Beat the Streets Los Angeles Hosts Record-Breaking Annual Coaches & Mentors Training

This past weekend, Beat the Streets Los Angeles hosted its Annual Two-Day Coaches and Mentors Training — and it was our biggest one yet. More than 95 coaches from across Los Angeles joined us on Saturday, 80 current and prospective coaches attended Sunday, representing over 20 high school, middle school, and community programs. This year’s training set a new record and created an inspiring weekend of learning, connection, and growth.

The training kicked off Saturday morning with Dr. Anne Larson, a Kinesiology Professor and Youth Development Specialist, who shared her expertise on positive youth development. Dr. Larson highlighted six core skills for young wrestlers—including empathy, confidence, and emotional regulation—helping coaches better support athletes both on and off the mat.

Following her session, Jess Griffith, RD, CSSD, CEDS, a specialist in sports nutrition and eating disorders, discussed safe weight management and fueling practices for wrestlers. She emphasized the importance of creating supportive team cultures that prioritize health, balance, and long-term athlete well-being.

To close the day, Coach Luke Smith, Head Wrestling Coach at CSU Bakersfield, led an engaging on-the-mat demonstration. His session focused on adapting coaching techniques to meet the unique needs of each athlete, from varying skill levels to different body types and personalities.

Sunday morning brought a hands-on practice session led by Carl Fronhofer, BTSLA Director of Development and former Columbia University wrestling coach, alongside Mallory Velte, BTSLA Associate Director of Mentorship and Programming, two-time World Bronze Medalist, and two-time Pan American Champion. Together, they designed and demonstrated a 60-minute youth wrestling practice roadmap, showcasing drills to keep athletes engaged and motivated while adapting instruction for different age groups.

The Positive Coaching Alliance then facilitated an interactive workshop on supporting positive athlete behavior. Coaches collaborated and shared strategies on communication, reinforcement, and building athlete confidence both inside and outside of practice.

Carl and Mallory also hosted a Team Binder tutorial, guiding coaches through tools for performance tracking, policies, and team-building practices designed to create cohesive, motivated programs.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Step In

This year’s training also featured the involvement of 24 Tomorrow’s Leaders student-athletes, who experienced firsthand what it takes to lead practices and mentor younger wrestlers. Many of our current young coaching staff started in the Tomorrow’s Leaders program themselves and now play key roles in running practices under the mentorship of BTS head coaches.

Building Stronger Coaches, Building Stronger Communities

The collaborative atmosphere, combined with the diverse expertise of guest speakers and coaches, made this year’s training an exceptionally productive and empowering experience. By investing in the development of our coaches, we strengthen the foundation of every Beat the Streets LA program—ensuring our athletes have role models who can guide them toward success on the mat and in life.