It’s reasonable to think that free wrestling training must be inexpensive to run. Families don’t pay a registration fee, a training-cycle fee, or a drop-in fee at the MAT CLASH Training Center. But free for families does not mean there are no costs behind the practice.
The On The Mat Foundation works to remove financial barriers to wrestling for young people in the Chattanooga area. Training currently takes place at East Ridge High School, where coaching and a place to practice give athletes room to learn, work through setbacks, and become part of a team.
We want to explain what it takes to keep that opportunity open without guessing at a number we can’t verify.
What goes into keeping a program running?
Coach time and consistency
A wrestling practice takes more than a room and a mat. Coaches plan instruction, teach skills, supervise drills, and help athletes learn how to practice safely and work with one another. Consistent coaching also gives young wrestlers people they can ask for guidance as they learn.
Time is a real resource, whether it is donated or funded. Steady, thoughtful coaching is part of what makes the training possible, and it does not happen by accident.
Mat space and facility use
Training needs a suitable place. The Center currently practices at East Ridge High School, at 4320 Bennett Road in Chattanooga. Access to a wrestling room makes the current program possible, but it is not the same as having a dedicated facility the Foundation can rely on as its own.
Using and maintaining a practice space brings practical needs with it: cleaning, equipment storage, and keeping the room ready for athletes. Every one of those is easier to plan around when the space belongs to the program.
Our long-term goal is to secure a dedicated facility in Chattanooga. That is a future goal, not a service or space we already have.
Memberships and event costs
The Training Center does not charge registration, training-cycle, or drop-in fees. A current AAU or USA Wrestling membership card and a completed waiver are still required, and coaches verify membership before participation.
Membership and event costs are separate from free training. Those expenses may affect whether a young wrestler can take part in events beyond practice. If the cost is a barrier for your family, speak with the coaches about available support. A donation is never a condition of joining practice.
Gear and equipment
Wrestlers need appropriate equipment to practice and compete. Some athletes may need help accessing basics such as wrestling shoes or a singlet. Equipment used in a training room also needs care and, over time, replacement.
We can share one verified gear price: custom team singlets start at $40 each. Treat that as the cost of a specific item, not a measure of what a child’s season costs, because a family’s real gear needs vary.
A community gear bank is part of the Foundation’s future vision. It is not a fully operating service today.
The operating basics
A program also depends on the less visible work: communicating with families, keeping participation information organized, preparing for practices, and coordinating support from donors and community partners. These tasks help a free program remain welcoming and dependable.
Some needs are met through money, some through donated goods and services, and some through shared resources. That mix changes over time, which is part of why steady support matters more than a single push.
Why we don’t publish a cost per kid
The Foundation has not published a budget or a verified cost-per-athlete figure. We won’t invent one to make a fundraising message sound more specific.
A single per-kid number can also mislead, because practice space, coaching time, and equipment are shared across a whole group. We would rather give you the real shape of the costs than a figure that looks tidy and isn’t true.
If you’re considering a gift, sponsorship, or grant and want to understand the current priorities, ask us directly. We’re glad to talk through what the Foundation is working to support and answer questions about how funding fits into the mission. We would rather have that conversation than offer a number we cannot stand behind.
What support helps make possible
The Foundation’s work today is centered on free wrestling training, coaching, mentorship, and helping remove barriers to participation. Gifts support that mission and the work of keeping wrestling accessible. A gift is not required for a young person to participate.
The longer-term vision is broader: a dedicated facility, tutoring and school support, meals, a clothing closet, and a community gear bank. These are goals we are raising funds to establish. The Training Center is currently based at East Ridge High School; the expanded services and dedicated facility are not yet in place.
A simple way to take part
If you’d like an easy place to begin, the $1 On The Mat Challenge invites you to give $1 and invite 10 friends to do the same. You can also share the challenge with someone who may want to learn more.
The Foundation’s PayPal campaign also offers a monthly giving option for people who prefer to support the mission on a recurring basis. Choose what works for you; there is no pressure to give, and a young wrestler’s place in practice does not depend on it.
For the bigger picture, visit The On The Mat Foundation and the Training Center page.
Whether you’re an individual donor, a local business owner, or a grant reader, we welcome questions. Email onthematfoundation@gmail.com to ask about current priorities, a possible partnership, or what kind of support may be useful. We’ll be glad to have a straightforward conversation.
MAT CLASH is a separate business. Beginning November 1, 2026, it contributes 50% of profits from gear orders to the Foundation; a purchase is a commercial transaction, not a donation.