WINTHROP YOUTH WRESTLING
Winthrop YOUTH WRESTLING
Spring 2026 Season
April 30 - May 28
Boston Wrestling Legion is returning to Winthrop for a spring wrestling season! This program is for children ages 6-14 (grades K-8) of all skill and experience levels. The season takes place beginning in the last week of April and will run to the end of May.
Our practice time has been confirmed. We will practice on Thursday evenings, with a 6:00-7:00 session for younger wrestlers and 7:00-8:20 for older wrestlers. These practices take place in the gymnasium of the Arthur T Cummings school at 40 Hermon St, Winthrop, MA.
The youth wrestling season will have two main focuses: (1) Introduce the sport to new wrestlers and (2) Advance the skills of returning wrestlers. Because we have now had about a year of wrestling programming in Winthrop, there are some wrestlers who have built a strong foundation of skills and techniques, who are ready to move on to more advanced skills. There are also several wrestlers who are interested in joining and trying it for the first time, so we are determined to serve both of these groups adequately.
Practices will continue to be split by age, but we will plan to run differentiated groups within these age group sessions to the best of our ability.
The spring session also includes entry to the Springtime Showdown Tournament, hosted by Boston Wrestling Legion at Excel Academy High School on Saturday May 16. This tournament is intended as an opportunity for our wrestlers to participate in a legitimate wrestling competition against other wrestlers their age.
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Practice Gear - Wrestling Shoes and Workout Clothes
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The only required gear to wear during practice are wrestling shoes, which can be purchased from online retailers such as WrestlingMart, Dicks Sporting Goods, and Amazon. We have a limited in-house stock of shoes in different sizes, so if you already have shoes and need to go up a size, we may be able to offer an exchange. Wrestlers cannot participate using regular sneakers, running shoes, or other footwear. Wrestlers may use grip socks on a temporary basis while awaiting wrestling shoes, but cannot use these during competitions. Aside from wrestling shoes, wrestlers should wear athletic clothing like shorts, sweatpants, and t-shirts at practice. Other protective gear as as headgear, mouth guards, knee pads, etc. can be worn at practice but is not required or necessary.
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Competition Gear - Uniforms
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During outside competitions, it is required that all wrestlers wear a Boston Wrestling Legion uniform. Legion gear is available for purchase through our MyHouse store. There are two options for uniforms, either a singlet or compression shirt and fight shorts. ​​​​​​​​​​Wrestlers who opt for the two-piece uniform must purchase both components: The shirt and the shorts are both required. We have singlet samples available for a fit check if families would like to try before purchasing.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
There is other gear available for purchase in our MyHouse store, and families are welcome to buy any other items that they choose. MyHouse sends a portion of each purchase back to Legion, which we put toward our operating expenses.
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YOUTH WRESTLING SEASON FAQ
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Q: Where does the program take place?
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A: Practices take place at the Arthur T Cummings School gymnasium at 40 Hermon St in Winthrop, MA.
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Q: What do you do to make sure wrestling is safe?
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A: Wrestlers are separated into pairs based on their age, size, and skill level. We would not allow a 50-pound 6-year-old to wrestle against a 150-pound 12-year-old. They are paired with a partner who is relatively close to them in age, size, and skill.
Before all wrestling practices, we reinforce our two biggest safety rules: no hitting of any kind (punching, kicking, etc.), and both wrestlers must agree to wrestle before starting and must shake hands (no sneaking up on someone unsuspected). These rules help maintain order, respect, and safety. There are many other rules that wrestlers will learn regarding safety, and they are reinforced multiple times to ensure that there is no confusion. Wrestlers who fail to obey safety rules may be required to sit out, and we reserve the right to dismiss a wrestler from the program for repeated offenses. Safety is our highest priority, as it is necessary to ensure all young people have a positive experience. When the rules are followed, wrestling is one of the safest full-contact sports.
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Q: We are going on vacation and will miss 2 of the sessions. Can our child still join?
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A: Yes! The sessions are not mandatory, and while your child may miss important information about a wrestling technique or drill, our coaching staff will support them in catching up on anything they missed.
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Q: Our child is interested in wrestling, but hasn't ever done it before and we are nervous. How do you support new wrestlers?
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A: We believe every young person is a unique individual who has a variety of strengths that can help them become a successful wrestler. We start with the rules of wrestling -- how to win a match, how to score points, and safety rules. We then teach the fundamental movements and techniques that can help wrestlers succeed per the rules. We allow many opportunities for athletes to be creative and try to figure out ways to win and score points. Our practices are structured so that they can both learn the fundamentals, but also have the freedom to learn through the experience of trying out their own ideas.
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Q: What kind of gear/equipment does my child need?
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A: Wrestlers should come to practice wearing athletic clothes free of buckles, belts, buttons, or loops. Baggy and oversized clothes should be avoided, as they can prohibit correct technique and cause a safety issue. Your child should have full range of motion and be able to move comfortably. The only gear needed for practice is a pair of wrestling shoes. These can be found on Amazon for $50-60 or at certain sporting goods stores. We have a limited amount of shoes available to borrow, but we encourage all wrestlers to have their own pair of shoes.
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Q: We have questions that aren't covered here. What is the best way to contact you?
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A: Our best contact is by email at info@wrestlinglegion.org for other questions. We are also available by phone at 617-370-5695.
