In an attempt to make wrestling a safer and healthier sport, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is developing a Nevada Wrestling Weight Management Program.
This program, the Web site www.nevada.ihigh.com reports, began as a pilot in 2001-2002. Testing is mandatory again for the 2005-2006 season.
All wrestlers must be tested, the body fat percentage recorded and minimum weight established before the wrestler is eligible to compete. The program will be implemented for the 2005-2006 wrestling season.
Changes to the program will be covered at the mandatory Coaches Rules Clinic. An optional coaches training clinic on the complete Nevada Wrestling Weight Management Program will also be offered after the Rules Clinic.
Full details on how this policy works are on the Web site.
Changes in the Nevada Weight Management Program for 2005-2006 are:
“¢ The wrestler must certify at the lowest minimum weight class at scratch weight before the state qualifying series begins.
“¢ A wrestler may compete in the league/region and/or state tournament(s) at the minimum weight class for which he/she has certified at scratch weight for that weight class.
Wrestlers must certify with a scratch weigh-in at the weight class that they wish to enter into post-season competition. The wrestler may compete at the weight class in which their seven percent predicted weight, less two percent, places them. There will be no two percent allowance for wrestlers that test below 7 percent.
All wrestlers that are assessed below seven percent must have a medical release to wrestle at their alpha weight.
A wrestler may not weigh in more than the weight class above that weight after he/she has certified (or set the lowest recorded weigh-in during the weight loss descent plan), without automatically re-establishing a new weight loss descent plan based on that weigh-in and the date of the weigh-in.
A wrestler measuring less than seven percent body fat must maintain the original percentage of body fat or higher in order to have a valid re-assessment.
A coach must enter the competition results (for JV and varsity) and actual wrestling weight for each competitor on the NWCA’s web site prior to the next competition.
The penalty for a wrestler circumventing (attempting to cheat and/or cheating) the weight assessment process is:
“¢ First offense: Suspension for one wrestling season.
“¢ Second offense: Suspension for two wrestling seasons.
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