About 8 minute read
Wrestling shoes are indoor shoes
Do not wear wrestling shoes outside. Put them on inside and remove them before walking outdoors.
Outside footwear encounters dirt, bacteria, mud, chemicals, rocks and animal waste. Whatever is on the bottom of a shoe can be transferred to the wrestling mat. Wrestling is also a sport where we teach athletes to sprawl and where a wrestler's face may be pressed directly against that same mat. Thinking about what everyone may have walked through outside makes the reason for clean wrestling shoes much easier to understand.
It also protects your investment. Wrestling shoes are lightweight shoes designed to grip a mat, not pavement, gravel or parking lots. With wrestling shoes often costing roughly $40 to $180, wearing their light soles outdoors can damage them quickly.
Clean practice gear matters
- Wear clean practice clothing.
- Shower promptly after practices and tournaments.
- Keep fingernails trimmed.
- Wash or clean knee pads, headgear and other frequently used equipment.
- Keep the wrestling bag itself clean rather than allowing damp gear to remain inside.
- Bring your own water bottle and do not share it.
Skin concerns
Wrestling involves close physical contact. Tell a coach about suspicious rashes, sores or skin conditions rather than trying to hide them. Event officials may require medical documentation before an athlete with a skin condition can participate.
We sanitize the mats
Jr Wildcats sanitizes the wrestling mats at the end of practices. Coaches may ask selected older or responsible wrestlers to help with mat-mopping duties. Caring for the mat is part of caring for teammates.
Mat cleaning works best when everyone also does their part: clean bodies, clean clothing and clean wrestling shoes all reduce what gets brought onto the mat in the first place.