Expert Wanted
Do you know a wrestling coach in your community you think would be an ideal candidate to be MomsTeam's wrestling expert? Send his or her name to info@momsteam.com [6].
Footwear
Wrestling shoes are specially made to wear in the ring. They are lightweight, featuring a combination of mesh and leather for ventilation and rubber soles for traction.
Some wrestling shoes can be very expensive, depending on the characteristics of the shoe. As the Beijing Olympic Games approach, Adidas has redesigned their wrestling shoe. According to the Wall Street Journal, "the challenge is to create a shoe that's almost slippery to an opponent's grapple while providing sufficient grip on the mat." This new shoe is supposed to fit like a sock and contains a zipper over the laces, reinforced by protective tape. This shoe costs $150; however, Adidas makes good youth wrestling shoes starting at $40.
When purchasing new wrestling shoes, keep in mind:
Headgear
Wrestling head gear is composed of two hard plastic ear cups attached to the head via a forehead and chin strap. As with boxing and martial arts, wrestling head gear is designed to protect against cuts and scratches, mainly to the ears, which are vulnerable when wrestling. Although there is no punching allowed in wrestling, the ears can become damaged easily and can cauliflower, a permanent disfigurement. Wrestling head gear is not optional.