#development

Uruguay hosts pair of Coaches Courses, Introduction to Refereeing

By United World Wrestling Press

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (November 11) --- Keeping with the series of UWW courses that are taking place in the American continent, on this occasion was the time of Montevideo from November 1 to 7. The courses were: Coaches Course Level 1 and Level 2 and Introduction to Refereeing. A total of 31 participants took part in the course. The majority of the coaches were from Uruguay, but there also were participants from six other countries.

This course is part of the UWW's education program, and the purpose is to provide the coaches with tools to strengthen their professional work. The course consisted of several sessions between theoretical and practical, structured in such a way that what was learned in the classroom was applied on the mat.

This course was made with the support of the Olympic Solidarity, the Uruguayan Olympic Committee, and the Uruguayan Wrestling Federation.

URUParticipants from the Uruguay courses gather for a photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

All the activities were held in the brand-new Combat Sports Training Center, founded in 2019, with two mats and a classroom that makes it easy to take the course.

The opening ceremony was held on November 2 and was attended by distinguished personalities such as the President of the National Olympic Committee, Julio C. MAGLIONE, the National Secretary of Sports, Sebastián BAUZÁ and the President of the Uruguay Wrestling Federation, Dante STEFANO.

We had the educators Pedro ROJAS (PUR) for the coaches and Ignacio D'Alessandro (ARG) for the referees. 

"We are very pleased with the outcome of the course. We found a group of participants with a basic level of knowledge of the sport but who were willing to learn and make the most of the concepts and tools provided. We had five days of very fruitful work, and we went back home knowing that we had left the bases for Uruguay to start implementing a successful development program. We want to come back in a while to help them take it to the next level". say Ignacio D’Alessandro, Referee Educator.

The Uruguayan Wrestling Federation is starting to work very hard in the development of the sport in its country. And from the UWW, we hope to continue working in this way with them and accompany them in their growth and institutional strengthening.

#development

Learn, Wrestle, Use youth camp organized in Croatia

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (May 6) -- The Croatian Wrestling Federation, in cooperation with United World Wrestling and the Croatian School Sports Federation, successfully organized an international youth wrestling camp titled “Learn, Wrestle, Use”, held from April 14 to 19, 2025, in the renowned wrestling hub of sunny Porec.

The camp brought together 300 young athletes from four European countries -- Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany -- in the U13, U15 and U17 age groups. In addition to intensive wrestling training, the camp included targeted educational sessions of learning English, proper nutrition, and digital safety, particularly regarding responsible behavior on social media.

This innovative project stands out for its integrated approach, combining athletic preparation with personal development. Through a balance of physical training and structured education, “Learn, Wrestle, Use” supports the holistic — both physical and psychological — development of young athletes. It encourages not only sporting excellence, but also intercultural exchange, communication skills, and lifelong healthy habits.

The camp was led by a team of distinguished Croatian coaches: Hrvoje SAVUK (U13 Boys Group), Eugen JAKOVLJEVIC, head coach of the Croatian U15 boys national team (U15 & U17 Boys Groups), and Women’s Wrestling national team coaches Dinko KREMIC and Nenad GREZINA (Girls Group). A total of 30 experienced coaches participated in the delivery of the training and educational components.

This international initiative is a strong example of how youth sport can go beyond competition — creating space for learning, connection, and empowerment across borders.