Friday Fun Day: Making Wrestling Fun While Staying One Step Ahead

Friday Fun Day: Making Wrestling Fun While Staying One Step Ahead

by Jon Gums – Dakota Grappler

Wrestling can be grueling, but it’s important to remember that it’s not all sweat and seriousness. Every once in a while, you’ve got to let loose and enjoy the ride. Welcome to “Friday Fun Day,” where we keep things light-hearted but still laser-focused on success. The goal? To outwork your opponents while having a blast along the way!

1. Start the Day with Music

Kick off your Friday with a playlist that amps you up. Whether it’s heavy beats, classic rock, or even a little bit of hip-hop, music can fuel your workout and get you mentally ready to dominate. Find a rhythm that makes those early-morning or after-school workouts feel like an event, not a chore.

• Pro Tip: Try setting up team “DJ of the Day.” Rotate who picks the music for practice. It builds team spirit and makes everyone look forward to their turn at curating the vibe.

2. Lighten Up with Laughter

Wrestling can be mentally draining, so it’s crucial to find moments of laughter. Joke around with teammates, share some light-hearted trash talk, or see who can come up with the best “Wrestling Dad Joke” of the week. Here are a couple to get you started:

• Why did the wrestler bring string to practice?
  Because he didn’t want to be pinned down!
• What’s a wrestler’s favorite type of tea?
  Grapple-berry!

If you are reading this on Facebook…  What is your best Wrestling Dad Joke?

A little humor can go a long way to ease tension and create a relaxed environment that still keeps you on your toes.

3. Celebrate the Weekend but Stay Hungry

Fridays mean the weekend is in sight, but while others might be letting loose, you’re putting in that extra work. Knowing you’re outworking your opponents while still having fun is part of what makes wrestling unique. This balance between hard work and enjoyment is what sets the best wrestlers apart.

• Mindset Shift: Treat Friday as the final sprint of the week. Your opponents might be thinking of taking it easy, but you’re out here grinding. That mental edge—knowing you’ve put in the work when others haven’t—is where the fun truly begins. You’re not just surviving; you’re thriving.

4. Friendly Competitions

Why not make practice competitive in a fun way? Create small, friendly challenges that push everyone. Who can get the most takedowns in a drill? Or who can finish conditioning first? These mini-competitions within practice keep the energy high and the team engaged.

• Tip: Winners get to assign a small task to others, like a quick 10 push-ups or picking the playlist for the next practice. The idea is to mix competition with camaraderie.

5. Visualize Victory—And Enjoy the Process

While it’s great to have fun, the core of every “Friday Fun Day” is knowing that each moment on the mat brings you one step closer to being better than your competition. Visualize not just the hard work but the joy of seeing your hand raised in victory.

Remember, part of the fun is knowing that you’re outworking your opponents without them even realizing it. So put your head down, push through the grind, and smile knowing that every extra rep, every laugh, and every light-hearted moment is taking you further than you could’ve imagined.

Final Thoughts: Fun and Focus Go Hand-in-Hand

In wrestling, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind, but balance is key. Fridays are perfect for refocusing, resetting, and finding joy in the process. Remember, fun and focus don’t have to be mutually exclusive. By keeping your mindset strong and your spirits high, you’ll outwork your competition while enjoying every step of the journey.

So this Friday, put on your favorite tunes, crack a few jokes, and hit the mat with the same intensity as always—because when you’re having fun, you’re unstoppable.

#FridayFunDay #WrestlingGrind #OneStepAhead #DakotaGrappler