LEVEL I: FOLKSTYLE NOVICE

 Beginner and novice level wrester. Focus is on the 10 basic pinnacles of wrestling:

• Stance
• Motion
• Changing levels
• Hip Heisting
• Hand Fighting
• Sprawling
• Scrambling
• Penetration
• Spinning
• Back Arching and Bridging

Emphasis focuses on developing, maintaining, and constantly improving these pinnacles at the beginning of a wrestler's career. Rather than learning specific, unrelated moves and technique at the novice levels, the focus here is to begin to develop the wrestler's mindset toward becoming an effective athlete on the mat. 

Level I also includes equal beginning instruction and emphasis in:

                               mental preparation                                 team building
                               nutrition                                                        sportsmanship     
                               academic success                                     responsibility
                               perseverance                                              respect
                               leadership                                                     fitness & body awareness

The conclusion of Level I (and award of certificate) is strictly on an individual basis to be determined by the coaches and ultimately, a skills test on part of the wrestler. As it becomes clear that the wrestler is ready to advance beyond Level I, the wrestler and coaches will conference to determine date and details of a skills & knowledge test. Baseline qualifications for testing include: 75% attendance at all practices within a session period, participation in three or more age-level competitions (results of competition are not a factor). Note: the conclusion of any one session does not automatically qualify an individual for Level advancement. 

LEVEL II:  

Intermediate and advancing wrestler. Building upon the 10 pinnacles, wrestlers are now expected to demonstrate these skills with little remediation. The pinnacles  are now built upon, including:

• Creating angles of attack
• Controlling tempo and pace
• Multiple setups
• Scrambling
• Pinning
• Drilling & Drill technique
• Chain wrestling
• Intensity
• Lifting, returning, & throwing
• Situational wrestling​

Emphasis at Level II also focuses on continual development and improvement in all pinnacles. The wrestler at this level is now beginning to focus more on goal-setting. Technique now becomes more of a factor, as well as developing the wrestler's mindset on how to be successful on the mat.  Nutrition, pre-competition preparation, and post-competition reflection  are also included. 

Level II also begins the study and instruction in the Olympic styles of the sport: freestyle and greco-roman. Wrestlers will receive instruction   in both Olympic styles, including:

• Current UWW international wrestling rules.
• Freestyle/Greco neutral attacks, positioning, throws, & turns.
• Match strategy
• Offense & defensive positioning.

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Scholarship & academic success also become an integral component; athletes are expected to check in with academic reports twice during each session. The importance of academic success is paramount to success in life. 

​The conclusion of Level II (and award of belt) is strictly on an individual basis to be determined by the coaches and ultimately, a skills test on part of the wrestler. As it becomes clear that the wrestler is ready to advance beyond Level I, the wrestler and coaches will conference to determine date and details of a skills & knowledge test. Baseline qualifications for testing include: 90% attendance at all practices within a session period, participation in five or more age-level competitions (results of competition are not a factor), and the approval of all coaches, two adults, and one teammate.  Successful completion of a belt level also entities the wrestler to an award ceremony whereby the the wrestler will receive their belt and be recognized by family, teammates, coaches, and the community. Note: the conclusion of any one session does not automatically qualify an individual for Level advancement. 

LEVEL III: 

Emphasis towards team building, goal setting, and competition into middle school and beyond. Leadership roles (youth coaching, assisting with tournaments and meets, promoting the sport in your town, being a good role model in your school and town) are starting to be defined and encouraged.  The wrestler at this level is now expected to demonstrate skill and constantly drill technique with little to no remediation, yet seeks to improve and add dimension to their skill set through their own initiative and by being open to a variety of coaching perspectives.

• Attending camps and clinics
• Reviewing and study of online technique
• Seeking out mat time and opportunities whenever and wherever possible.
• Demonstrating self-motivation and desire to continually improve.
• Practicing routine proper nutrition, diet, hydration and pre-/post competition behavior.

​Level III also begins a much more in depth concentration in the Olympic styles, preparing the athlete for regional and national competition. 

Additionally, wrestlers at this level are now expected to understand the history of the sport, the various styles and wrestling disciplines, including the Olympics, world championships, collegiate, MMA, modern rivalries, and local, regionals, and national wrestling entities. Understanding and developing tradition, whether with their local team or national team will ultimately help the wrestler and his/her team achieve their goals. 

Scholarship and academics continue to be an internal component, Athletes are prohibited from rising beyond Level II without demonstrated academic success. The importance of academic achievement is paramount to success in life. Additionally, Level III candidates are encourage and required to begin involvement in community or civic service; wrestlers may fulfill this requirement by joining a civic action club, organization, or committee (student government, rotary club, recycling or energy committee, volunteering, etc.) in their school or community, 

 The conclusion of Level III (and HAMMER award) is strictly on an individual basis to be determined by the coaches and ultimately, a skills test on part of the wrestler. As it becomes clear that the wrestler is ready to advance beyond Level II, the wrestler and coaches will conference to determine date and details of a skills & knowledge test. Baseline qualifications for testing include: 90% attendance at all practices within a session period, participation in three or more age-level competitions (results of competition are not a factor). Note: the conclusion of any one session does not automatically qualify an individual for Level advancement. 

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LEVEL IV:

Adaptation & Action. Success in Competition is the focus. Athletes are encouraged to develop an individualized training competition program tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. Goal setting according to the wrestler's high school, college, and future goals plays a major factor in this. Athletes at this level should also be well educated in the USA Wrestling age-level program, and have made progress throughout it, competing at  local, regional, national, and international events. 

Additionally, wrestlers are assisted with mental preparation, visualization, and reflection techniques, as well as sportsmanship (dealing with success as well as failure) and how to make critical changes in order to achieve goals. 

A major component of Level IV is community service. Level IV candidates must plan and execute a community service project, such as a fundraiser for a local non-profit, beach, school, or park clean-up, student mentoring or student listener,  elder care, etc., to name a few. 
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As with the previous 3 levels , scholarship and academics continue to be paramount; athletes are encouraged and assisted with making a plan for their post-graduate (high school or college) life, whether it be continuing to compete at the college level, gaining entry into college, entering military service or military academies, or starting a career. All athletes regardless of level within the Hammerhead system and club are considered family; older wrestlers at the higher levels can count on character references, recommendations,  and support from their coaches throughout their post-graduate life and career search!