The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- September 28, 1998

Association wide -- Weight certification policies mailed

Another crucial step in the NCAA Wrestling Weight Certification Program has taken place with the distribution of material from the NCAA Wrestling Committee and the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to head coaches in all three divisions.

The packet of information includes instructions on the program, certification forms that must be filed on each wrestler verifying his minimum wrestling weight and designated weight class for the season, and resources concerning nutrition education.

As with most new programs, many questions are being asked by coaches and sports medicine personnel. The two committees have set up a support network for technical questions regarding body composition measurements associated with the weight-certification program.

Inquiries of a technical nature are to be directed to Bernie DePalma, head athletic trainer at Cornell University and a member of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, or John Faulstick, head athletic trainer at Kent State University. DePalma can be reached at 607/255-4237 and Faulstick at 330/672-2786.

Among the educational items included in the material sent to head coaches was "Taking it to the Mat: The Wrestler's Guide to Optimal Performance." This piece, prepared for the NCAA by the Center for Nutrition in Sport and Human Performance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, includes tips for achieving adequate hydration and sample training diets.

The committees also are asking for the support of member institutions regarding the collection of research data during the upcoming season. A formalized research effort that will study body-composition changes over a season on selected teams, among other issues, will be conducted at dual meets, tournaments, and the NCAA championships in all three divisions.

Research collected in field work, along with data resulting from laboratory studies, will be analyzed and shared with the committees and the wrestling community.

Comments and suggestions regarding the first year of the NCAA Wrestling Weight Certification Program should be sent in writing to Scott Deitch at the NCAA national office.