A child should not have to sit out because their family cannot afford a place to train.
For a young person walking into a wrestling room for the first time, the next hour might mean learning a stance, meeting a teammate, or hearing a coach say, “Try again. You can do this.” Those moments are why access matters.
MAT CLASH Training Center, powered by The On The Mat Foundation, offers free youth wrestling training in Chattanooga. Our mission is to remove financial barriers and help more kids find coaching, encouragement, and a place to belong.
Free wrestling training. A community in their corner.
The Training Center currently meets at East Ridge High School, 4320 Bennett Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412. Youth, middle school, and high school wrestlers are welcome, including beginners and athletes with experience.
There are no Training Center registration fees, paid training cycles, or drop-in fees. Families do not have to donate to participate. Community donations through The On The Mat Foundation help sustain training and support our work to open the door for more kids.
Families should contact the coaching staff before their first visit to confirm the current schedule, the right session, and any required athlete memberships. Free Training Center instruction does not mean every outside membership or competition expense is covered.
Register your wrestler and learn about free training →
What a place on the mat can mean
Wrestling gives young people opportunities to practice something valuable: showing up when a skill is difficult, listening to instruction, working with a partner, and learning how to respond when a match does not go their way.
Our goal is to help kids develop confidence, discipline, accountability, and positive relationships. Progress can look like a beginner returning for a second practice, a teammate encouraging someone through a hard drill, or an athlete learning to ask for help.
Every child deserves adults who notice that effort and encourage the next step. You do not have to know wrestling to understand the value of having someone in your corner.
What we are building toward in Chattanooga
Free training is happening now. Our larger vision is a dedicated training and support facility in the Chattanooga area, where wrestling can sit alongside practical resources for young people and their families.
That future home would include:
- A dependable place to train with consistent coaching and mentorship.
- Tutoring and school support with homework help, supplies, and academic encouragement.
- Meals and a clothing closet to help meet everyday needs.
- A community gear bank with wrestling shoes, singlets, headgear, and training essentials.
The dedicated facility and these expanded services are goals we are working toward. They are not all operating today. Gifts support the Foundation’s mission as we sustain current training and work toward that future.
How you can help more kids get on the mat
Make a donation. A one-time or recurring gift through The On The Mat Foundation helps support the mission. Give an amount that works for you; participation is never conditional on a family’s donation.
Donate to The On The Mat Foundation →
Coordinate a gear contribution. Have wrestling shoes, headgear, or other useful equipment? Contact us first so we can discuss current needs and arrange a contribution.
Connect us with a community partner. Local businesses, coaches, educators, and people with facility or fundraising connections can help move the mission forward. Reach out about sponsorships, partnerships, or an interest in volunteering.
Share this article. Send it to a parent looking for wrestling opportunities, a business owner who supports local youth, or someone who wants to help kids in Chattanooga. Your introduction could bring a new family or supporter through the door.
Every kid deserves a corner
We want young people to know there is a place where their effort matters, where someone will help them learn, and where their family’s budget does not determine whether they belong.
Help us keep that opportunity open for the next kid.
Explore the Foundation’s mission →
Contact the Foundation about getting involved
Follow @onthematfoundation