Wrestling: An Individual or Team Sport?

Opinions and discussions have raged over the years regarding which is "the best sport." People are generally quite eager to champion their favorite giving reasons why it is superior to the others. In the process, it is not uncommon for the topic of "team sport" versus "individual sport' to rise to the surface as a proponent is listing the "positive" aspects of his/her preferred activity.

No one will argue that football, basketball, soccer, field hockey, baseball and softball are considered team sports. At the same time, wrestling would generally be included among the so-called individual ones. And if we list the pro's and con's, it is common for the "team sport people" to list the "team aspect" of their activity as something to be placed in the "positive" column while adding that it is something missing in wrestling. Personally, I believe that not ONLY is this a misconception, but the very opposite is actually true. A strong case can be made for wrestling as the ultimate TEAM SPORT!

How so? How could anyone even consider wrestling more of a team sport than football or basketball? Consider this: Unlike every other sport, EVERY participant in wrestling has an equal opportunity (and, in fact, equal responsibility) to contribute to the actual team score of the contest. He therefore makes a most direct contribution to the outcome of it. No one competitor is of any greater (or lesser) importance to the team. In many team sports, often one or two "stars" are largely responsible for the game's outcome. The "blue chip" running back, quarterback, pitcher or high scorer on the basketball team makes a huge difference... especially in high school sports. On a related note, a relative few players actually score points for their team. It would be extremely rare, for example, for a goal keeper, defender, or a football guard or tackle to "score."

Here at Wilson, we stress the fact that EACH and EVERY wrestler has an equal responsibility for the twelve team points which are available every time he steps on the mat. (Wait a minute! Where do I find TWELVE?) In truth, there really ARE 12 points up for grabs and always present is the potential for a 12-point swing at each of the 14 weight classes. The clearest example would be the wrestler who is nearly pinned... but fights off his back to score a pin of his own. The difference between our opponent getting six... and us getting six... is, in fact, 12 team points! Our goal should be to get as many of those 12 points as possible. This could easily mean that a wrestler avoids getting pinned or perhaps gets a last second escape to prevent a major decision is just as instrumental in the outcome of a close match as is the one who pins his opponent in the first period. The wrestler who does his absolute best and only loses by decision has, in essence, saved three points for his team... and those three points has been the difference in countless hotly contested matches.

So, the next time you hear someone talk about how "great" team sports are and how they are superior to wrestling, make certain that they understand that wrestling should be included in that same group. And the wrestler of true character understands that it is ALWAYS... TEAM FIRST!

Wrestling: The ultimate team sport!