article that is ready to publish through USA Wrestling for peers to read and review
5. Mentorship Task - support another coach through their Silver NCEP practice task in our cohort mentor program (includes three mentor training sessions with USA Wrestling)
6. Community Service Project Task - giving back through service
7. Volunteer Coaching at a USA Wrestling Developmental Camp
8. Periodization Planning Task
9. Host a USA Wrestling Coaching Clinic at your school/club (not a Silver College)
10. Wild Card Task - work with Coach Education Manager on a special project
10. CPR/AED certification (CPR/AED task)
Costs: CAP Trip Task prices vary but range around $3-4k. Other minimal costs include travel as a volunteer with USA Wrestling at a Developmental Camp (travel +$350), travel to teach at a Silver College (travel/meals), and budgeting for your own coaching clinic which can be used to raise funds for other travel expenses or for your program/club.