I case you haven't figured it out yet -- this if former Immaculata head coach and Atchison assistant coach Jeff Holmes. We are being put on a new weight control system next year that is really going to suck and wondered my favorite mavericks to the NFHSA are going to tell them to fudgetabout.....

Here's the deal — the Friday before the first practice next November, each kid has to pee in cup, and we have to compare it's color to a chart to make sure the kid is hydrated enough to get his body fat checked.

Once we get his certified weight (lowest possible weight), the state will get all of the figure and issue back a chart for each wrestler. The chart will start with that first-day weight and show a slow progression to get to that desired certified weight. Each wrestler will be limited to losing 1.5 percent of his body weight per week and no more. And there are no more waviers!

Say, for example that you weigh 150 and your 7 percent weight will take you to 125. You will get a chart back that will show exactly what you can weigh each week. in this case, 1.5 percent of 150 would be 1.5 pounds, so on Week 2, you can weigh 148.5, then 147, etc.

At that rate it would talk the better part of a couple of months to get to that weight. And, say you're in a week where your actually down to 135, but you chart says you should still be at 143, then you'll be wrestling 145. Your chart is like God or something.

Now, there is no more certification and not even a match count; you don't have to have a certain number of weigh-ins at weight. You could, concievably not make your certification weight until Regionals.

Weird huh. We're going to it in Iowa and it's going to be a pain in the butt. Wondering what you guys thought

lookwhosback,

At this point the KSHSAA is considering the adopting of two of the three legs of the national federation rule--the hydration & fat testing components. The descent plan is one that is too cumbersome to be implemented and is inherently unfair to the wrestler.

What has yet to be discussed, but will be, is if there will be any kind of waiver to allow a wrestler to go below the weight which is determined by the athletes body fat and hydration levels.

In regards to the National Federation; many of you may not know that Kansas is currently NOT a voting member. This because we do not follow the weigh-in procedure; we still allow at-home weigh-ins. Therefore, if we do not adopt all of the National Federation rules on weight loss we will not be kicked out of a club that we are already not a member of! However, looking at a better and safer way to determine a wrestler's weight makes good sense, physically and legally.

Curious as to how it will be known whether or not those who fill out this survey are actually coaches; seems that such a survey should be confined in some form or manner to verified coaches and/or to the membership of the KWCA/NWCA. Posting it on a site such as this for any and all to fill out could be very "polluting" to the statistics.

Excellent point Mr. Mann! The thought never occurred to me. If you believe the post should be removed, kindly advise and I will be happy to remove the post.

The survey form does require certain information to be filled out prior to completing the survey, however I am not certain how the verification process works.

From the survey form: Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

The mandatory questions are to identify the individual completing the survey.

Richard,

It is my opinion that the post should be removed. The verification process could block a real coach from submitting a survey if the information was completed by a non-coach first. To what degree the information obtained from this survey is legitimate and of value will be a direct function of those who submit it.

Your willingness to remove the post is appreciated.

Greg Mann

Would it be possible to re-post the links to the research articles that were in the removed post???

I am not interested in the survey, but would like to read the research articles that are being used to create the new rules on weight control.

Thanks

Background: Excessive weight loss has historically been a “dark cloud” for amateur wrestling. In 1997, the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA and several state high school athletic associations (i.e: Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, etc.) collaborated with the sport science community to implement “ broad sweeping” weight loss reform in an effort to safeguard wrestlers from the potentially tragic consequences of extreme dehydration and/or weight loss.

More recently, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) passed legislation mandating wrestling weight management reform in the scholastic community effective for the 2006/07 season NFHS Press Release Announcing the New Rule.

Role of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA): Please know that the NWCA is NOT a rule-making body and can’t arbitrarily modify the existing wrestling weight management rules. Our primary role with respect to this initiative is as follows:

• Provide an automated tool (Optimal Performance Calculator) to the coaches so they can more efficiently administrate the state mandated rule.

• Provide an integrated nutrition program for wrestlers so they can develop a customized diet that honors their weight management plan.

• Represent the coaching community in seeking more flexibility in the new rules.

We have received several requests from scholastic coaches across the nation asking us to pursue more flexibility in the new rules. However, please understand that the new NFHS Wrestling Weight Management rules are based on “published scientific research” making it very unlikely that these new rules will be repealed. Further, these new rules have the strong endorsement from many notable sport science entities.

Important links: The following links will provide you with better understanding of the “science” behind the new rules and need for wt management reform:

• Published Research Studies that Support the New Rules

• Myths and Misconceptions About the New Rules

• Recent Newspaper Articles Supporting the Need for Weight Management Reform

Weight issues in high school would fix themselves if we all went to a one hour weigh in before duals and two hour weigh in before tournaments. Also, must make weight on both days of the two day tournaments.

Kids would figure out they are not as good sucking weight and a good kid not cutting weight has a fair advantage over a great kid pulling too much weight. That second and third period is a rough on on the kid pulling too much weight.

I have heard the issues of acedemics and kids not cutting weight during school but when it comes down to it, kids wouldnt be cutting weight and if they were they will suffer acedemically and competitively and eventually figure it out and go up a weight class.

My Opinion!

I cut weight and graduated with a 3.98 GPA. I don't think my grades suffered because of cutting weight.

might have been 4.0 and been a Rhoades Scholar if you hadn't cut weight! ;-)

I have experienced both. Having wrestled in Nebraska and used the Federation weigh-in proceudre and now coaching in Kansas. I agree with Church that weight issues will take care of themselves if federation rules were used. On the other hand the quality of wrestling in Kansas with it weigh-in procedure is much better during two-day tournaments.

I personally having been a pilot program for the weigh-in procedure this year, do not feel it will help our sport if all three levels are adopted.

I like our weigh-in system and hope they do not change it. All the college guys I talk to say the hydration test is a joke.

But the real issue for me is, Will changing the system be good or bad for wrestling in Kansas?? I fear some of the new system ideas will drive some small schools to drop programs and turn off some new kids that may be thinking about wrestling. Plus all coaches/teachers need is some more damn paperwork to do. Not to mention how excited I am about handling 50 cups of urine.

Good one Egg, but Computer Science just wasn't my thing, so I ended up with a B. All the weight in the world wouldn't have helped me in that class.