This whole topic is not about cutting weight it is about planning. Having enough foresight to know that kids that are 6yrs to 10 yrs old will grow during the six months that we wrestle. We as coaches know when the qualifying tournaments are and how much our wrestlers weigh and if you plan in advance you do not have to worry about your athlete not making weight. Thus, more emphases put on wrestling than weight reduction. There is a ton of planning that goes into these qualifying tournaments and allowing kids to bump a weight the day before or the day of will bring more undue work on the tournament workers. Just think about how much bumping around will go on if you allow people to jump weight classes the day of. What kind of message are we sending? You don't really have to wrestle at the weight that you said you would or you can run from other wrestlers once you find out others are at your weight? I understand that we are here to make sure these kids learn something about life more than they do about wrestling at this age, but the reality of it all is making weight is a part of the sport and at this age more responsibility is put on the coaches and parents than the kids. We have had all year to monitor our wrestlers growth, so respond accordingly and bump them up before the sub-district seeding meeting and you do not have anything to worry about. The final thought....as much as we as coaches and parents complain about late tournament starts...this would keep us in the gym all day with all the bracket changes.

Safe travels to all and good luck this weekend!

Craig Adams
Carroll Jr. Wrestling