During a dual meet at a local high school, the head wrestling coach and his assistant shout instructions from their folding chairs at the corner of the mat. It is the voice of the private coach the teen's parents pay to provide extra lessons. Imagine the conflict, especially if the high school coach and the personal trainer call out opposite instructions. While coaches at all levels share a deep-seated passion for the sport, the hackles of a substantial number of high school coaches are raised at the mere mention of private instruction. Others, meanwhile, welcome it, chiefly because the better competition a wrestler faces, the more likely he will improve.
New Jersey is heavily dotted with private wrestling clubs and singular instructors.
Among them are The Edge in Kenilworth, Drill Masters in Butler, Mat Time in Lodi, the Reflex School of Wrestling in Westwood, Ultimate Wrestling in Waldwick, and Wrestling Plus in Pompton Lakes. The most vehemently opposed coaches preferred to speak off the record, concerned about a backlash from parents, and wrestlers. If they have to go to their club at night, they don't want to work hard in our room. It hurts team unity. But they hurt the sport in general.