How to find Wrestling Camps Near You? [Complete Guide]
Last Updated on 08/03/2024 by John Penn
Finding a high-quality wrestling camp for your child’s skills and located nearby can feel daunting with endless options to vet. Luckily, using a few key methods makes uncovering the perfect local camp more manageable.
Whether online searches, word-of-mouth referrals, or keeping an eye out for fliers, this guide outlines steps to help compare top contenders in your area worth considering.
Follow along as we detail how to leverage regional resources trusted by wrestling families to match young athletes with summer training that aligns with both development needs and convenience.
Ways to find Wrestling camps Near You
Check camp listing sites
- Go to a popular camp search and listing website like WrestlingCampsHQ.Com, or MySummerCamps.com
- Locate the “Camp Finder” tool or “Search” functions. This is where you can search for camps by location and activity filters.
- Enter your location to start – city & state, zip code, address etc. This will allow the platforms to popuate camps closest to your area first.
- Filter specifically for “Wrestling” camps only to narrow down the results even more to your desired sport.
- You may see options to further refine by sub-filters like age/grade levels, overnight or day camps, dates, etc. Add any other prioritizing factors.
- Run the search. Scroll through and browse the list of wrestling camps filtered locally based on the parameters you set.
- Click into each camp listing to read a more detailed overview on features like the practice facilties, coach backgrounds, training styles, schedules, costs, reviews and more.
- Save or bookmark 2-3 promising wrestling camps in your location that seem to offer what you are looking for. Compare them.
- Visit the individual camp’s website that you are interested in to dive deeper before applying or contacting them with any questions.
- Use the camp finder search again with adjusted filters if you want to cast a slightly wider net for more options.
Find the Wrestling camps by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Search online
- Open your internet browser on your computer, phone, or tablet. Popular browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
- Go to Google.com or the search engine page of your choice. This will be where you perform searches to find nearby camps.
- Think of relevant search phrases and terms that will help you find local wrestling camps. Some examples are:
- “wrestling camps near me”
- “summer wrestling camps my city”
- “youth wrestling camps my state”
- “wrestling day camps in my zip code”
- Type one of those search phrases into the search bar at the top of the search engine homepage. Press enter or click the search icon.
- Look through the search results and map listings for camps located closest to you. The location and distance from you will be clearly noted on listings.
- Click into individual camp listings to learn details like dates, costs, age levels, features, reviews and more. Gather info on a few to evaluate.
- Visit the website of any camps you’re interested in to register or contact them with any questions. Their site will have the most detailed information.
- Bookmark or save contact info for camps you want to apply to. Signup deadlines tend to be 2-3 months before the start date so plan ahead.
Check wrestling associations
- Identify the main wrestling associations for your geographical location.
- In the United States, the key organization is USA Wrestling.
- Look up your individual state’s wrestling association as well (e.g. Pennsylvania Wrestling, Maryland Wrestling Association).
- Visit the website for USA Wrestling (theusawrestling.org). Hover over or click “Athletes” then “Wrestling Camps”.
- This will open up USA Wrestling’s wrestling camp directory. Select your state from the drop down menu. Hit “Submit”.
- Browse through the various camps listed on your state’s page in the directory if any appear. Scroll to see the address of each camp to confirm they are in proximity to your location.
- For a more local search, go back and search for your own state’s wrestling association website instead. Use google to help you locate it if needed. Navigate their site or reach out to inquire if they recommend or advertise any area camps.
- While on these association sites, also check their event calendars. Sometimes larger scale tournaments or competitions like “State Championships” have partnered camps associated with them for athletes attending.
- Write down a few viable camps locally whether from USA Wrestling or your state association with their provided contact info and details. Reach out to them with any questions.
- Check back periodically as new camps may be added and posted leading up to summer.
Ask coaches/wrestlers
- Identify wrestling coaches and wrestlers in your area to reach out to. Good options are:
- Your school’s wrestling team coach and members
- Local youth/club team coaches and wrestlers
- High school or college coaches and wrestlers
- Contact them via phone, email, in-person, or direct message. Introduce yourself briefly.
- Explain that you are looking for a quality wrestling camp to attend in the local area for the upcoming summer (or whenever the date).
- Ask them if they happen to have any recommendations on great camps nearby that they suggest or have experience with.
- If speaking in person or on a call, engage in some back and forth discussion asking follow up questions like:
- How long is the camp and what is the format?
- What are the coaches’ backgrounds?
- Is it open to my age level?
- If emailing or messaging, include a few key criteria in your initial message that are important to you (overnight vs day camp, training frequency, camp size etc). This will help tailor recommendations.
- Collect contact information and details on 2-3 suggested camps from that individual if possible. Verify main highlights like schedule, location, and cost.
- Continue reaching out to additional coaches/wrestlers via phone, email, social media to get their input as well until you have a healthy list of potential camps for enrollment.
- Once you’ve compiled recommendations, compare and make your selection! Reach back out to thank them for their time and input.
Check colleges/universities
- Identify colleges and universities in close proximity to where you live. Start with searching “[Your City] colleges” or “[Your State] universities” if you don’t already know of schools nearby.
- Visit the athletic website for each school. There will either be a main athletics homepage or a specific “Wrestling” page dedicated to their collegiate wrestling program.
- On their wrestling page or under “Fan Info”, look for tabs or menu links like “Camps & Clinics” or “Summer Camps”. Sometimes under “Additional Links” too. This is where camp info would be.
- If you don’t find a dedicated camps section, try using the search feature on the top of the website to search that college’s site for key terms like “wrestling camp”.
- When you find their camps page, look for specifics on their annual summer wrestling camps for youth athletes. Details like camp dates, rates, registration etc should be outlined.
- Alternatively, search Google using these search phrases in quotes replacing college name:
- “[College Name] wrestling camp”
- “[College Name] summer wrestling camp”
- Click any webpages or pdf files in the search results related to that college hosting wrestling camps. Their own site or promotional flyers may appear.
- Save details on 2-3 college camps nearby that fit your summer schedule and skill level. Compare them and contact with questions before applying.
Ask at sporting goods stores
- Identify sporting goods stores in your area that sell wrestling gear and apparel. Some examples are Dick’s Sporting Goods, Modell’s, Sports Authority, and local wrestling specialty stores.
- Visit or call stores and ask if you can speak to a sales associate or manager familiar with wrestling products.
- When you connect with the right person, explain that you’re looking for summer wrestling camps for kids in the area. Ask if they happen to know of or recommend any good ones nearby.
- Inquire if they allow local camps to post flyers or promote in the store. Ask if you could come in to check out their community board for any wresting camp listings in the area this summer.
- If they do make recommendations, get specifics like:
- Camp names, locations, dates
- Age levels and experience welcomed
- Key highlights or features
- Website or contact information
- Take down notes on the camps mentioned to further research those options later at home. Ask if you can follow up by phone if you have any other questions.
- Before leaving, walk around the wrestling section and full store to double check for any posted flyers promoting local camps as well. Snap photos on phone for reference.
- Give a genuine thank you for their time and assistance! Let them know if you do enroll with any of the suggested camps.
Drive around
- Identify key locations that wrestling camps typically advertise through flyers on bulletin boards and walls. Great options are:
- Local schools (elementary, middle, high schools)
- Youth centers & gyms
- Wrestling supply stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Community centers
- Cafes/restaurants with community boards
- Plan out a route to drive to as many of these locations as feasible in an afternoon or full day on the weekend.
- Prepare by bringing:
- Pad and pen to write down details
- Tape or thumbtacks to hang back up any loose flyers you take down
- Your phone to take photos of flyers
- When you arrive at the first location , seek out any bulletin boards, walls, or display cases that contain local postings and announcements.
- Scan closely for any printed flyers or postings advertising upcoming wrestling camps nearby targeting youth wrestlers.
- Carefully take down or snap a picture of flyers for camps that interest you and seem reputable. Document key info like dates, web sites, costs, location address etc in your notes.
- Hang the flyer back up with care using your tacks or tape. You want to leave the posting looking neat.
- Continue on to the next locations on your route, keeping an eye out for promising wrestling camp listings.
Check park district listings
- Identify your county or city park district website. Google search “Park District [your county/city name]” or go to your municipal government website and locate the Parks & Recreation department page.
- On the park district homepage, look for menu links or tabs such as “Programs”, “Athletics”, “Summer Camps” or a search bar to filter offerings.
- Click through to browse any sport camps being offered for youth through the park district over summer. Check if wrestling, or grappling/MMA style camps are listed.
- If you cannot find it in the main pages, try using the website’s search tool and search for keyword phrases like “youth wrestling camp” or “wrestling”.
- Park district camp listings should provide key registration details like dates, times, locations, costs, age ranges and a short description of the curriculum or a flyer.
- Similarly browse the website for your county’s YMCA location at the same web address format – YMCA[YourCounty].org. Navigate to summer programs.
- On both the park district and YMCA sites, look for contact information for the Sports or Athletic department head you can call with any questions on wrestling offerings.
- Consider registering for the camp right through the website if it meets your needs or call to get clarity on any details as needed from staff before signing up.
Final Remarks on “Wrestling camps Near You”
The strategies will help you finding Wrestling camps Near You and will also save your time and efforts. Use this annual roadmap so when summer nears again, finding nearby camps feels simple, knowing the legwork is already done to set your wrestler up for off-season success!
Hello Readers, I’m John Penn
I’m a Wrestler and Blogger living in United States. I’m trying my best to put all the information on this website I’ve learned during my training. Let’s me know if you want ask anything related to this topic.