Empowering Young Athletes

Engage with determination. Unleash your potential on the mat. Take your passion and drive to new heights through dedicated training and competition. Join us in the journey towards excellence.

Transform sweat and sacrifice into victory. Embrace the challenges that mold champions. Together, we cultivate the future of wrestling.

Practice Expectations

For Athletes

Be on time and ready to go. Practices begin promptly—arrive early enough to change into gear and be prepared.
Come prepared. Bring wrestling shoes, athletic clothing, water bottle, and a good attitude every day.
Respect teammates and coaches. Show sportsmanship in everything you do—be coachable, work hard, and encourage others.
Stay focused. The wrestling room is a place for learning, improvement, and fun. Listen when coaches are talking, and give your best effort in every drill and game.
Take care of the facility. Keep the mats and equipment clean. No food, soda, or outside shoes on the mats.

For Parents & Spectators

Support, don’t coach. Please allow the coaching staff to provide instruction. Your role is to be the parent, support your child but please refrain from being the sideline coach.
Respect the environment. Refrain from negative comments toward coaches, athletes, or other parents. You will be removed from the room and possibly asked to leave the club.
Help reinforce expectations. Remind your child about effort, respect, and commitment outside of practice as well.
Communicate appropriately. If you have questions or concerns, approach a coach at the right time—never during practice.

Closed Practices

Transition to a Closed Wrestling Room

Open Practices (October–December): Parents are welcome to quietly observe practices during the first part of the season.
Closed Room: Starting in December, we transition to a closed wrestling room environment. At this point:
- Only coaches and wrestlers will remain in the room during practice.
- Parents and spectators will not be allowed to watch practice sessions.
- This change is designed to create a focused training environment, reduce distractions, and help athletes grow independently.
- Parents may enter the room before or after practice for drop-off/pick-up, but practices themselves are closed.

How to Register for a USA Wrestling Athlete Card

Every wrestler in our program must have a current USA Wrestling athlete card. This membership provides insurance, eligibility to compete in USA Wrestling–sanctioned events, and ensures your athlete is officially recognized under the national governing body of wrestling.

Follow these steps to get your card:

Step 1: Visit the Website

Go to: www.usawmembership.com

Step 2: Create an Account

If you already have an account, log in.
If you’re new, click “Create Free Account” and fill out your parent/guardian information.

Step 3: Add Your Athlete

Once logged in, click “Add Member” and enter your child’s information.
Be sure to double-check names and birthdates.

Step 4: Associate with Cougar Wrestling Club

After adding your child, you’ll see an option to select a club affiliation.
Search for and select Cougar Wrestling Club (Idaho) as your athlete’s club.
This step is very important because it ensures your wrestler is listed with our program for events, team rosters, and insurance coverage.

Step 5: Purchase Athlete Membership

Select “Athlete Membership.”
Choose “Limited Folkstyle Athlete” if your child will only be competing in folkstyle (often cheaper).
Or choose “Full Athlete Membership” if your child will wrestle freestyle/Greco events in the spring/summer.

Step 6: Checkout and Pay