We Do Things Differently.
It’s always kinda tough/awkward when parents watch practice until you’re connected with them. All of our parents are extremely supportive. However, when they watch, no matter how confident I or any coach is in their craft, you can’t help but wonder what that parent is thinking while watching you do what you do. I had a parent in the other weekend that I didn’t recognize. During a break in instruction I introduced myself and tried to get to know them a bit. One phrase came out of my mouth without really thinking it all the way through that has forced me to reflect quite a bit: “We do things differently here.”
In other sporting arenas, coaches, programs, schools, etc. have students enter into agreement with them on a code of conduct, expectations, and whatnot. I don’t have to do that. Our culture breeds exactly what the expectation is. If someone ain’t meeting it, they will either deal with that consequence/feedback or they will discontinue training with us. It happens organically. We’re blessed in that way, but it also took a ton of time to build that.
As someone who follows the sport closely, I see what is happening in the landscape. It is very obvious what clubs are seeing success, how they’re doing it, etc. Club wrestling has probably never been this exposed to the public before. I definitely compare us. It’s hard when you think you’re doing the right things, but maybe aren’t seeing results that others are.
I do want to put kids on World Teams. I do want a room 50+ deep, my own building, online clothing store, and a youth feeder. But at what point does it become a “me too” product, copy and pasted? Is that what my athletes or constituents need/desire? At the end of the day is this not a service, and if so, what service am I providing? Our athletes in this area are largely multi-sport athletes because our schools in this area need them. They can’t always commit to the training necessary for those endeavors. I can’t charge them what they charge, either. I didn’t come from money. We don’t make major metropolitan area-money around here. That doesn’t make them better or worse, and this is no slight to them or us, but we serve different groups.
Most major clubs probably do a better job on the business end of things in general. As a coach, it’s hard to juggle the business and wrestling pieces. I’m collecting dues 2min before warm-up, running practice, taking gear order forms and payment, planning competition dates/carpools, and still trying to connect with the athletes and families because they’re one of us now, and we take care of our own. Larger clubs might even outsource some of that work. I bet they have an actual business and branding plan… I had a buddy with experience in graphic design create our logo. It only cost me a shirt with the logo on it. Maybe I need to step my game up in that manner. I realize that is a chink in my armor.
So while I often get caught up in comparisons, results, “where we should be”, and all sorts of competitive feelings and desires, I have to stop and remind myself of how authentic the experience our athletes receive truly is. It’s always evolving and hopefully improving, but it’s still very personal, very GWC, very Cody Buchanan.
Yes, we do things differently… But that’s by design.