Tips for Parents

What is the age group for participation?
Great Valley Youth Wrestling is open to youth in kindergarten (age 5) through 8th grade.

What teams will GVWA wrestle against?
We belong to the Inter County Wrestling League. This is a 44-team league. Weekend matches may consist of dual, tri, or even quad meets against teams in the league. Every effort is made to wrestle against the teams that are located closest to Great Valley. Most teams that we wrestle against are within a 45 minute drive. The ICWL website has a list of all the participating teams.

Who will my child wrestle against?
During wrestling meets, children are paired against one another by age, weight, years of experience, and skill level. This process ensures that children are properly paired with one another.

Will my child have to lose weight?
No. There are no formal weight classes in the Inter County Wrestling League.

Do I need to sign up for USA wrestling?
As a youth club GVWA is insured by USA wrestling. Cards are purchased for the wrestler once registered. USA wrestling cards can be found in the teamsnap app under files. You will use this number to register for tournaments.

Where are wrestling practices held?
Practices are located in the Exton Mall wrestling room, and we work with West Chester youth wrestling program.

When are practices?
All of our first year wrestlers 2nd grade and younger will be in Group 1. This group will practice 2x a week during the weeknights for 1 hour each time.  Wrestlers with more than 1 or 2 years of experience or in third grade or above will attend our Group 2 practices. Group 2 practices 2x a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes each time. Both practices times and locations are TBD. Coaches can determine skill level and depending on age may move a wrestler from group 1 or group 2 at their discretion (with approval from the parents).

What is the difference in practices between group 1, group 2 and group 3?
First and foremost, the emphasis for all groups is to have fun. In Group 1, most of our time is spent on teaching the basics of wrestling. Each child will learn the rules and be able to execute some basic wrestling moves. Group 1 is for wrestlers 2nd grade and younger. Group 2 is a faster-paced and more physically demanding practice. Group 3 is for wrestler who've been wrestling for several years and are advanced.

What is the difference between a wrestling meet and a tournament?
A meet is a competition between teams although no team scores are kept in the Inter County Wrestling League. As previously described, kids are paired against one another based on age, weight, experience, and skill level.

A tournament is an individual event and attendance is optional. Individuals from our team can participate in selected tournaments throughout the area. Local tournaments are listed on the pywrestling.com website. Word of mouth and team emails are the best way to find out what tournaments your child can and should be participating in. There are 2 novice tournaments that are club sponsored (your child's entry will be covered) along with the ICWL championship tournament. 

What if my child gets a minor skin irritation like ringworm or impetigo?                                                                                        This can happen at some point during the wrestling season. Mats are cleaned before every practice. Seek pediatrician advice or treatment and keep skin covered and you can come to practice. You may need a doctor's note to participate in tournaments with a skin issue.                                                                                                                                                                             
Can girls participate?
Yes! We strongly encourage girls to wrestle. Girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport. 

What should my child wear to practice?
Gym attire is recommended. Well fitted clothes are best so fingers don't get caught on loose clothing. Tshirts and shorts are recommended. Wrestling shoes and headgear are required as well. The club has inventory to lend out that's been acquired by donation throughout the years. It is on a first come first serve basis. Mouthguards are strongly recommended but not mandatory.

Are uniforms provided?
As a club, we purchase new uniforms almost yearly. We offer a new uniform to each wrestler for free. You may also reach out to former or older wrestlers to see if they have any outgrown uniforms laying around. Please feel free to donate old uniforms or gear to the club. 

Are there fundraisers that my child will have to participate in?
We have one fundraiser that takes place in March. It is a tournament hosted by GVWA at the high school. It is known as MAWA (mid atlantic wrestling association) and it is a qualifying tournament for all ages. We require parents to help work the tournament that day. We also require that each family sell one sponsorship for $100. Identify one local company or person to sponsor our tournament tshirt. Their company's name will be printed on the back of our tshirt. Some families opt to donate the $100 themselves, that is fine also, but we do like community involvement and to limit the costs to our families. MAWA is a fun day and our wrestlers, second year and above typically, can participate in the tournament. Parents help with setup, snack bar, work a table keeping score or the clock, weigh ins, etc. We rely on every parent to help make this successful. The date is communicated well in advance so please keep that date open. Mawa cost is now built in to registration, but once a sponsor is obtained you will be reimbursed. 

How does the team communicate and do I need an app?

Yes! We use the TeamSnap app. You will receive an invite to join. This is our primary means of communication. From the roster to team chat, we use it all. Team chat is useful for upcoming tournaments, absences, change of location for practice or meets, lost headgears or sweatshirts, we use it for everything. Please turn on notifications in this app so you can stay in the loop. There are pictures and videos in the media section for reference to what matches will look like and what to expect.