1 - holding back has been very popular for good reason before NIL. It allows for better physical and mental development-please don’t try to argue against this.
2-in the NIL era, there are far more “potential rewards” for wrestlers than there have ever been, so giving your athlete the best chance often means, great coaching, great academics and holding back for max preparation for college.
3-I have asked my wrestling kids if they wanted to hold back and the conversation maybe lasted 1 minute. It was a quick no and we moved on. Oldest started high school weighing 103 on a full feed and did just fine. Youngest is tracking the same and we are not holding back. I have several friends that held their kids back. It was hard during the holdback year, then good for 2-3 years and then possibly a mistake for the senior year because their kids were top 5 in the country and were basically untouchable without going to national events.
4-Caring parents often look out for the best interests of their kids and should be left to make decisions that are in their best judgment. Rules should be in place to protect the kids. I would bet that there are a lot of holdbacks in football because the physical maturity that is needed in such a punishing contact sport.
5-maybe the question back to the coach is, why can’t you prepare my kid without being held back
6-coach is a good guy and just telling it like it is!