Protective Gear Required for Middle School Wrestling

Wrestling is a great sport for kids to get involved in, according to Dr. Paul G. Donohue, a syndicated medical columnist based in Orlando, Florida, who wrote that wrestling "combines aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, balance, flexibility and reaction time in one sport." While wrestling has risks, like any other sport, there are ways to help protect wrestlers.

  1. Headgear

    • Headgear protects the head; specifically the ears. While wrestling, athletes can get cauliflower ear or auricular hematoma. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this condition is caused by trauma to the pinna, the outer part of the ear, KidsGrowth.com reports. If it is not treated, this condition could become permanent. Since there is a lot of friction involving the ear in wrestling, head gear can help prevent cauliflower ear from happening.

    Mouth Piece

    • A mouth piece is a piece of plastic that molds to the wearer's mouth. Since there is a lot of pressure on the head in wrestling, a mouth piece is valuable, so the teeth do not grind or the wrestler does not bite his tongue during a match.

    Knee Pads and Elbow Pads

    • Knee pads and elbow pads protect the wrestler from potential injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons stated that 40 percent of wrestling injuries are sustained in the lower extremities and 20 percent are in the upper ones, according to KidsGrowth.com The wearing of pads can lower these percentages.

    Athletic Cups

    • In men's wrestling divisions, wearing athletic cups may be required. This is to protect to groin area since there is a lot of grappling that happens during the course of a match.

    School Districts Vary

    • Every school district and tournament has different rules and regulations for what equipment is required or allowed in middle school Wrestling. For example, in the 2010 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Wrestling Handbook, which includes a middle school division, "knee pads and headgear are allowed, but not mandatory." Since kids in middle school still are growing, it is a good idea to keep them as protected as possible even if the equipment is not required.