REMINDER. No Rhino Practices on Statutory Holidays!
SUMMER HS RHINO IS OPEN.
JULY AND AUGUST SCHEDULE (starts June 28):
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday evening 5-7pm
Crossfit workout: Tuesday, Thursday Morning 9:30-10:30am
Fall Rhino will be on Monday and Wednesday evenings for the 2026-2027 school year schedule
More info to come.
Rhino 2026 Summer Camp Dates: July 20-24, 2026. Registration Now Open!
SUMMER RHINO SCHEDULE CHANGES
July 2 (Thurs) Crossfit moved to 5pm
July 9-14 (Thurs-Tues)No Crossfit:
July 21 and 21 Summer Camp
August 5-11 (Wed-Tues)
THE TEAM RHINO FACILITY
The Team Rhino Training facility is located in the big RED BUILDING at the far end of the property at 1776 McDonald Rd, Courtenay BC.
When you enter the driveway, follow the signs down the hill to the right of the house.
The Drive is a single lane, so please be careful and allow vehicles traveling up the hill to reach the top before proceeding down.
PARKING is available at the bottom of the hill by the RED BUILDING.
Please be respectful of our neighbors when arriving and leaving the facility.
What is Wrestling?
Wrestling in a ancient martial art, dating back as far as 22BC in Japan. The sport of wrestling is prevalent in almost every country in the world today. Wrestling is a non-violent individual sport of skill and technique aimed at outscoring the opponent.
Wrestling is not about who can beat who. It is about commitment and drive. It is about becoming the best you can possibly be. It is the humility that comes from discovering your limits and the sense of accomplishment that comes from ultimately surpassing them. It is about setting goals, self- discipline and delayed gratification. Wrestling is a blueprint for overcoming life s challenges, and a learning ground where these principles are tried and proven.
How can wrestling help my child?
Wrestling offers opportunities for children to improve their strength, flexibility and coordination, while having fun. Of all the sports choices a parent and child can make, wrestling is perhaps the best sport for overall physical development because it involves all muscle groups, and requires the greatest balance of athletic skill and technical knowledge. Not only does wrestling improve balance, speed, agility and intensity, but it strengthens virtually all muscle groups from hips, legs, torso and upper body, and also neck and grip strength. The sport of wrestling involves tumbling and teaches participants good ways to fall.
Wrestling can also dramatically improve one’s ability to perform in other sports and makes a great adjunct for off season training.
Will Wrestling make my child violent or aggresive?
The objective is to outscore one s opponent not to inflict pain, injure, or harm an opponent in any way. Wrestlers in general have a great deal of respect for their opponents, knowing full well what they have been through and how much they both desire to succeed. A wrestling match has the strategy of a game of chess with an unlimited number of constantly changing possibilities. Wrestling is unique in the fact that it can be very aggressive without being violent.
Success in wrestling requires the ability to attack , as well as the ability to stop your opponent's attack. Wrestling does not permit opponents to strike one another, and imposes strict penalties or disqualification for violent or unsportsmanlike behavior. The objective is not to destroy or harm one's opponent, but to out- maneuver them and to gain control.
Sportsmanship is emphasized in all aspects of wrestling. Youth wrestlers are not only required to shake hands before and after competition, but they are expected to shake the hand of their opponent’s coach, win or lose, as they leave the mat.
TEAM RHINO WRESTLING ATHLETE AND PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT
At Team Rhino, we take safety and good sportsmanship very seriously. All Families participating at Team Rhino are expected to honour both the Athlete and the Parent codes of conduct in order to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone at our facility
Parent Code of Conduct
I will remember that my child plays sport for his or her enjoyment, not mine.
I will encourage my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
I will teach my child that doing one's best is as important as winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game/event.
I will never ridicule or yell at my child for making a mistake or losing.
I will never argue with an official's call or badger an official or coach in public.
I will treat all opponents with respect regardless of gender, gender identity, race, background, or team affiliation.
I will encourage my child to always show good sportsmanship.
Athlete Code of Conduct
Every Team Rhino Wrestler, no matter the age, is a representative of the program, consequently, the following rules apply at all times:
1. Safety is the prime consideration at all times:
a. Wrestlers will train in a manner that does not endanger themselves or others in the room.
b. Wrestlers will listen to all direction given by the coached during practice and competition.
2. Respect for fellow teammates is essential to maintain Team Rhino’s reputation.
a. All Team Rhino athletes will treat their teammates and opponents with dignity and respect.
b. There will be no name calling, badgering, belittling, hitting, punching or other physical abuse tolerated toward teammates or
opponents.
c. Team Rhino athletes take care of each other and will safeguard each other's persons and property, and the Team Rhino facilities.
3. The Head Coach has ultimate responsibility and authority to control wrestling room and competition behaviour. Praise or Discipline may also be administered by assistant coaching staff, as directed by the Head Coach.
4. Failure to comply with the athlete code of conduct may result in dismissal from Team Rhino.
Free style basics
The main objective of freestyle wrestling is to score as many points as possible or to pin your opponent.
Match Basics: Freestyle matches are usually 2 periods that vary from 1-3 minutes each in length, depending on age and skill level.
Periods always begin with both wrestlers in the neutral (standing) position. The match can be stopped short of the time limit if either wrestler scores a pin or achieves technical superiority (lead of ten or more points).
After a takedown situation in which both wrestlers continue to wrestle down on the mat, known as the "par tarre" position, the bottom wrestler is not obligated to work for an escape or reverse.
Instead, it is the responsibility of the top wrestler to work diligently to execute a hold that will expose their opponent's back. If the top wrestler is not immediately (officials allow about fifteen seconds) successful in doing this, the official will stop the match and re-start the wrestlers on their feet in the neutral position.
Scoring: Back exposures are awarded two points if a wrestler can turn his/her opponent's back within 90 degrees of the mat.
Takedowns are awarded two points when one wrestler takes down their opponent and maintains top position, unless there is exposure of the back, then four points are awarded.
Reversals are awarded one point, unless there is exposure of the back, in which additional points are awarded.
"Grand Amplitude" holds, in which an opponent is lifted from the mat and brought from a standing position directly to his or her back are good for five points.
Sportsmanship: In international competition, wrestlers are required to shake hands with their opponent and with the referee before and after the bout.
Officials:
Officiating is performed in teams of one, two or three officials. When possible three officials are used. The referee who stands on the mat and controls the action with his/her whistle is assisted by a judge and a mat chairperson seated on opposite sides of the mat. All scoring must be agreed upon by at least two of the three officials.
Equipment: FILA permits, but does not require, the use of headgear in international Freestyle and Greco-Roman competition. In addition, wrestlers are required to wear either red or blue singlets, depending on their match pairing.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Keeping your wrestler safe and clean
Wrestling is a contact sport. Injuries can happen with any sporting activity and wrestling is no different. The best way to avoid injury is to pay attention in practice, follow the coaching directions, and do what you are told. The vast majority of sport related injuries occur with athletes are not following directions.
All contact sports can result in skin infections and wrestling has a few unique ones to know about.The best prevention for skin infection is showers as soon as possible after practice and notifying the coaches if you see a spot on yourself or another wrestler.
Ringworm: Ringworm is the most common skin infection in wrestling. It is cause by a fungus called tinea corporis which is not actually a worm. It looks like a red slightly raised patch on the skin, typically on the face or arms. It can be treated with over the counter anti-fungal cream (twice a day) such as Clotrimazole or Lamisil (terbinafine), typically found in the athlete's foot section of the drug store. Sometimes an infection in the hair/scalp or a large outbreak will be best treated by antifungal pills which can be prescribed by your family doctor.
Impetigo: Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection usually caused by streptococcus. It results when common skin and environmental bacteria enter in a cut or scratch and cause a superficial infection. It is very common in infants in toddlers. The best prevention is to keep any wounds covered with a bandaid and to shower immediately after practice. Topical antibiotics are the treatment of choice for impetigo such as neosporin or polysporin with can be found in the bandaid aisle of the drug store.
Staph infections/MRSA/Boils: These are thankfully an uncommon infection in wrestlers. Staph infections are cause by staphlococcus bacteria enter the skin through a wound or scratch. Unlike impetigo, the staph infection sits deeper in the skins fatty tissue and causes a firm, red, painful lump. Sometimes, early staph infections can be treated with warm compresses and topical antibiotics, but often these types of infections need antibiotic pills and sometimes lancing. If you think your child has a staph infection, it's best to be seen by your family doctor.
Herpes simplex: Also a relatively uncommon infection in wrestling, Herpes occurs for contact with another wrestler who continues to participate with a cold sore. If the HSV virus from the cold sore comes into contact with cut or scratched skin, the virus can enter there and cause an infection in other places than the mouth. If you're wrestler is prone to cold sore, please keep an eye out for them and hold them out of practice if they have one. If they get a new cold sore or a painful blister else where (usually on the face) please alert coach to check it out. Herpes will go away on it's own, but may come back periodically. There are medications that your doctor can prescribe to shorten the duration of the infection, especially if its the first outbreak.
