Scott Goodale's Relentless Pursuit of Excellence in Wrestling: Neutral Position

with Scott Goodale,
Rutgers University Head Coach;
has coached two individual National Champions and 10 All-Americans;
2019 NCAA Tournament Coach of the Year;
2019 - WIN Magazine Dan Gable Coach of the Year & Mike Chapman Impact Award;
all-time winningest coach in Rutgers history;
former Jackson Memorial High School Head Coach;
2x New Jersey Group IV State Championships;
3x New Jersey High School Coach of the Year, 155-16 record in seven seasons;
South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

Dominating the neutral position is the key to winning any match, but one must first understand the finer details from neutral. The ability to control, move, and attack an opponent in a systematic way is key to dominating.

Using a systematic approach to the neutral position, Scott Goodale demonstrates four key areas from neutral that will be a difference-maker in winning or losing, including closing the gap with an opponent, set-ups to leg attacks, short offense, and defending an opponent's set-ups. Coach Goodale also provides a series of drills that will allow anyone to master these positions.

Position to Score

Learn how to effectively close the gap with an opponent in order to score and avoiding being vulnerable to attacks. Coach Goodale explains three fundamental ways a wrestler can position themselves to score:

• Head and Hands - A more aggressive approach to closing the gap by utilizing a collar tie.
• Head and Attack the Hands - By gaining wrist control first, a wrestler will have more set-up options.
• Elbow Down Block - Prevents any opponent from attacking a wrestler's legs and opens the door for a counter offense.

Goodale also explains the importance of splitting the opponent's body in half and why wrestlers should move their feet to create angles of attack.

Set-Ups and Leg Attacks

The difference in successfully getting to the legs of an opponent and scoring is the ability to set-up a leg attack. Coach Goodale demonstrates five easy, yet highly effective techniques that will be sure to increase any wrestler's takedown percentage:

• Chop and Pop - An easy way to set-up a high crotch when an opponent is hanging on a collar tie.
• Swing/Pull/Pop - Allows a wrestler to bait their opponent into reaching with both hands to set-up a double leg or high crotch.
• Chop/Pop - Gives a wrestler an opening for a double leg by simultaneously chopping and popping an opponent's arms.
• Wrist Grab - Allows a wrestler a variety of scoring options, such as a snatch single, swing single, or shrug, by taking control of an opponent's wrist.
• 2 on 1 - An effective way to set-up a high crotch, double leg, front headlock, or far side ankle pick.

Goodale also breaks down how to counter some of the offensive attacks of an opponent after they have put a wrestler in a compromised position.

Go-Behinds

You'll learn how to develop a short offense that will allow anyone to immediately score on any opponent after stopping their shot or after snapping them down to the mat. Coach Goodale details a simple progression and why attacking the hamstrings will allow anyone to master the go-behind. You'll see:

• Snap-down go-behind - An entry level drill to learn fundamental positioning.
• Go-behind from the knees - Helps develop the ability to score on an opponent after the initial shot was stopped and they lunge forward.
• Go-behind from the feet - Helps prepare a wrestler to stop and score off an opponent's shot.
• Pull-down go-behind - Develop the ability to force an opponent into a go-behind position.

You will see how Coach Goodale systematically progresses wrestlers in the finer points of the go-behind through drilling. He also demonstrates a unique pressure drill that can be a game changer for a wrestler late in a match!

Coach Goodale provides everything you need in order to dominate and win from the neutral position. You will learn how to gain control of an opponent, split the body to create angles and set-up an attack, and develop an unstoppable short-offense series to win tough matches!

50 minutes. 2020.