How to Be a Children's Wrestling Coach

Although you must check with prospective employers for specific requirements, there are a few aspects of your life that will affect your ability to coach children's wrestling, no matter where you are employed: your criminal background, your experience and your certifications.

Things You'll Need

  • USAW membership
  • A USAW membership ID and online profile
  • USAW Copper Level Certification
  • Competitive wrestling experience
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Instructions

    • 1
      A crime against a child will mar your chances of becoming a children's wrestling coach.

      Pass a background check. According to privacyrights.org, employers use background checks to access public government records, from driving records to sex offender lists. Information the employer seeks will depend on the type of job involved, which means, because you wish to work with children, the employer will likely check to see if you have ever committed any crimes against children. USA Wrestling (USAW) requires you to pass a background check before they will allow you to purchase a membership. Without a USAW membership, you will not be able to take any USAW certification courses.

    • 2

      Gain experience. Even if your prospective employer does not require competitive wrestling experience, such experience will aid in your successful completion of the USAW Copper Level certification.

    • 3

      Become a member of USAW. You must become a member of the USAW to take the Copper Level certification course. USAW is an educational partner with American Sport Education Program (ASEP) which "works directly with more than 40 state high school associations in delivering the ASEP Professional Coaches Education Program to more than 25,000 coaches a year" and whose "Coaching Youth Wrestling" online course has been accepted as part of the USAW Copper Level certification.

    • 4

      Complete an online profile with USAW. Once you have done so, USAW will issue you a membership ID, which you must have to take courses), and run a back ground check.

    • 5
      Your successful completion of USAW's Copper Level course is your ticket to coaching children's wrestling.

      Purchase and pass the Copper Level Youth Wrestling online course offered by ASEP. The Copper Level is the lowest of the four levels of certification offered by the NCEP. Its purpose is to train volunteer coaches, parents and entry level coaches. After you take the course, you may contact USAW to check the status of your certification. The ASEP provides the USAW with a list of coaches who have successfully completed the online course on a weekly basis. Once the USAW has been notified that you have successfully completed the course, they will send you a Copper Level card.