Jeff Broadbent, I know you probably got a little frustrated that this discussion on possibly not including 16&U at the Topeka Kids State and having the high school kids have a separate post season tournament got included in this topic. I apologize to you that I brought that proposal in your topic but not too many people wanted to discuss that in the other topic I introduced and I think a lot of people see a connection between adding 6&U and how can you do that without dropping an age group. I think Nigel has touched upon it in his last post. He fears that if you add 6&U it would come at the expense of 16&U at State and he is very opposed to that thought.

I know your theory is basically that we currently have 104 weight brackets and you are suggesting going away from our current weights to a modified verison of the national USAW weight system of 88 which you have modified to 98. The modification you have suggested would be under our current 104 (I am trusting your number of 104 to be correct), but I guess I am still have doubts that it would solve one of the main problems that I see which is not having full mats at State for most of the age brackets especially the 12&U group. Have you thought it out for the logistics of mat space? Would your system be able to allow for more mat space for more age groups? Could 12&U have full mats in your new system?

I would suggest fewer modifications to the USAW system. I agree with your 6U addition, I would only go with one addition in 8&U 43, one in 10&U 53, only one in 12&U 65, no additions in 14&U, I would go to the high school weights for 16&U but I would add 240 for no net change on your 16&U suggestion because 98 would be dropped. 14&U this year at the State tournament only had 2 at 70 and 3 at 75. 16&U only had 2 at 95 and 3 at 100. My modifications to yours would reduce it 5 more to only 93 weights.

Still, Jeff, will more age groups have more mat space? Can it be done without using Exhibition Hall?