After the promising launch of two pilot British Wrestling leagues last year, we are thrilled to announce that we will be expanding our leagues throughout the UK, starting in September. Building upon the valuable lessons learned during the pilot, we are determined to foster growth and ensure the continued success of these leagues in contributing to wrestling’s development across the UK.
One of the key enhancements we have made is the creation of an online platform, integrated with c-mats, that will serve as the central hub for all league-related data and administrative processes. Although its implementation was delayed and it wasn’t available at the beginning of the pilot leagues, its deployment will significantly improve the ease and efficiency of league administration. This, in turn, will greatly enhance the overall experience for the clubs, coaches and wrestlers involved.
What We Learnt
During the pilot phase, it became apparent that the planned one-week window for fixtures was too restrictive. Considering the busy schedules of participants, we extended the timeframe to a two-week window, which has proven to be more practical and effective.
In the senior league, we initially allowed flexibility with weight classes, but this approach resulted in a lack of clarity for coaches and wrestlers. When being more prescriptive in specifying a single wrestler for each of the ten weight classes in scoring bouts, we witnessed a significant improvement in performance and organization.
The participating clubs also learned valuable lessons throughout the league’s progression. Their event organization, volunteer recruitment, and overall presentation of fixtures showed remarkable growth from week 1 to week 5.
We extend our appreciation to the coaches at Manchester Y Club, Bolton, Aspull Warriors, Empower, Bradford, and City of Manchester for their invaluable contributions to the success of the senior league in the Northern Region. Through exceptional teamwork, they established a solid foundation for the delivery of future senior leagues.
Regrettably, the junior league in the Midlands Region faced challenges and was unable to reach its completion. After careful evaluation, we identified conflicting goals among the clubs as the primary reason for this outcome. Moving forward, we recognise that establishing a common goal and framework through initial club consultation calls and maintaining adherence to those standards is crucial for the success of any junior league. We would like to thank Nottingham Outlaws, Northampton, Leicester, Impact Fitness and Futuwwa for their contributions and learnings to help understand some of the nuisances involved in delivering leagues at a junior level.
Last year served as an invaluable learning experience, laying the groundwork for growth and improvement in the coming years. We are confident that the forthcoming season will witness significant enhancements that will benefit all participants.
2023 Winners
We would like to extend our congratulations to the City of Manchester Wrestling Club for their outstanding achievement as the winners of the senior pilot league.
2023-24 Leagues
To express your interest in either the Junior or Senior league and receive future updates through a series of consultation meetings, please use the following links. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact kmalone@britishwrestling.org.
The deadline to express interest is October 1st.
Junior League Registration – Junior League Registration
Senior League Registration – Senior League Registration
