#development

Romania hosts first coaches course of the year

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 - 13:50 By United World Wrestling Press

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IZVORANI, Romania (February 10) – The Romanian Wrestling Federation (FRL), supported by United World Wrestling and the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, hosted the first coaching course of the year. The course was held in the Olympic Center Sydney 2000 on February 6-9. The course was hosted by Mr. Răzvan Pîrcălabu (UWW Member and President of Romanian Wrestling Federation) and attended by Mr. Mihai Covaliu (President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee) and Mr. Eduard Novak (Minister of Sports in Romania).

At the course, more than 150 Romanian coaches were present.  The program included theoretical and practical sessions along with a written examination. During the three days, the coaches had the chance to learn from international Educators and guest speakers that included:

  • Mr. Arsen Julfalakyan (UWW Member and President of Athletes Commission)
  • Mr. Petru Toarcă (UWW Lecturer)
  • Mr. Ferenc Gyarmati (Olympic Referee and UWW Instructor)
  • Mrs. Ramona Ceamuru (Director of National Training Center for Romanian Coaches)
  • Mrs. Alina Gherghisan (Sports Psychologist of Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee)

ROMA birdseye view from the first coaching course of the year. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

During the course, all the participants learned the foundations of being a successful coach. Topics included: role of coaches, coach vision, coach as a key resource of performance, psychological approach for young wrestlers, discipline in sport, proper nutrition-healthy food and importance of the recovery.  The coaches also had practical on-the-mat sessions with Mr. Julfalakyan and Mr. Toarcă.  These sessions focused on different situations in the standing and par terre positions.  Lastly, the coaches participated in a referee course. This course was conducted by UWW Instructor Ferenc Gyarmati.

ROM1All eyes from the coaches course are on world champion Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

“I would like to thank the Romanian wrestling federation for the invitation. It was really a very unique experience. Not every time you can have the opportunity to work with more than 150 coaches from different styles and in a country with such a rich wrestling traditions,” said Mr. Julfalakyan.

The Romanian Wrestling Federation aims to improve wrestling activities at all age groups. Providing educational courses is an important chapter in their overall development strategy for the Federation. This course was a big success and a great start to 2023.

#development

UWW and Inspire Institute of Sport host first-ever coaching course

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 13:22 By United World Wrestling Press

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VIJAYANAGAR, India (July 9) -- United World Wrestling hosted a international coaching course at Inspire Institute of Sport in India from June 27 to July 1.

This was the first-ever coaching course held in India under the partnership that UWW signed with IIS in 2024 to help develop wrestling in India. The Level 2 coaching course was led by July and was lead by Ahmed KHEDHRI (TUN).

"The group was distinguished by a wide diversity of experiences and backgrounds, which added a special richness to the discussions and allowed for fruitful exchanges of ideas and practices," Khedhri said. "The coaches’ enthusiasm and commitment to enhancing their knowledge and skills to serve wrestling in their respective countries were clearly evident. This positive interaction added a dynamic and engaging spirit to the course, making it a truly rich and effective educational experience."

The Level 2 coaching course focused on the designing and implementing of practice plans and had nine coaches from three countries namely India, Singapore, and Nigeria that participated in the course.

The course covered various topics including seven basic skills of wrestling, introduction to performance analysis designing effective practice sessions, risk management, mental development, Anti-Doping, environmental impact and included technical sessions. During the course, the coaches actively practiced and developed their skills through practical evaluations.

"The course was very successful and impactful. It was truly excellent, characterized by clarity, depth, and practical application that added real value for all participants. I feel deeply grateful and very excited, as this was our first education clinic, through which we have already seen many promising potentials and future opportunities," Rishabh CHAUHAN, Head of Sports Excellence Program at IIS, said.

INDParticipants at the  Level 2 coaching course work through designing and implementing a wrestling practice plan. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Quotes from some of the participants:

Timothy Loh Yu (SGP)

“Completing the UWW Coaching Course Level 2 was an enriching experience that deepened my technical knowledge and coaching philosophy. The course focused on athlete-centered development, advanced planning, and effective communication. Key takeaways included structuring training cycles, integrating strength and conditioning, and applying sports science for better athlete management. Practical sessions improved my technical instruction and feedback skills. Overall, the course strengthened my confidence and commitment to continuous learning. The venue, facilities, accommodation, and the facilitation by Mr. Ahmed were also excellent and supported the success of the program.”

Gurpreet Kaur (IND)

“I would like to express my gratitude for facilitating the UWW Level 2 Coaches Course. The course was highly informative, engaging, and practical, covering key topics such as basic wrestling skills, training phases and periodization, video analysis, practice planning, nutrition and weight management, and athlete management. It has deepened my perspective as a coach and equipped me with practical tools to use in my training sessions. To further enhance learning, incorporating more case studies, video breakdowns of real matches, and live or recorded athlete demonstrations could strengthen technical and tactical understanding. Overall, the course struck a good balance between theory and real-life application.”

Blessing Oborududu (NGR)

“The UWW Level 2 Coaching Course has been a game-changer for me. I’ve gained practical skills to enhance my coaching, including analyzing and correcting techniques, planning effective training programs, and applying strength & conditioning and nutrition to optimize athlete performance. I’ve also developed leadership and communication skills to foster a supportive training environment. This course has truly elevated my coaching abilities and will help me better support my athletes’ growth and success.”