A couple people have asked me to respond to these posts, because I am an attorney. I have been actively involved in KSHSAA activities (and Missouri, too-MSHSAA) for 10 or 15 years, and hear the same comments and criticism on an annual basis. These are my comments:

1. KSHSAA is a not-for-profit corporation founded under the authority of the KS Legislature. Its members are the high schools and Jr. highs in the state, and membership is voluntary.
(Because it is the only game in town, it essentially is a monopoly, and thus if you do not like its rules you have to go to another state).


2. It has something like 75 Board of Directors, who are educators, athletic directors, coaches, etc., according to the KSHSAA website. These directors are elected by the member schools. KSHAA is a democracy.


IF ITS A DEMOCROCY THEN THEY WOULD LISTEN TO THE WRESTLERS COACHES & PARENTS THAT MAKE UP KANSAS WRESTLING.

3. Because it is a democracy, the majority rules. If the majority wants a rule changed, they can vote it in.


I HAVE NOT SPOKE TO ONE PERSON INVOLVED IN KANSAS WRESTLING THAT AGREES WITH THIS RULE MY SONS HAVE BEEN WRESTLING IN KANSAS FOR 10 YEARS. I HAVE MET ALOT OF KANSAS WRESTLING COACHES & PARENTS & WRESTLERS OVER THE YEARS. YOUR POINT #3 IS CONFUSING & I BELIEVE INCORRECT.


4. My experience has been the majority of the members do not want the rules changed, for various reasons.
I have been told:
"If coaches are allowed to coach their athletes during the school year, we will be expected to coach them without an increase in pay, and we do not want that".


THE MAJORITY OF COACHES THAT THIS RULE HANDCUFFS DONT WANT EXTRA PAY THEY JUST WANT TO HELP KANSAS WRESTLERS GET BETTER, WHY WOULD KSHSAA HANDCUFF THEM?


"If you eliminate the club participation rules, the 500 mile limitation, add games to various sports, or the other rules most of us object to, it will provide an unfair advantage to those who can afford these luxuries".
Etc., etc.

THIS IS A LAWYERS WAY OF SAYING WE DONT WANT TO LET DEDICATED KANSAS WRESTLERS THAT WRESTLE IN SUMMER GET ANY BETTER THAN WRESTLERS THAT JUST WANT TO WRESTLE FOLKSTYLE SEASON ONLY. KSHSAA WANTS TO MAKE IT HARD & DISCOURAGE THE MOST DEDICATED WRESTLERS & COACHES. THE REASON IS TO MAKE ALL KANSAS WRESTLERS A 5 OR BELOW ON A 1-10 SCALE. ITS NOT ABOUT AFFORD ITS ABOUT DISCOURAGING KANSAS WRESTLERS & COACHES THAT LOVE THE SPORT. THE VERY COACHES KSHSAA IS HANDCUFFING ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD & DO HELP WRESTLERS THAT CANT AFFORD CERTIAN THINGS.


So what I am trying to say is my observation is that most schools in KS do not want these rules changed, they want them exactly the way they are, and this is done with clear intent.


THIS STATMENT FLYS IN THE FACE OF EVERY COACH & WRESTLER I HAVE SPOKE TO IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. MY SONS & I HAVE BEEN TO TOURNAMENTS FROM ONE SIDE OF THIS STATE TO THE OTHER. PLEASE DONT PEE ON MY HEAD & TELL ME ITS RAINING.


Hope this helps.
Tom Williams