There has never been a more important time for wrestling coaches to keep their programs visible on campus and in the community.  The deteriorating economy is causing many university athletic departments make hard choices with respect to which sports will stay and which will go.  Your generous deeds in the community will most likely result in the community being more supportive of your wrestling program.  As spectator attendance at your home competitions increases, you will create a perception that the community deeply cares about your wrestling program.    It is imperative that your administration has this perception.  You might also be interested in knowing there is overwhelming research that supports the notion that students who volunteer their services in the community are more likely to stay in school and graduate.

With respect to community service projects, there are many great examples (based on what other wrestling programs have done) you can find in the community service section of the NWCA website.  That said, the NWCA would like to encourage all coaches and wrestling programs to consider volunteering for a community service project that supports our association’s national efforts to “Pin childhood Obesity.”  Childhood obesity is the number one threat to our nation’s young children and no sport is better positioned to lead a campaign to combat childhood obesity than wrestling due to our comprehensive weight management program.

Please know you already have access to a “turn key” childhood obesity initiative if you are looking for something simple.  Through a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), we have collaboratively been promoting their “Eat Smart Play Hard” campaign for several years.  Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, and Pat Pecora are three coaches who have been very involved with this effort.  Click here to view some of their activities.  The USDA is committed to supporting all of our college wrestling coaches/programs with all of the necessary public relations materials and resources to promote the “Eat Smart Play Hard” campaign in your respective communities.  Click here for more information.   

Thank you for your consideration of this request.   Together, we can protect amateur wrestling across America!  

Importance of Community Service