The NCAA News - News and Features
The NCAA News -- April 26, 1999
Wrestling Committee adjusts weight certification program
Modifications to the NCAA Weight Certification Program were agreed upon during a recent meeting of the NCAA Wrestling Committee and members of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.
The joint session, held in conjunction with the wrestling committee's annual meeting April 5-9 in San Diego, was scheduled as a review of the first year of the weight certification program.
Both groups viewed the program as a success in curbing dehydration and rapid weight loss among wrestlers.
Another component well received by those involved was the establishment of wrestlers' minimum wrestling weights early in the season.
The wrestling committee did express its concern, however, regarding the number of forfeits in the sport and the lack of flexibility coaches have under the current rules if a weight class is vacant as a result of a season-ending injury or other situation.
In many cases last season, wrestlers weighed in at a higher weight class in order to fill a temporary vacancy in the lineup but, because of the rules implemented for the 1998-99 season, were then required to remain at the higher class.
The two committees agreed to an appeals procedure and strict criteria that must be met in order for wrestlers to return to their lowest certified weight after weighing in at a higher class.
Wrestlers will have had to have competed at least once at their lowest certified weight class before moving up in the lineup.
Also, schools will have to provide documentation explaining that a season-long vacancy exists at a weight class below the one to which the wrestler moved. If the appeal is granted, a wrestler returning to a lower weight class must lose no more than 1.5 percent of his actual body weight per week and pass a specific-gravity test to prove adequate hydration before competing at the lower class.
All such appeals will have to be filed by February 1. A wrestler will be permitted to drop just one weight class from the highest one in which he wrestled and will be allowed to do so just once during the season. At no point will a wrestler be able to participate below his previously established minimum wrestling weight.
Other program changes
The dates during which Sections I and II of the weight certification program may take place also were adjusted. Section I, in which a wrestler's body composition and minimum wrestling weight are determined, can occur no sooner than an institution's first official day of classes in the fall semester. The only exception to this rule is for wrestlers also competing in a fall sport, who may have the necessary tests performed as part of their preseason physical examination and a postseason follow-up with the institution's sports medicine staff.
In 1998-99, the timetable for Section I was October 1-7. Those dates proved difficult for fall sports athletes wishing to compete in wrestling, as well as institutions that did not start their practice schedules by that time.
The new rule will better accommodate both groups and will provide a longer time frame for gradual weight descent for those wrestlers who complete Section I testing early in the fall semester.
The new deadline for completing Section II of the weight certification program will be December 17. During Section II, a wrestler's permanent lowest weight class for the season is established and a second body composition analysis is strongly encouraged.
Last season, Section II was conducted December 1-7. Testing during that week was not feasible for wrestlers still involved in fall sports postseason competition.
It also did not allow wrestlers injured during preseason workouts sufficient time to recover and complete their gradual weight descent before having to certify.
The wrestling committee also voted to extend the weight certification rules to all wrestlers on institutions' squad lists who compete unattached in open competition.
This decision was made to ensure that student-athletes originally planning to spend a season in redshirt status are in compliance with the rules should they decide to compete for their schools later in the season.
Division I actions
The Division I subcommittee took the following actions:
Reviewed a proposal submitted by the Big Ten Conference to adjust the championship dates four weeks later. The committee believes that a change in playing season for Division I institutions would be detrimental to the sport. Therefore, all three subcommittees will ask for permission from their respective championships governance groups to survey the membership regarding starting the wrestling season four weeks later. The committee emphasized that all three divisions would have to support this change. A task force was created with representatives from each division to ensure a timely collection of information.
Reviewed details for the 2000 championships and concluded that the weigh-ins will be conducted in a private, secured area away from the workout mats. The committee also identified the 20 officials for the 1999-00 championships based upon recommendations from the Division I conferences, regional qualifiers and the Divisions II and III championships.
Discussed the 2000 automatic-qualifying conferences and regional alignments, and tabled further discussions until the five former members of the Western Athletic Conference notify the committee of their affiliations for the 1999-00 academic year. The committee took no further action on the East Regional qualifying tournament hosted by Marquette University.
Division II actions
The Division II subcommittee took the following actions:
Chose to keep the current regional alignment intact, pending the completion of the sports sponsorship list in mid-September.
Recommended that the following institutions host regional competition in 2000: East Regional -- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; South Regional -- Gardner-Webb University; Midwest Regional -- University of Wisconsin, Parkside; West Regional -- University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Recommended that the University of Northern Colorado serve as host institution for the 2001 championships.
Recommended that an official scorer be named for future championships and be compensated as part of the approved games expenses.
Division III actions
The Division III subcommittee took the following actions:
Decided to address future regional and national championship sites and officiating in a May conference call.
Discussed ways to better serve the student-athlete at the NCAA championships and will continue to look for ways to enhance the experience at the championships.
Voted to fine tournament directors $100 if the season-record form for qualifiers from their region does not have both the administrator's and coach's signature on the form.
Voted to re-elect Don Tencher, Rhode Island College, as chair of the Division III subcommittee.
Other highlights
Wrestling Committee
April 5-9/San Diego
Recommended Robert Bubb, former coach at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, for reappointment as secretary-rules editor.
Voted to designate the 125-pound weight class as an odd-numbered bout, the 133-pound class as an even-numbered bout, etc., for dual meets for the purposes of choice of options and determining which team's wrestler must appear on the mat first, regardless of the result of the random draw.
Recommended that wrestlers wear shorts or briefs during weigh-ins. Wrestlers would be permitted to remove the shorts/briefs in order to meet the weight-class requirements, if necessary.
Approved that weigh-ins shall be conducted in a private, secured area and be limited to the contestants, coaches of the contestants, required medical personnel, the person supervising the weigh-in and those deemed necessary by dual-meet management or tournament committee.
Voted that the three times a wrestler could step on a scale during a dual-meet weigh-in and on each available scale during a tournament weigh-in need not be done in succession.
Made the use of tobacco products by student-athletes, coaches or other team personnel during an event a flagrant misconduct violation.
Voted to give the noninjured wrestler his choice of the top, bottom or neutral position after his opponent takes his second injury timeout of a match.
Revised the Season Record Form to better reflect the weight certification rules. Agreed that forms that are filled out incorrectly, illegibly or reproduced without the proper information will be assessed a fine of $50 per form or a maximum of $300 per institution to be paid at the national championships site.
Emphasized that taking an injury timeout for a noninjury situation is unethical. Approved that if a wrestler indicates an injury for the purpose of avoiding wrestling or to escape a legally executed hold and the referee stops the match, an injury timeout shall be awarded.
Directed the national officiating coordinator to review the role of the assistant referee and the aspect of allowing legal holds to continue during the 1999 rules video and satellite clinic.
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