Give feedback to fighters on their fighting skills

Have you ever wondered as a coach, how can I give my fighters consistent feedback on their performance in matches? Besides using videotape, how about using what Coach Hatfield has developed as a match skill record?

Before video recording was widely used and available, I needed a way to quickly recapture and evaluate my fighters during their matches. I developed what I called the Match Skill Record. This was a simple form placed on a 51/2 x 81/2 card that I kept in a folder to quickly record the skills my fighters demonstrated during their matches. With the age of video, the Match Skill Record improved the fighter’s review and analysis of their recorded match. The two together have proven invaluable in providing essential commentary for the fighter.

The match skill record included the following:

Period-by-period score sheet

Essential facts about competitors and matches

Elimination Skills Assessment

Lower position evaluation

Drive and pin evaluation

Comments section for each category

Each of these categories has a quick assessment checklist divided into good, fair, and bad. The recorder can quickly verify those levels with a check mark or tally mark to provide consistent feedback on technique or skill. Usually I used an assistant or a member of the mat team to fill out the form based on my feedback.

The benefit for you as a coach is that you can quickly comment on what you see during the game consistently and efficiently. The Match Skill Record can also be used as a good scouting report against opponents later in the season. I found that my wrestlers were eager to review match records. They liked the constant feedback and the evaluations reinforced the skills they needed to improve. I also used them to help me develop my practices around what needed to be covered in practice.

To see a sample Match Skill log, go to my blog posted below. For a free copy of the form, please leave a post requesting the form.

Coach Hatfield