Frequently Ask Questions
FAQ
Where is Rise Above Wrestling Located?
Rise Above Wrestling is located on the upper level of East End Pool, Hadrian's Square, Byker NE6 1AL
What should I wear/bring for wrestling competitions and/or practice?
Singlets (1 red, 1 blue) are usually required for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions. Rise Above Wrestling branded singlets, both red and blue are available to purchase at the club, but may require pre-order depending on the stock levels of certain sizes. Singlets are the best option to train in as well as they simulate the competition environment. However, if you are not comfortable in a singlet or are just not ready to invest in one yet then you are welcome to wear workout clothes. These workout clothes need to be fitted (such as skins, rashguards, t-shirts or shorts that are not overly baggy, etc..) and must not have zippers, as it is easy for people to break fingers on loose clothing when doing combat sports and zippers create sharp edges that can cause cuts. It is highly encouraged that everyone uses wrestling boots when wrestling; however, as they are an investment for a good pair, you can wrestle barefoot or in socks until you decide to purchase some. Outdoor shoes are not permitted on the mats at all as they can transmit pathogens that cause skin conditions. No watches or jewelry should be worn while wrestling. Long hair should be pulled back or can be cornrowed to avoid hair being pulled. Please bring a water bottle.
What hygeine considerations should I make for wrestling
Please be respectful of your wrestling partners by taking care of personal hygiene which includes having short fingernails to avoid scratching, showering daily, wearing deoderant and freshening breath as you will be in very close contact with your partners. Additionally, it is very important for your own personal health that you wash your training gear between sessions and shower immediately after wrestling, preferably with a bodywash containing tea tree oil to limit the likelihood of catching skin conditions such as ringworm, staph infections and impetigo. Tea tree is an antifungal and antibacterial essential oil and it is best to use a bodywash that contains tea tree or if you know you will be unable to have a shower right after you can use tea tree wipes as an alternative. These precautions are especially important in the summer months. If you do find signs or symptoms of a skin condition please let your coach know and they can make accommodations for you to still train without contact with other members of the club until the condition has cleared.
How do I make payment
To make payment please set a monthly standing order for the plan you would like to pay for to the club account. Ask any of the officers of the club and they can give you the account details via Whatsapp message. Cash is also accepted, please ask to have a text message sent to you of receipt of payment for monthly memberships.
Is Rise Above Wrestling open during the school holidays?
Rise Above Wrestling is open during the school holidays and will have additional times available to kids called "camps". These camps will be full or half day sessions and for a period of a week or two. These are in addition to the normal session fees though so please see the associated flyer for how much each camp cost. Rise Above Wrestling will be closed on January 1st, October 13th, December 14th and December 25th each year.
Can parents stay and watch classes.
Due to space it is suggested parents wait in the area by the pool cafe. If there are not two coaches on duty during kids classes a parent may be asked to stay as a safeguarding measure. Generally, kids are better behaved and less likely to cry or be distracted when parents are not in the room but no parent is unwelcome as your child's safety and well-being is our top priority.
How can I contact Rise Above Wrestling
You can contact us via email at riseabovewrestling@outlook.com phone, text or Whatsapp message at 07842 548065. You can contact head coach Travis directly at 07763 571798 on WhatsApp or by text. If you send a text to this message after attending your first class, we will add you to our Whatsapp group so that you can be part of the group and keep up to date with what is going on.
Where can I find out more information about the club
The club website would be your first port of call www.riseabovewrestling.co.uk. This is where you can find our full class timetable, prices, a list of club coaches along with their qualifications and most importantly all of our club policies and procedures. Make sure you read these at your convenience so that you know what to expect of the club and what we expect from you and your child. You can also follow us on social media, Facebook, Instagram and, to keep up to date with the latest events and achievements of our members.
How do I cancel/amend my membership?
To cancel your membership all you have to do is stop your recurring payment through your bank. We would appreciate if you let us know why you would like to cancel, whether you are unhappy with the service provided, you are unable to afford it, or even if you just need a break and plan to return. We do not offer partial month payments so please be sure to cancel with your bank in time to avoid any additional payments being made that you do not intend. If you would like to amend or change your plan to add or lessen the amount of sessions you can attend each week just change your payment to the correct amount for that amount of sessions and send a text to the head coach to let him know about the change.
Do I have to compete if I train with the club?
Although we encourage all of our participants to do their best and work their hardest we do not have expectations that everyone will want to or has to compete. If it is something that you are interested in then we will encourage you every step of the way. No matter whether you are at the club to meet people, improve your health, enjoy sport or compete we will do our best to help you on your journey.
Am I too old to wrestle?
The simple answer is no. Our head coach and founder started wrestling at the age of 39. Wrestling is for everyone. It is best to have goals for what you want out of being part of the club and make sure they are realistic so that you are able to achieve them. Speak to our coaches about how you can reach those goals and what is realisticallly attainable. Please share with us any health conditions as well so that we can cater the sessions to your needs.
What should I do if I have an injury?
Talk to our coaches if you have an injury; many times our coaches will have a work around for you to still train despite an injury so that you don't miss out on the wrestling experience and are still part of the club.
Are private lessons available?
Yes, private lessons are available. Speak to our coaches about availability based on their schedule and prices as they vary depending on the coaches experience level.
Will I be welcome at the club
Yes, we welcome people from all walks of life. The only things we don't tolerate are bad attitudes and bigotry so if these are not things you can check at the door then you are not welcome as we expect all of our members to respect each other professionally and personally. Part of wrestling is learning to respect others, including our opponents.
Are there changing areas/showers available
Yes, there are male and female toilets and changing spaces available as well as a gender neutral bathroom and changing village. There are showers in these as well, but these shower spaces are shared so it is advisable that parents go with kids to make sure that they are respecting the space as well as keeping an eye on their own children as coaches will not be in these spaces to monitor the kids.
Are there sauna and steam rooms available in the club
There are sauna and steam room facilities in the main pool hall; however these are available at an additional charge through the pool. Please check with the front desk staff to find out prices, times and availability.
Are the gym and pool included in the cost of club membership?
No, the pool and gym services are also available at an additional charge, either monthly or one off payments are available, again check with the front desk about the current fee structure, times and availability.
Are there any discounts available?
We offer a 10% discounts for students with a current active student ID, as well as all current GLL employees. Asylum seekers in the country for less than one year are allowed free membership as they are not able to work during their first year. If you are unable to afford a membership talk to the club founder and accommodations may be made for you to come at a rate you can afford. Those with active memberships in the club receive a 35-50% discount on sports massage at Newcastle Teams Sports Massage, text 07763 571798 for rates for club members on different services.
Is this faciltiy temperature controlled
Yes, it is important to wrestle in appropriate temperatures to avoid injury so we provide a suitable place to wrestle safely.
If I have a safeguarding concern, who should I report it to?
If you have a safeguarding concern your first point of contact should be the coach over the class; however, if you don't feel confident reporting it to the coach for any reason you can reach out to the club safeguarding officer, Fatih Ertek at fatih.rtk@gmail.com. If the issue, needs to be escalated to the national governing body for the sport, please reach out to Andy Michaelas at amichaelas@britishwrestling.org. If the issue is beyond the club itself but concerning the facilities they are located in please reach out to the Better GLL safeguarding officers, either Nikki Shand at nikki.shand@gll.org or Gary Hayes at gary.hayes@gll.org. Should it need to be escalated further the national safeguarding officer for Better GLL is Muir Forrest and he can be reached at muir.forrest@gll.org. If the corcern involves issues about staff or volunteers who work with children you can also reach out to the Local Authority Designated Officer for Newcastle at lado@newcastle.gov.uk