Why should girls wrestle? By joining the Girls Wrestling Program at Beat the Streets, girls gain:

• Girls Wrestling Practices
• Introduction to the Women’s Wrestling Circuit
• Exposure to College Coaches
• Travel Team Experience

Girls Wrestling Practices – Some female athletes may be outmatched in size by boys of the same weight. An all-female practice allows girls to practice with other athletes of similar size and muscle mass. Wrestling is often percieved as a ‘men’sport’; having female coaches helps female athletes identify the sport as their own. Look under “Schedule” for current practices times and locations.

Introduction to the Women’s Wrestling Circuit - Many people don’t know that women wrestle, let alone that there is an entire national and international circuit of age-group level competitions for girls and women. There are women’s divisions at all of the most prestigious Wrestling events including the World Championships and the Olympics. 

Exposure to College Coaches - In addition to Travel Team events, the Beat the Streets Girls Wrestling Program constantly endeavors to exposure New York City athletes to the opportunities to wrestle in college, and the potential to earn scholarships through Wrestling.

Travel Team Experience - Athletes who show discipline, maturity, and leadership skills above their peers both on the mat, academically, and in their personal lives are selected for full or partial sponsorship to travel team events, such as national tournaments in Florida and North Dakota. Based on their performance at these events, past athletes have gone on to represent the United States at age-group events in Venezuela and Mexico.

Why Should Girls Wrestle?
By Cheryl Wong, Head Women’s Wrestling Coach, Beat the Streets, NYC

Wrestling is a great sport for all people, but it is especially important for girls. In light of cultural pressures that objectify women and encourage women to be passive, it is extremely important that women recognize their own physical strength and assertiveness.

Unlike other martial arts, it is institutionalized into the American school system, making it accessible. It builds discipline, and courage, instilling a self-confidence and self-awareness that other sports cannot deliver.

It is also important that boys and men be exposed to their female peers in a sport that shows that assertiveness and physical strength are qualities that transcend traditional gender roles.

By teaching our girls to confront physical and mental challenges, and by demonstrating this capacity to our boys, we create a brighter future for all our daughters and sons.

Through Beat the Streets, we sponsor trips to Women’s Tournaments and hold one to two all-female practices a week. The girls who come to these practices are either on the mixed wrestling teams at their schools or do not have wrestling programs at their schools. All-female practices give the girls a chance to compete against opponents closer to their own size, and build a unique network of support.

Whether you’ve wrestled one day or one decade: everyone starts somewhere. Join us to start your own journey or to support the journey of other girls in wrestling