Wrestling is Inclusive by Nature
Wrestling has the potential to be one of the most inclusive sports in our world as it favors no race, gender, culture, size, nor stature. Wrestling brings together people from vastly different backgrounds and builds respect based on mental and physical strength, skill, and character.
Wrestling is a powerful tool of inclusion when we use it well. As Nelson Mandela stated,
“Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”
“Sport has the power to change the world.”
This powerful tool of change is in your hands as a coach.
As wrestling moves from a male-dominated space to a sport that has opportunities for both males and females, we are on the front lines of gender equity.
We see wrestlers of all abilities; socioeconomic levels; sexual orientations; religious; ethnic; and racial backgrounds finding success, finding support, and finding their voice.
The wrestling community has the opportunity to get inclusion right. Wrestling needs every coach to be a champion of dignity, integrity, equity, and inclusion.
Being a Minority in Women’s Wrestling
Discrimination—subtle to overt—is most likely experienced by your minority athletes daily. Moreover, minority girls are fighting multiple battles. Whether you recognize it or not, within the wrestling culture, sexism, racism, homophobia, and discrimination against minority backgrounds are present. However, if we accept there is a problem we can change it. Coaches are a vital part of this process.
Here is a collection of stories about discrimination and inclusion in wrestling:
Bior Guigni, Executive Director of Beat The Streets Boston, talks about the discrimination her intercity athletes face.
Video coming soon!
Maya Nelson, Junior World Champion, talks about how she wrestles with belonging.
Axa Molina talks about how she wrestles with being biracial.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDCF0BGhJvh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Jenna Burkert, multiple time US World Team member, discusses being her authentic self.
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/June/18/Jenna-Burkert-be-authentic-self
Darla Allen, College Wrestler, talks about How She Wrestles With Acceptance.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CC7c7cDnodZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Coaches Play a Vital Role in Inclusion
Start by having a conversation. Your team is made up of a diverse set of people with a common purpose. What does diversity and inclusion mean to your team?
Be curious about the diversity of your athletes. Seek out resources to help you better understand your wrestlers. What music do they like? What is important to your wrestlers outside of the wrestling room? What kinds of challenges do they face?
Lose the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing (within reason of course). It is important to step into conversations that may initially feel uncomfortable, if you offend or misspeak, listen and learn. We will all be better for it. You don’t have to have all the answers, but be willing to learn.
Be a leader. As you get more comfortable with diversity and inclusion, continue to build an inclusive culture and fold more people into the conversation.
Diversity by the Numbers
In 2020 approximately 10% of high school wrestlers were female. Women’s wrestling has increased by over 27% two years in a row, making it one of the fastest growing high school sports in the country.
42% of female USA Wrestling cardholders are non-white/Caucasian
23.3% Hispanic
4.9% Pacific Islander
4.8% Asian
4.1% Black/African American
3.7% Native American
2.4% Mixed Race
wrestling community
Ensure Representation
When representing your team.
In your coaching staff.
In the wrestling idols, images, and videos you present to your team.
Support inclusive brands, leadership, and companies.
Understand Microaggressions
Microaggressions are everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. (Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D.)
Think backhanded comments.
Subtle comments that are made that reinforce negative stereotypes.
Harmful to the societal view of minorities.
Harmful to the individual.
Microaggressions lead to something bigger.
Example: A black female athlete may hesitate to speak her mind for concern about being stereotyped as an “angry black woman.” If she voices her opposition will she ultimately be written off as a caricature? This microaggression undermines the voice of black women.
Be aware of barriers that limit participation in sport.
Barriers might include transportation, cost of participation (fees, cost of travel including food expenses), cost of equipment (wrestling shoes, sports bra, workout gear), work schedule if they are employed and help support their families, or they may provide childcare so their parents can work.
How can you mitigate these barriers?
Be open with your athletes that inclusion is a team value, welcome discussions, and have a system to report and address grievances.
Honorable Judge Rosemarie Aquilina who presided over the Larry Nassar case spoke to the Wrestle Like A Girl community on setting expectations.
“There is zero tolerance for hateful speech, bias, and hateful actions, but there is room for discussion and change and education.”
Be an ally- not a savior. Amplify the voice of your minority athletes.
Be open-minded.
Be willing to engage, make mistakes, have difficult conversations, and learn.
Isn’t it inclusive to treat all athletes the same?
No. Inclusion doesn’t mean not recognizing difference. We cannot support our athletes if we don’t recognize their individual needs and stories. Inclusion means we recognize and celebrate each other's differences and make certain everyone has a place on the team.
Olympian and Coach Kerry McCoy, Chair of USA Wrestling’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, explains how to acknowledge diversity.
“Use differences to celebrate and enhance, not to tear down and separate.”
Coach Ray Maxwell of Nebraska explains,
“The wrestling family is a big puzzle, and everybody is a different piece. We are not all the same; we are different shapes, different sizes, different colors, but we fit together to make the picture right.”
Resources
Maya Nelson, Junior World Champion, created the #ThisIsWhatAWreslterLooksLike campaign to to highlight diversity within the sport of wrestling.
https://www.facebook.com/mayagnelson/posts/638439273694582
Julia Salata, National Team Member and Coach at King University as well as female wrestlers across the country took on the lack of representation in media coverage by creating the “How She Wrestles Campaign.”
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/19/How-She-Wrestles
Athlete Ally - Champion of Inclusion
Black Wrestling Association
https://www.blackwrestlingassociation.org/
HBO’s Series: Being Serena