Wrestling Minimum Weight Certification Program

1
Wrestling Minimum Weight Certification Program

• 2008-2009

2
Vision Statement

• The UIL plans to ensure the safety of Texas high
  school wrestlers with this Weight Certification
  and Control Plan based on Hydration Testing, Body
  Fat Analysis and a Monitored Descent.
• Trained assessors will sponsor regional
  assessment opportunities for varsity wrestlers.
  Assessments of varsity wrestlers will primarily
  occur at regional assessment clinics. Dates,
  times and locations will be available on the UIL
  website.
• This rule will be applicable to any varsity
  wrestling participant.

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New for 2008-2009

• A 2 variance will be applied to each students
  Minimum Wrestling Weight as calculated by the
  NWCA system.
• The deadline for all skin fold measuring and
  minimum weight certification, including appeals,
  is two weeks prior to the district certification
  deadline.
• All payments for assessments must be made in cash
  at the time of the assessment. Athletes will not
  be assessed until payment has been made.
• All skin fold measurements shall be made on bare
  skin. Skin fold measurements shall not be taken
  over or through the singlet or clothing the
  wrestler is wearing.
• A maximum weight loss of 1.5 of a wrestlers
  alpha body weight per week has been established,
  and will be enforced between the initial
  assessment and any appeal assessment.
• Any appeal assessment must be conducted within 21
  days of the initial assessment being conducted.

4
Plan Outline for 2008-2009

• For varsity wrestlers, minimum wrestling weight
  and minimum weight class will be determined by
  predicted body weight at 7 body fat for males
  and 12 body fat for females. A 2 variance will
  be applied to each students Minimum Wrestling
  Weight as calculated by the NWCA system.
• The UIL does not advocate that a wrestlers
  established minimum weight is the athletes best
  weight at which to wrestle, but simply the
  minimum weight at which the athlete will be
  allowed to compete.
• There will be monitored weight loss on the
  descent.A maximum weight loss of 1.5 of a
  wrestlers alpha body weight per week has been
  established. A wrestler who loses more than 1.5
  of their alpha body weight in a week is
  ineligible to compete in the weight class to
  which they are descending.
• A wrestler will not be allowed to wrestle at
  their established minimum weight until the date
  specified on the National Wresting Coaches
  Association (NWCA) Optimal Performance
  Calculator.
• The deadline for all skin fold measuring and
  minimum weight certification, including appeals,
  is two weeks prior to the district certification
  deadline.

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Plan Outline for 2008-2009

• ALL UIL WRESTLING SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED TO
  UTILIZE THE NWCA OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE CALCULATOR
  FOR THIS PROGRAM.
• Each school will be mailed a school code and
  school password for the NWCA Optimal Performance
  Calculator at the beginning of the school year
  (www.nwcaonline.com)
• Wrestling coaches must bring a copy of the NWCA
  Optimal Performance Calculator Alpha Master
  Report form for their team to each contest, meet
  or tournament and must file a copy with their
  District Executive Committee Chairperson.
  Coaches should also print and keep a copy of this
  form on file in his/her office. It is recommended
  that each wrestlers Individual Weight Loss Plan
  be available as well.

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Program Regulations

• Program Components
•   Hydration Assessment
• Alpha Weight Determination
• Skin Fold Measurement
• Establishing Minimum Weight
• Establishing Descent Calendar
• Appeals 

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Program Regulations

• Time Periods for Measurements
•  
• Hydration testing and skin fold measuring may
  begin no earlier than October 1st. All varsity
  wrestlers, including those coming out after
  October 1st, must have their minimum weight
  established by hydration assessment and skin fold
  measurement prior to any competition with a
  student from another school.
•  
• The deadline for all skin fold measuring and
  minimum weight certification, including appeals,
  is two weeks prior to the district certification
  deadline.
•  

8
How it Works - Program Regulations

• Trained assessors will sponsor regional
  assessment opportunities for varsity wrestlers.
  Assessments of varsity wrestlers will primarily
  occur at regional assessment clinics. Dates,
  times and locations will be available on the UIL
  website. Schools will be responsible for
  transporting their athletes to the regional
  assessment site at the designated time. Only 1)
  licensed health care practitioners 2) those who
  have at least a Bachelors degree in a
  health/fitness field and 3) specially approved
  undergraduate students who participate as part of
  an assessment team headed up by a team leader who
  is either 1 or 2 above are eligible to serve as
  an assessor for this program.
• Should a varsity wrestler not be able to attend
  their designated assessment location, they can
  contact another regional assessment site and
  request to be assessed at that site. Otherwise,
  it will be the schools responsibility to contact
  a designated regional representative in their
  area to arrange for skin fold measurement of
  varsity wrestler(s) at their school. The list of
  designated regional representatives will be
  available on the UIL website at
  www.uil.utexas.edu under Wrestling.

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How it Works - Program Regulations

• If the assessment is taking place on a school
  campus, the school must have available at the
  time of the hydration testing and skin fold
  measuring 1) a certified scale, 2) Weight
  Certification Forms (provided by the UIL on the
  web), 3) the necessary school officials (e.g.,
  coach, trainer, teacher, A.D., or other health
  professional) and materials (including clear
  specimen cups) to assist with registration, the
  hydration assessment process, obtaining the
  weight of each wrestler and with the recording of
  the data. It is recommended that an adult person
  of the same gender be present when assessment is
  conducted.
•  
• In all cases, the school is responsible for all
  charges for skin fold measuring. At this time,
  the fees are set at 5 per athlete. All payments
  for assessments must be made in cash at the time
  of the assessment. Athletes will not be assessed
  until payment has been made. For regional
  assessments, regional assessment sites may
  request all schools to pre-register their
  students for assessment. Schools whose students
  do not pre-register, may be charged an additional
  fee for on site registration. For school based
  assessments, payment should be made directly to
  the certified assessor.

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How it Works - Program Regulations

• Weight Certification forms should be prepared
  prior to test date for all athletes to be
  assessed that day. All information for the
  wrestler will be entered on both the top and
  bottom halves of the Weight Certification Form.
  The assessor will retain the top half of the
  form, the school and or coach will retain the
  bottom half of the Weight Certification Form.
• For the weight certification process, all
  athletes (male and female) shall wear a wrestling
  singlet. Student athletes appearing for
  certification and not wearing a wrestling singlet
  will be refused assessment.
• Students should sign in at designated area and
  obtain their Weight Certification Form.

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How it Works - Hydration Assessment

• Specific Gravity Assessment
• Dehydration compromises the accuracy of body
  composition assessments therefore, all athletes
  are required to pass a urine specific gravity
  test in order to be eligible for the body
  composition assessment. Dehydration increases the
  concentration of particles in the urine thereby,
  increasing the urines specific gravity. The
  specific gravity of water is 1.000g/ml and the
  specific gravity of a hydrated individual is
  established at not greater than 1.025. This test
  is simply a pass/fail assessment based on the
  specific gravity level less than or equal to
  1.025 (pass) or greater than 1.025 (fail). If an
  athlete fails the specific gravity test the
  assessment process is ended and the athlete will
  not be eligible for reassessment for 24 hours.

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Preparing for Hydration Test

• No vigorous activity on the evening before and
  the day of the testing.
• Avoid any caffeinated beverages on the day before
  and day of the testing.
• On the day of testing, drink 500ml (17 oz.) of
  fluid. (A sports drink is an excellent choice).
• Avoid any vitamin or mineral supplements two days
  before and the day of testing.
• Athletes should be instructed to consume 2-4 cups
  of water in the 1-2 hour period immediately
  preceding the assessment.
• Be awake three hours prior to testing.
• Do not eat two hours prior to testing.

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How it Works - Hydration Assessment

• Urine Specific Gravity Assessment
• This should occur in a bathroom or locker room
  area. If the assessment is occurring at the
  school, the school should provide individuals (a
  trainer or other health professional) to assist
  with the specimen collection and assessment. Make
  certain that each wrestler is tested individually
  to prevent urine exchange. Individuals monitoring
  the specimen collection process should be the
  same gender as the wrestler whose specimen is
  being collected.
• 1) Evaluator wears rubber gloves during the
  assessment.
• 2) Subject should be provided a clear cup (marked
  by name or identification number). Sample should
  never leave the possession of the subject.
• 3) Subject is then instructed to provide a 2-3
  oz. urine sample (mid-stream) in the
  urinal/bathroom under supervision (student
  privacy should be respected as much as possible).
  If the bathroom utilized for hydration assessment
  has stalls, the stall doors are to remain open
  during the collection process.
• 4) Practice and enforce secure procedures during
  urine collection. Only one athlete should be in
  the bathroom at a time. The athlete should bring
  no items into the bathroom other than their
  Weight Certification Form and the clear specimen
  cup.
• 5) Urine specific gravity is then measured by
  color chart, reagent strips or a refractometer
  (see following slides).

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How it Works - Hydration Assessment

• Specific gravity must be equal to or below l.025
  g/ml for the student to pass the Hydration
  Assessment.
• - If a pass is recorded on the form, the
  certification form is given to student-athlete
  and they proceed to the Weigh In Station.
• - If a fail is recorded on the form, the
  certification form is retained by the adult in
  charge and the student must wait 24 hours for
  another attempt.
• Any attempt to violate the protocols of the
  weight certification process, by adulterating a
  sample or attempting to cheat, will result in the
  assessment process being ended, and the student
  not being eligible for reassessment for 24 hours,
  at which time they would begin the process from
  the start.
• Upon completion of the hydration test the subject
  should dispose of the sample. If a pass is
  recorded on the Certification Form the student
  should proceed to the body weight and body
  composition assessment stations.

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Hydration Assessment Cont.

• Hydration level will be judged using a color
  chart. If schools or assessors wish to provide
  dipsticks or a Urine Specific Gravity
  Refractometer and related materials for hydration
  testing, that would also be acceptable.
• The Hydration Test is simply a pass/fail
  assessment based on the specific gravity level
  less than or equal to 1.025. A specific gravity
  level greater than 1.025 would be considered a
  failure on the hydration test.
• Color Chart
• If the urine color matches the colors 1, 2, 3, 4
  or 5 on the chart the athlete is adequately
  hydrated and may move immediately to skin fold
  measurement.
• If the urine color matches the colors 6, 7, or 8,
  the athlete is not adequately hydrated and may
  not continue the weight certification process.
  The athlete may try to again in 24 hours.
• Dipsticks or Refractometers
• If dipsticks or refractometers are utilized,
  hydration would be evaluated based on the
  specific manufacturer guidelines of those items.

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Hydration Assessment - Color Chart

• If the color of the urine matches numbers 1-5 of
  the color chart, the student is adequately
  hydrated and could proceed to skin fold
  measurement.
• If the color of the urine matches numbers 6-8 of
  the color chart, the student is not adequately
  hydrated and may not proceed to skin fold
  measurement. The athlete will not be eligible for
  reassessment for 24 hours and must meet the
  hydration requirement before the skinfold
  measurement takes place.

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Hydration Assessment - Dip Sticks

• ? Pass / Fail ?

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Hydration Assessment - Urine Specific Gravity
Refractometers
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How it Works - Weigh In Station

• This should occur in a bathroom or locker room
  area. If assessment is conducted at a school, the
  school should provide individuals to assist with
  recording of data for the participants.
• Once a wrestler has passed the Hydration test,
  they must have their Alpha Weight determined
  immediately, on that date, without any exercise
  or delays.
• The alpha weight established at this initial
  assessment will be the weight utilized in
  determining the descent calendar per the 1.5 per
  week rule.
• For the weight certification process, all
  athletes (male and female) shall wear a wrestling
  singlet. Student athletes appearing for
  certification and not wearing a wrestling singlet
  will be refused assessment.
• It is required that an adult of the same gender
  as the participant be present when weigh ins are
  done for wrestlers. No weight allowance is
  provided for the clothing worn for the alpha
  weigh in.
• After establishing their Alpha Weight, the
  wrestler should proceed to skin fold measurement
  and provide the assessor with their Weight
  Certification Form.

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How it Works - Skin Fold Measurement

• Once a wrestler has passed the Hydration
  Assessment and established their Alpha Weight,
  they must undergo skin fold measurement
  immediately, on that date, without any exercise
  or delays.
• For the weight certification process, all
  athletes (male and female) shall wear a wrestling
  singlet. Student athletes appearing for
  certification and not wearing a wrestling singlet
  will be refused assessment.
• Females must also wear a halter, sports bra or
  other appropriate undergarment allowing the
  assessor access to the measurement sites
  (subscapular). It is recommended that a female be
  present when skin fold measurement is conducted
  for females.
• It is recommended that a female be present when
  skin fold measurement is conducted for females.
• The skin fold measurement should occur is an area
  designated by the school. If assessment is
  conducted at a school the school should provide
  individuals to assist the skin fold measurer with
  recording of data for the participants.

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How it Works - Skin Fold Measurement

• A brief description of the measurement procedures
  may help athletes feel more comfortable with the
  assessment. Assessors should ask the athlete if
  they have any questions prior to testing.
• All skin fold measurements shall be made on bare
  skin. Skin fold measurements shall not be taken
  over or through the singlet or clothing the
  wrestler is wearing.
• Proceed with the skin fold measurement of each
  wrestler. The assessor should take three
  measurements at each designated area and each
  measurement should be recorded on the applicable
  section of the Weight Certification Form.

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How it Works - Skin Fold Measurement

• Skin Fold Measurement Sites
• Male measurement sites
• ABDOMINAL
• TRICEPS
• SUBSCAPULAR
• Female measurement sites
• TRICEPS
• SUBSCAPULAR
• Measurements should be made on the right side of
  the body.

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How it Works - Skin Fold Measurement

• Skin Fold Sites
• ABDOMINAL - measured vertically, the site is
  located 2 centimeters lateral to the midpoint of
  the umbilicus and 1 cm inferior to the umbilicus.
  The subject must stand erect with weight on both
  feet, relax the abdominal wall musculature and
  breathe normally during the assessment procedure.
• SUBSCAPULAR - measured on a diagonal axis, (left
  shoulder to right hip) 2 centimeters below the
  inferior angle of the scapula. The site is angled
  infero-laterally about 45 degrees in the natural
  cleavage line of the skin. It may be necessary to
  have the subject place their arm behind the back
  to make the anatomical features more prominent.
  The arm is returned to the relaxed anatomical
  position for the measurement procedure.
• TRICEPS - measured vertically in the midline of
  the posterior aspect of the upper arm, over the
  triceps muscle, midway between the lateral
  acromion process of the scapula and the inferior
  margin of the olecranon process of the ulna.
  Elbow is flexed to identify the landmarks but
  extended and relaxed to elevate the skinfold.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• All information for the wrestler will be entered
  on both the top and bottom of the Weight
  Certification Form. The assessor will retain the
  top half of the form, the school and or coach
  will retain the bottom half of the Weight
  Certification Form.
• The assessor will enter the results of the
  hydration assessment, alpha weight determination
  and skin fold measurement into the NWCA weight
  certification internet calculator on the Initial
  Assessment page at the NWCA website
  (www.nwcaonline.com/nwcaonline/default.aspx).
• Based on the information reported by the
  assessor, the NWCA weight certification internet
  calculator will determine the minimum weight
  class by predicted body weight at 7 body fat for
  males and 12 body fat for females. A 2 variance
  will be applied to each students Minimum
  Wrestling Weight as calculated by the NWCA system.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• The lowest weight class at which a wrestler may
  compete will be determined as follows
•  If the predicted weight at 7 male/12 female,
  including the 2 variance, is exactly that of one
  of the weight classes, that weight class shall be
  the wrestlers minimum weight class.
•  If the predicted weight at 7 male/12 female,
  including the 2 variance, falls between two
  weight classes, the higher weight class shall be
  the wrestlers minimum weight class.
•  For any male or female wrestler whose body fat
  percentage at the time of measurement is at or
  below 7 male/12 female, their minimum weight
  class will be determined by their alpha weight
  (weight at the time of assessment), including the
  2 variance.

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Descent Calendar - 1.5 per week

• There will be monitored weight loss on the
  descent.A maximum weight loss of 1.5 of a
  wrestlers alpha body weight per week has been
  established.
• Example Alpha weight 150 pounds
• 1.5 of 150 pounds 2.25 pounds
• Maximum allowed weight loss per week 2.25
  pounds
• A wrestler who loses more than 1.5 of their
  alpha body weight in a week is ineligible to
  compete in the weight class to which they are
  descending.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• Appeals
• A school may appeal the results of the body fat
  assessment one time per wrestler.
•  
• The appeal must be submitted to the UIL Office
  within seven (7) calendar days of the student
  appearing on the school Alpha Master Report.
  Schools may not wrestle the wrestler that is
  appealing below the minimum weight class based on
  the initial assessment until the results of the
  appeal are determined.
• Any appeal assessment must be conducted within 17
  days of the initial assessment being conducted.
  The coach or wrestler must present the UIL
  acknowledgement of appeal to the certified
  assessor performing the appeal before any appeal
  assessment can be conducted.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• Appeals
• If a wrestlers body fat assessment results are
  being appealed, the wrestler may wrestle in any
  interscholastic competition based on the
  preliminary assessment until the appeal results
  are determined.
• A maximum weight loss of 1.5 of a wrestlers
  alpha body weight per week has been established,
  and will be enforced between the initial
  assessment and any appeal assessment.
• Any costs associated with the appeal are to be
  paid by the school or the wrestler depending on
  the policy of the local school district.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• Appeals
• The wrestler and/or school have the following
  options for an appeal of the results of the body
  fat assessment and determination of Minimum
  Weight Class for competition
• Have another skin fold test conducted by
  contacting a local representative to schedule
  another assessment
•   or
• Be re-assessed in another manner (e.g.
  hydrostatic weighing) at an approved Test Center
  in the State of Texas. The school must contact
  the UIL in writing to request this option and UIL
  will assign the test center and set up the
  assessment. Once determined, the school will be
  notified of the location, time and cost of the
  assessment.

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Minimum Weight Certification

• Appeals
• The wrestler and school must accept the results
  of the second assessment.
• The results of the appeal/second assessment will
  be forwarded to the UIL Office by the person that
  is conducting that assessment and UIL will notify
  the school of the result.
•  No other appeals will be considered.

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Questions and CommentsContact Cliff
Odenwald512-471-5883 (phone)codenwald_at_austin.ute
xas.edu