Coaches Convention Focuses on "Whole Athlete" Says Mike Powell

Beat the Streets Chicago is excited to partner with the IWCOA on the 2019 Officials and Coaches convention, held at the Holiday Inn in Countryside, IL. The IWCOA and BTS Chicago are actively trying to promote and build wrestling in our great state. The convention is a major part of this effort. 

We received many suggestions after last year’s convention. Many of those suggestions revolved around off the mat coaching. We heard you! This year’s convention will have plenty of technique and will have significant focus on coaching the “whole athlete.” 

It is a great honor to welcome the two-time reigning world champion J’Den Cox to the convention. J’Den is fresh off an absolute dominant world championship where he did not give up a single offensive point. He will be our lead clinician. J’den will also delve into the underestimated but crucial mindset of a wrestling and life champion. 

Mark Ellis, former NCAA Champion at Missouri, and midwest director of wrestling at the FCA, will present on 3Dimensional coaching. The 3D coaching philosophy is unique in sport and is something I have personally followed for years. Mark is a dynamic presenter and this will be a can’t miss presentation. 

Fresh off announcing the world championships, former college coach, master recruiter and wrestling guru Dave Mirikitani will present on how coaches can help their athletes transition from high school to college athletics. Many coaches want to see their athletes go on and wrestle in college, and thus reap all the benefits of being a supported college athlete - tutors, counselors, being part of a team, higher graduation rates, etc. Dave will arm coaches with all they need to make this a reality for their athletes. 

Bryan Medlin, Illinois RTC coach, builder of the powerhouse Washington HS wrestling program and Illinois Greco dynasty, will present on building and sustaining a winning culture. Anyone who has coached or wrestled for Bryan will tell you that he is the best in the game. 

How do you get your wrestler to have the 5 instead of 4 in those tight 5-4, high pressure matches? NCAA Champion and master technician and tactician Jeremy Hunter will present and entire session on winning close matches. This is something we heard loud and clear from coaches as we asked for suggestions following last year. This will be hugely beneficial to coaches who are trying to get their wrestlers over the hump. 

Several coaches at last year’s social (this year, it will be on Friday evening at the hotel) suggested a session of drills that can be immediately implemented into practice. After 20 years of traveling the country coaching, I stole drills from Cubans, college coaches, master HS coaches, and anyone else who would talk with me about running a great room. I even came up with a few drills myself. I will present an entire session on wrestling drills, most of which are unique and can be added to youth, beginner, and advanced practices immediately. 

Last, we have the Northwestern staff coming in to present more technique. More information to come on this is the coming days. 

We have purposely designed this convention to serve both high school and youth coaches. We hope everyone will come join us as we prepare for another season in the great wrestling state of Illinois. 

Hope to see you there.

~Mike Powell, Executive Director Beat the Streets Chicago

Hotel information:

https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/countryside/chilg/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-HI-_-US-_-CHILG

To register: 

www.btschicago.org or www.iwcoa.net