“Queen of the Ring” Mpho Madi delivering United World Wrestling’s Wrestle Right Program in SA!

WrestleRightMpo Madi and Nico Coetzee joins United World Wreslting's Wrestle Right Pilot Program, read more on the story as writen by Tim Foley form Unite World Wrestling

United World Wrestling and Partners Launch Wrestle Right Pilot Program

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 21) — United World Wrestling, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee and South Africa’s Department of Public Affairs and Social Development, last week launched a pilot program for the new development initiative, Wrestle Right.

The program also known as the “Coaching Development and Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP) Course," ran from January 10-15 in Franschhoek thanks in part to the MOD Programme of Cultural Affairs and Sport in South Africa. The mission of the weeklong classroom and on-the-mat exercises was to help South African coaches and teachers understand how to support youth’s physical literacy journey through wrestling.

Wrestle Right was developed with the intent to be delivered to youth around the world. The collaboration between United World Wrestling and the IOC was vital in showcasing the importance of the five OVEP themes (e.g., Respect for Others, Fairplay) and their importance in youth resources.

Local efforts, including the leadership of Dr. Marion Keim Lee at the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace in South Africa were also essential in helping bring the pilot program to reality.

Move+Live+Learn, led by physical education and coaching education expert Dr. Amanda STANEC, developed much of the Wrestle Right curriculum. The resource provides coaches and local decision makers relevant information on: physical literacy, the sport of wrestling, the five OVEP themes, detailed lesson plans and assessments, and information on how to help youth transfer what they learn in the program to their lives outside of the program.

During the pilot program, which included 54 coaches and teachers from districts across the entire Western Cape, South Africa’s Mpho MADI, a bronze medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, inspired attendees by explaining her path to wrestling and sharing her remarkable life story. She was assisted by South Africa’s head wrestling coach, Nico COETZEE, who provided technical leadership on the mats in a way that met the needs of all workshop participants. IOC Facilitator Phelane PHOMANE and United World Wrestling Regional Development Officers Vincent AKA (RDO-Africa) and David LOPEZ (RDO-Americas) also joined Madi for much of the Wrestle Right course, offering their expertise and direction.

Wrestle Right hopes to launch more programs after the Olympic Games in Rio and a review of the program in South Africa.