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A Note From Coach Richardson - Please Read

By Steve Richardson 10/31/2022, 6:00am EDT

A Note From Coach Richardson - Please Read

Team,

We're getting really, really close to the start of the season and I know you're all interested in what practice group your wrestler(s) will be assigned to and when they will practice. I understand that most families have way more than one sport or activity in the Winter and you're all down to the minute with getting kids to wherever and whenever they need to be, I get it. I want to explain the process and why we do this.

Each year we get between 120 and 180 (or more) athletes sign up. We have one practice room that's available in the evenings only. Those wrestlers range from 5 to 14 years old and anywhere from 45 to 200 pounds, let alone the varying experience levels. We always try to take a long look at assigning the groups properly and as safe as we can while challenging each athlete. Honesty, it's the hardest part of putting the season together because we always seem to upset a few families.

Here is where we are at. I've drafted some preliminary groups based on even age breakdown and considerations for experience and some historical placements. On Friday, I've invited ALL Matcat coaches to review and discuss the lists. My hope is that "the village" can help make the best possible practice groups with the least amount of upset parents. After Friday evening, we will send out the final list of assignments.

Some thoughts here:

Can a parent request a change? Answer: There will be some parents that need to switch, want to switch or HAVE to switch. We will not allow any changes for at least three weeks from the start of practice. After that, ALL requests will be made verbally to me only. I cannot promise I will make the change, but I will consider it and how it affects the rest of the group.

We have other obligations on one of the days. Could we jump into another day? Answer, sorry no. We tried this and it became the Wild West. One family has a need and then everyone does. Then we essentially don't have assigned practices anymore. We have plenty of families that only come once a week because of other obligations. If that's not acceptable to you, we will issue a full refund for the season up to the third week of the season.

We don't like our choice of practice partners. "My kid should be in the next group." Answer: Don't be that parent. My kids have been a part of the program for a long time, when I coached all three levels, every day. My kids were assigned to their age groups and we never allowed on the mats when another group was practicing. They were to sit and do homework when the older group was drilling. If I can follow that rule... If you do have a legitimate concern, I will listen to it.

My wrestler is a state placer, state champion or just really good. He/She should be in the next group. Two Answers here. First, see previous answer. and Second, we're really trying to have three ultra-competitive groups here. The idea is to have All-State Athletes in each. I would argue that our Yellow group will be tougher than most of the other combined wrestling rooms in the state.

What I'm trying to avoid is the stigma of one group being better. Over the past few years we've had several parents use the Matcat color group as a sign of success. That's not the intent. Simple question, how many Panthers parents asked to be switched to a different color team? Would it be allowed? Please help me and make this fun and enjoyable for your children. If there is a concern, I want it brought to me alone. No board member or coach is to hear a complaint about the groups, they are instructed to tell you to bring it to me. We have several board members and coaches with 7th and 8th graders that just want to enjoy the year. If you don't ask me about it, it's on you. If I hear about an individual complaining about it to a group, I will address it with you directly. We don't need negative side conversations going on.

I hope this helps clear things up and sets some boundaries to help us all have some fun this year!

Steve Richardson

810-333-5560

Welcome Email!

By Jamie Honiss 08/01/2022, 12:30pm EDT

Welcome to the 2022/2023 Matcat Folkstyle Season!!!

We are looking forward to the upcoming season, I wanted to share some important information with you that may help you learn more about our club and answer some of your questions. Please be sure to read all the information below. We will have a parent meeting once the season begins so more to come!

1. Practice Days/Times will be determined closer to the start of practices. At this time, we can't guarantee days/times for any age. Matcats practice during the weekdays and compete on the weekends. Once your wrestler is assigned to a practice group, they may only attend the day/times for their group. If you have any questions or concerns on this please email Coach Richardson, srichardson@musaw.org.

2. Our address is 23333 Griswold South Lyon, MI 48178. We are 100% volunteer based and our facility is only open during practice hours.

3. Our Folkstyle season begins the week of Nov 7th, and ends mid-March. Your USA Wrestling card is included in your registration.

4. Gear Needed =

Wrestling shoes, headgear and a wrestling bag. Popular brands are Asics, Rudis, Adidas, Cliff Keen and Nike.
Have braces? You'll need a mouthguard.
One team t-shirt is included in your registration. Please note, anyone registering after 11-7-22 cannot be included in the team t-shirt order.
Singlets for competition - We will have a Matcat singlet order, you'll receive a link to place your order once it goes live!
Spirit Wear - Matcat families love their spirit wear! You'll receive the team order link once it goes live!

Note - For families new to wrestling, wrestling shoes are never worn outside, your wrestler(s) will change into their wrestling shoes inside the Matcat facility.

5. Our Matcat Facebook page is kept private, please request to join, search "Michigan Matcats". We share updates and pictures there. You can also request to join our Matcat Gear Swap page to buy gear, search "Matcat Wrestling Gear Buy/Sell/Swap"

6. SportsEngine is our website, APP and main line of communication. Please download the SportsEngine APP on your phone, adding each wrestler to their roster is a manual process so please allow up to 3 days to have full access to the APP, our website (https://www.michiganmatcats.com/home) and even Facebook page.

7. SportsEngine APP/Website Notes -

Only the parent who registered the wrestler(s) has access, if you'd like to add an additional guardian or person to your account please follow these instructions, https://help.sportsengine.com/en/articles/314-how-to-add-guardians. The person added will then get an emailed invitation they must accept to complete the process.
Once completed (usually in December), our team tournament calendar will be on our website and SportsEngine APP. RSVP's are important but we'll cover more on that later. Each event will have details telling you what you need to know!
Practices will not be on the APP, once you know your wrestlers' days/times they are not likely to change or be cancelled - always assume practice is ON, any changes will be sent via SportsEngine Chat, email and or Facebook.
We use the SportsEngine Chat for quick communications, please check your notification settings in the APP to make sure you are seeing updates.
New this year - After an email is sent out to the team it will also be added to the News section on the SportsEngine APP. This will help you quickly reference all team communications in one spot.
Parents - Once you have access to SportsEngine make sure you go in and add your cell phone number!!!!!! This helps coaches/board members reach you quickly if needed.

8. Leagues we participate in - We will have lots more on this, but basic information is below. The Matcat Board handles all membership card costs, tournament registration and weigh-ins, the links below are informational only, no action is needed on your part.

MMWA - http://www.mmwawrestling.com/

NEMWA - http://www.nemwa.net/

Dual Team opportunities will be communicated once the information is available.

9. Our Team schedule will be released by late December. Tournaments on the team calendar offer coaching. The SportsEngine APP and Team Calendar on our website will list all the info you need to know...once it's available.

10. Parents are not permitted in the wrestling room during practice. Our parents of 5 & 6 years old's can stay but are not required to. Our new mats offer a lot more wrestling surface...and a lot less room for people to sit/stand!

11. Important - This will be strictly enforced this year - Paperwork will need to be tuned in prior to your wrestlers' first day of practice. Physicals can be on this form signed by your doctor, https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/9558-1683695/physical2page.pdf#_ga=2.141004849.2090382565.1659101619-754127846.1570562715.

Existing Matcats - Your wrestler’s physical dated after April 1st 2022 must be turned in by the first day of practice.
New Matcats - A copy of your wrestler's birth certificate and physical dated after April 1st 2022 must be tuned in by your first day of practice.
Questions? Email Sarah Riggs, matcats.registrar@gmail.com
Screenshots will not be accepted, if sending your paperwork online to matcats.registrar@gmail.com it needs to be a PDF.

***If your wrestler already had their annual checkup and you didn't ask the Dr. to sign a physical form they may agree to fill out the form above for you without a new appointment.

12. Hygiene - Stick with the basics!

Nails trimmed before practice, weigh-in or tournaments (keep nail trimmers in their wrestling bag)
Showers after every practice
Do not re-wear wrestling clothes

13. Want to join our group of Certified USA Wrestling Coaches and help in the room or tournaments? Please email Coach Richardson, srichardson@musaw.org.

14. HELP WANTED!!!! This year we will be looking for people to help in each practice group. Possible "jobs" are listed below, all are easy to learn and will be a huge help in making this a great season.

Helping with onsite wrestling gear swap (early in the season)
Helping with tournament weigh-in (all season - during practice times)
Helping with tournament registration (all season - can be done at home - by cut off times set by each league)
Organizing team food table sign-ups for tournaments
Helping with gear order distribution
Nightly room clean-up, mop mat, empty trash...
Photographer! Everyone loves pictures from tournaments, we need more volunteers!
First Aid during practices (Band-Aids and bloody noses...)
Trainer for our tournaments
Ideas welcome!

This may seem like a lot, funny enough this is an attempt to keep it simple :)

Click here https://www.michiganmatcats.com/contact to view our current board members and their contact information if you have any questions.

Go Matcats,

Jamie Honiss

General Manager

Michigan Matcats

248-390-0598

jamiehoniss@gmail.com