1998, the NCAA instituted significant rules and policy changes in the sport of wrestling.

The guiding principles for the rules modifications and establishment of a weight certification program were: (1) elimination of all weight-control practices that could potentially risk the health of the participants; (2) focus on competition, not weight control; and (3) recommendations that should be practical, effective and enforceable.

The modifications addressed competitive equity (fairness) and safety.

Because weight is the competitive-equity variable in the sport, the following policies were developed to ensure that individuals compete against opponents of similar weights: (a) establish weigh-ins as close to match times as practicable (one hour in duals; two hours on the first day of the tournament; one hour on subsequent days); (b) randomize competition weight-class order so that no one weight class has more time to rehydrate; and (c) establish weigh-ins for each day of multiple-day tournaments.

Other policies were developed to address health and safety issues, with a foundation based on established medical literature. Those policies included: (a) establishment of weight classes that better reflect the natural weight of the collegiate athletics population; (b) establishment of a minimum weight class for each individual using body composition; (c) providing a time window to modify weight before the season in a controlled monitored manner; (d) maintaining selected weight class throughout the season (minimize emphasis on monitoring weight and focus on competition); (e) eliminating the tools that can be used to accomplish rapid dehydration; (f) making hydration a part of the certification assessment (water has weight and should be accounted for in any weight certification); and (g) requiring CPR and first
aid for all wrestling coaches.

Over the past few years, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has begun concentrated educational efforts in this area. Currently, by rule, all state high-school associations must have a weight certification program for wrestling. By 2004, these programs should include body composition testing and hydration assessment.

This collaboration between the NFHS and NCAA should create a consistent healthy process that positively affects student-athletes during their high school and collegiate careers.

The accompanying letters from two 2000 U.S. Olympic coaches provide a perspective on the effectiveness of weight certification programs on high-school and collegiate wrestling programs.

Jerry L. Diehl is the high-school wrestling liaison for the National Federation of State High School Associations.