#development

Mexico Hosts Level 1 Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

MEXICO CITY, Mexico  (March 23) – UWW's Education Program and the Mexican Olympic Sports Center (CDOM) welcomed 40 participants from all over Mexico for a Level I Coaches Course from March 5-9. The course was made possible through the support of the Mexican Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity, and the Mexican Wrestling National Federation.

The purpose of the four-day course was to provide coaches with tools to strengthen their professional work. The course consisted of several theoretical and practical sessions that were structured to be transferrable from the classroom to the mat.

The opening ceremony was held at the Presidency Auditorium of the Mexican Olympic Committee and was attended by distinguished personalities such as Maria José ALCALÁ IZGUERRA, President of the NOC, Guillermo DÍAZ GUTIÉRREZ, President of the Mexican Wrestling Federation and Daniel ACEVES VILLAGRÁN, Vice-President of NOC. The Olympic Wrestling Gymnasium was inaugurated as part of the event, a space designed to house the national teams and the Olympic Wrestling initiation school.

In April, wrestlers from all over the continent will train at these new facilities for the Pre-Pan-American Championship Training Camp.

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The Olympic Wrestling Gymnasium in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

This course was conducted by two renowned Cuban coaches Filiberto DELGADO (FS & WW) and Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (GR), in collaboration with UWW Educator Arturo CAMACHO IBARRA (MEX).

"The course was very important; I was flattered with the youth, the desire, and unity that exists today among wrestling; I saw a great preparation in most young people, very into what they want to achieve, who should not conform and have bigger goals," said Filiberto DELGADO.

Also, during the course, an Anti-doping workshop was given by Dr. Viridiana SILVA, Mexican Olympic Committee Medical Director.

All the participants agreed that they would like to have part two of this course. "Thank you very much for doing these types of courses because they are necessary and valuable. It is important to continue to carry them out constantly to improve the knowledge and level of the wrestling, " said Gloria Wendoline MORENO SOTELO.

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Over 40 participants from all over Mexico attended the Level I Coaches Course from March 5-9. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Yuri MAIER, United World Wrestling Sports & Development Officer, was very pleased with the outcome of the course. "In general terms, everything went very well. The Mexican National Federation is undoubtedly one of the most proactive NFs in the continent. We hope to continue working with them in this way and accompanying them in their growth and institutional strengthening."

Development

2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial concludes in Guatemala City

By United World Wrestling Press

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (June 2) -- The 2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament (REDT) successfully concluded once again in Guatemala City, continuing the tradition of excellence in wrestling development across the Americas.

From May 26 to June 1, athletes, coaches, referees, and officials gathered at the Center for High-Performance and Development of America (CARDA) and the Erick Barrondo Sports Complex for a week of intensive educational activities and training camps. The event offered a unique platform where participants could simultaneously improve their technical, pedagogical, and competitive skills.

The coaches’ course was conducted under the leadership of Iranian expert Professor Reza AZIMI, assisted by Ardeshir ASGARI (NCA), who also supported with translation. A total of 22 coaches from 11 countries took part in these sessions, which combined theoretical classes with practical on-mat application, allowing for immediate implementation of newly acquired knowledge.

In parallel, the referees’ course was led by Guatemalan international referee Hugo FIGUEROA, with the participation and support of UWW Referee Commission Member Rafael GALVA LEBRON (Puerto Rico). A total of 13 referees from 9 countries attended the seminar, actively engaging in discussions, case studies, and on-mat evaluations.

Throughout the entire week, participants demonstrated strong enthusiasm and commitment, sharing experiences and strengthening the regional wrestling community.

The educational portion of the event officially opened on May 26, with an inauguration ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including Ramón Francisco GONZÁLEZ PINEDA, President of the Guatemalan Wrestling Federation, and Francisco Eduardo LEE LÓPEZ, President of United World Wrestling Americas, who addressed all participants with words of encouragement.

The training camp allowed athletes from across the continent to train together, guided by both educators and coaches from the participating nations. Thanks to the excellent facilities at CARDA and the availability of five official mats, strength and conditioning areas, saunas, and recovery facilities, athletes were able to prepare under optimal conditions.

GUAWrestlers warm up and get ready to compete at the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The week culminated with the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup, held on May 31 and June 1. This year’s competition featured 619 matches across three wrestling styles: Freestyle (FS), Greco-Roman (GR), and Women’s Wrestling (WW), in four age groups: Senior, U20, U17, and U15. Over 308 athletes from 16 countries competed, including delegations from Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

The entire competition was managed using UWW’s official Arena system, with full implementation of the latest UWW standards in terms of competition management, medical protocols, anti-doping education, and technological support, with valuable collaboration from the UWW Americas T&R team.

The Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament continues to serve as a cornerstone for the development of wrestling in the Americas, providing athletes, coaches, and referees an invaluable opportunity for growth within a fully integrated educational and competitive framework.

United World Wrestling firmly believes that programs like these represent the ideal path for sustainable development, offering new generations of participants access to high-level international events while enhancing both their technical and personal growth within our sport.