For the past 2-3 weeks wrestlers, coaches and parents have all been asking "what weight are you wrestling at Subs?" Does it really make that much difference if your kid is naturally 81-82 lbs which weight he wrestles--80 or 84? One wrestler who has been wrestling 88 all year says he going to 84 maybe 80. If this is true ....it is not only crazy..but child abuse....these kids are growing....1-2 lbs is one thing but any more than that is plan dangerous especially if you have to maintain that weight for 3 weeks. Too much emphasis on winning at all cost...instead of learning life lessons about doing what is the right thing, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritual. It is just a sport....not life or death.

I'm not disagreeing with you--some wrestlers will make hard weight cuts this time of year.

I will add however that some of the upper level wrestlers will wrestle up in weight throughout the regular season for more difficult competition and then drop down at subs. Some wrestle up to separate two kids from the same club. Some are right at a weight limit and will wrestle up just to eliminate any concerns about making weight, but are willing to watch it closer for the qualifiers.

Again, I'm not advocating little guys cutting weight, I'm just saying you can't necessarily say that kids wrestling 88 all year are making a hard cut since they are going to subs at 84.

Also, kids have growth spurts. My son has gained about 4 pounds since the season started. He has wrestled at two different weights this year. He is one of those kids who prefer to wrestle up a wt. so he doesn't have to worry about making weight. So at the beginning of the year he was weighing 76-78 and wrestled at 79. Now he weighs 79-81 so is wrestling at 82. He is only 11 so, to avoid any overall restriction, he won't becutting weight. We just encourage good,healthy eating habits.

I understand that kids have growth spurts, and do not want to worry about weight during the season. I am talking about the kid who weighs at practice every week 89-90 lbs wrestles 88 every week and wants to cut to 84 or even 80 for subs. This is the kind of behvior that can be life altering for the wrestler. Coaches, parents, and wrestlers do not understand the how serious this can be for a growing child. You may not know the effects until years later...I know, my uncle is one of those guys who's growth was stunted and has some health issues because of it and he is in his late 40's. Please remember some decisions we make can last a lifetime.

That was my point exactly. I was describing what my son does in contrast to the story you told. The problem is we can't control that parent's decision making. We can try to educate them to make better decisions. You can even try to regulate the amount of weight wrestlers can cut like in High School But, in the end, they are going to do as they please and wiggle around the rules. I think we all probably know older kids or adults who have stunted their growth by malnutrition. It is not hard to spot!

i agree with both of you. i put myself through that and WILL NOT put my son through that. my parents had nothing to do with my decision. the only thing that i do is regulate snacks from tuesday night on. eat all you want for your meals and cut out pop and snacks. if he has a growth spurt, we will move him up, there should be no question.

Thats how I do it as well jafo14. I let him eat 5 times a day, monitored nutrional snacks. Cut out the cheetos, cookies and school lunch pizza. I substitute oven roasted turkey slices on whole wheat tortilla, gogurts and sugar free koolaid. All the fruit and and crisp veggies he wants with meals. Add in the extra practices this time of the year and my rule of a two mile run before a day of xbox360. He is 7 and loves the lifestyle.

I am really disturbed by the idea of kids cutting weight who are not over weight to begin with. I see this every year. I think if they are cutting a pound....that might be ok, but to cut 3,4,5,6 or more is child abuse. I'm sorry, but you can not tell me that a kid 6 to 13 yrs. of age "wants" to have his food restricted. Kids at this age are supposed to be growing! I am not a nutrionists but I know that food deprivation at this age can have profound effects on their growth and brain development. Who is this really being done for? The parent.??? Does this make a child "Love" the sport of wrestling? What are you teaching your child? I think it sends the message that they are not good enough at the weight they are biologically supposed to be at. I have actually seen kids wrestle the same weight several years in a row! It is wrong. Shame on anyone who does that to their kid! I agree totally with my2sonzwrestle.

okay here is one to debate- wreslted 70 and weighed in at 68-69 all year but is now at the 70 to 71 range- being this close to subs and districts would you move him up to 73 or let him stay at 70?

70!

Probably 70, but it depends. Weighs 71 when? After a hard practice and before eating? After dinner, and before practice? Is he or she complaining? There are many factors to consider. I'm inclined to think that since you are asking the question, he or she is at 70-71 pounds with no effort at all. In that case, I would say 70.

I agree with windjammer. There are factors to consider but you are only talking about 1 lb. or so. I would be inclined to say 70.

After a hard practice he was 71- had a light dinner- this morning it was 70.4 and yes he wants to eat! But I can't see moving him up to 73 when his competition all year has been at 70. Any words of advice to help motivate- he has a good chance at going to state again?!

If he's on board with this, then I would send lunch to school with him. Turkey sandwich, grapes, fruits, pickles, carrots...
Kids like to pack a lunch, and school food is often high in sodium and fat.

Workout daily, even if your club isn't practicing. Maybe it's just 5 minutes on a treadmill. Eat evening meal early and be sensible. Be sensible as a family. Don't eat a double whopper with cheese in front of him. The day of weigh in, limit fluid intake, and dress warm.

If he's not on board with this, wrestle 73.

Thanks for the advice- he's been wrestling to long not to be on board but coming to the end of the season it's hard for them not to get burnt out. But hopefully with state on the mind is focus will stay on the reward at the end.

Good call windjammer. School lunch is history for my 10 year old until April. You described my son's lunch for today spot on! He likes a turkey sanwich, grapes & veggies better the the mystery meat they are serving anyway. As a matter of fact, I had to pack the same thing for my 6 year old non-wrestler. Grapefruit is also excellent for breakfast. This is a far cry from cutting weight, but the end result is about 1.5 lbs for our house. I believe most of that is from less salt resulting in less water retention.

I forgot. Don't have a bunch of poptarts, little debbies, and other garbage in the house, even if you have other children around. A sensible diet won't hurt anyone, and when a kid is watching what they eat, they don't need to walk past a bag of doritos every 5 minutes. Last, absolutely no pop/sodas.

So ... stepping on the scales with Twinkies in one hand with Mt. Dew to wash them down in the other is bad?

Can't be....I heard it was only bad if it was a fried twinkie!

lol ... would that be cooked in a deep-fat fryer?