Discussing the performance by the freestyle wrestlers following the tournament in Bulgaria was not a superficial process to Kevin Jackson.  Jackson, a stridently successful wrestler on the international scene, had just completed his first season at the helm of the National Freestyle program.  As the head coach for USA Wrestling, Jackson will provide the leadership, action, and direction for the athletes that want to test their mettle on the international mats.      The success of this year's freestyle team's performance is debatable to the fans of international wrestling.  However, in Jackson's own words he was, "disappointed with the results but not the efforts" of the eight U.S. competitors.  Jackson only took control of the freestyle program in late January, following the resignation of Bruce Burnett.  However, he wants the wrestling public to know that he is fully responsible for the programs performance and its' future.       After spending some time evaluating the performance of the wrestlers and digesting the training process that was extended by the September 11th tragedies.  Coach Jackson noticed several areas that led to the competitors not reaching their goals.  With a renewed dedication and attention to details, Jackson believes the U.S. will see the benefits in the near future on the world level.    One area of concern that Jackson spoke of was the consistent problem of athletes making mistakes that caused them to lose matches.  Throughout the summer Jackson, and the accompanying World Teams staff and volunteer coaches would remind wrestlers of the danger of giving up two and three point moves.      In reflecting on the success of the team, Jackson noted that the two U.S. athletes that medalled did not give up a turn during the tournament.  Whether because of a technical failing or a relaxation in position, the U.S. athletes lost matches since they were unable to defend in par-terre.      Jackson had not completed review of all the World bouts.  So, he had not established a definite view on whether it was technical failing or relaxing in position.  The U.S. team's need to improve in par-terre defense was a point of emphasis to Coach Jackson.  In his view athletes, need to pay more attention to this area of concern.    "At the international level", according to Jackson, "the wrestler that makes the least amount of mistakes throughout the tournament is the one that becomes the champion."  A champion might make one or two mistakes.  A runner-up an might make three or four errors.  Mistakes on the elite level remove athletes from a World Medal quickly.      Jackson would like to see athletes working harder in the area of par-terre defense.  Fighting the lock and moving to put the attacker on the defensive were two of the technical areas mentioned.  On the senior level the U.S. may have problems because wrestlers come from college on to the international scene, without having their par-terre defese "in tact".  With that being said, wrestlers can expect that more time and detail will be spent in defending par-terre in the future.    Another area of concern that the national staff has for U.S. wrestlers is the worry of a bad draw or being a victim of the pool system.  Kevin Jackson having successfully competed on the international level has guided himself, and now wrestlers through a "bad draw".  In Jackson's view every U.S. wrestler needs to approach a competition with greater confidence.  On the international level every match must be a championship match for wrestlers.      As Resident Coach in the summer of 2000, Jackson worked daily with Brandon Slay.  Slay, new to the #1 spot on the national ladder, could have suffered a crisis of confidence.  Instead Jackson, prepared him for seeing a tough draw that eventually materialized when Bouvaisa Satiev appeared in his pool.  Slay's mental preparation with Jackson's guidance was that he (Slay) was the "bad draw".  The goal for Slay was to win the Gold Medal and not try and back door into a "shot" at a medal.  By elevating the goal, wrestlers will elevate their skill, and in doing so elevate their confidence.      For this team the commitment level was outstanding, the wrestlers throughout the five training camps after the World Team Trials spent countless hours and repetition breaking down and analyzing technique.  But, another technical area of concern for Jackson as the National Coach, is the need for more practice on the clinch.      The clinch has become increasingly important on the senior level with new FILA interpretations.  The clinch can be instituted for two consecutive passive calls or for less than three points being scored in regulation.  A 2-1 match now starts in the clinch in overtime.      Jackson knows that some wrestlers nationally have gained reluctant acceptance of the clinch.  In his view, "sooner or later wrestlers will have a match go to the clinch".  Because the U.S. team only had three of eight wrestlers with World experience, inexperience in the clinch was a major concern for the freestyle coaches.      In the last two years in the finals of the World Meet, the United States had two critical clinch situations.  Brandon Slay and Brandon Eggum were unable to win from these positions.  More attention for U.S. wrestlers will be paid on the clinch in future training camps.      Although many wrestlers are familiar with basic go-behind and front headlock techniques from collegiate wrestling, Coach Jackson feels that athletes did not attack from this advantage point.  Call it being tentative or relaxing after an opponent's shot, but Jackson would like to emphasize stronger attacks from the front headlock.      "Instead of hanging out in the front-headlock", said Jackson, "we need to really run to the legs; it's a great way to break an opponent's energy level."  Wrestlers like Joe Williams have really been successful attacking this way.  Off of an opponent's attack or an offensive snap more aggressive wrestling from a front headlock will be a future goal of USA Wrestling coaches for the National Team.      A final area of technical concern for the Team USA, will be a better understanding of match tactics.  In a couple of critical matches in Sophia, wrestlers failed to protect a safe lead.      Jackson is careful not to say that he wants his wrestlers to shut down and become passive to victory.  However, he will be talking to the elite wrestlers about making smarter decisions in close matches.  Jackson said, "that there are ways to stay offensive without taking risks that have the potentially of negatively impacting the result."      When wrestlers have leads they need to realize that they don't need to shoot off of tie-ups that are not their favorite control points.  In the World Championships U.S. wrestlers according to Jackson, "took risks that outweighed results."  Tactical wrestling to some degree will come with more experience; however, wrestler's on the National Team will see a stronger emphasis on match strategy.      In evaluating what wrestlers can immediately do to excel on the international level, Coach Jackson had three main areas of concern.  First, Jackson wanted to see wrestlers at all Training Camps in Colorado Springs.  Often many of our elite wrestlers are collegiate coaches.  The difficulty is that many of these wrestler/coaches are spending more time training collegiate than freestyle techniques.  Training Camps at the Olympic Training Center give serious athletes the opportunity to improve with like-minded freestyle wrestlers.      Second, Coach Jackson wants to see wrestlers set higher goals.  Too often wrestlers on the National Team are satisfied with reaching the number one position.  According to Jackson, "if the United States wants to retake the Russians as the elite international team, then every wrestler must seriously set his goal to be a World Champion."  Being the best guy in the U.S. is not an option because the goal is too short sighted.  The American wrestling fans want to see the United States back on top internationally.      The final area that Jackson believes American wrestlers can improve upon is pairing up with guys in their