Dear Members of the Kansas USA Board of Directors,
I am writing to formally propose an amendment to the USA Wrestling-Kansas Bylaws regarding age division eligibility. Under the current bylaws, wrestlers are generally required to compete within their designated age division, with an exception allowing overweight wrestlers to move up one age bracket. However, there is no provision allowing significantly underweight wrestlers to compete in a lower age division.
I respectfully request that the committee consider amending the bylaws to allow wrestlers who are well below the minimum weight for their age division to move down one age group. The following reasons support this proposed change:
- 1. Safety Concerns
o Wrestling significantly larger opponents increases the risk of injury due to differences in strength, muscle development, and force of impact.
o A wrestler who is well below the lightest weight class in their division may be at a severe physical disadvantage, affecting their ability to compete safely. - 2. Competitive Fairness
o Wrestling opponents who are substantially heavier creates an unbalanced match, potentially discouraging young athletes from continuing in the sport.
o Allowing an underweight wrestler to compete in a lower age division would provide them with appropriately sized opponents, promoting skill development rather than survival. - 3. Lack of competition in Lighter Weight Classes
o Due to the limited number of participants in lighter weight classes, it is common for tournament organizers to combine multiple weight classes within an age division to create brackets.
o This practice further widens the weight gap, forcing already underweight wrestlers to face even larger opponents, exacerbating the competitive and safety concerns.
o Allowing a significantly underweight wrestler to move down an age group would increase competitive opportunities while ensuring fairer and safer matchups. - 4. Maintaining Competitive Balance
o Wrestling is a unique spo1i where size and strength do not always determine success. Technique, endurance, and mental toughness are equally, if not more, important.
o Kansas and USA Wrestling have done an exceptional job ensuring that the sport remains inclusive, providing fair opp01iunities for much larger athletes, those with special needs, and athletes of diverse gender identities.
o A significantly smaller athlete should also have the opportunity to compete on an even scale, rather than being placed at a disadvantage due to their size. - 5. Aging Down Should Not Create an Unfair Advantage
o A wrestler who is too small to meet the minimum weight for their designated age division would likely fall into a lower to middle weight class if allowed to move down.
o These weight classes are among the most competitive, meaning the athlete would still face skilled opponents of a similar size and ability level.
o Given the depth of competition in these weight classes, an underweight wrestler would not gain an unfair advantage, but rather a fairer and safer opportunity to compete.
I believe this proposed amendment aligns with the fundamental principles of fairness, safety, and inclusivity in youth wrestling. I appreciate your time and consideration of this matter and would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further with the committee.
Thank you for your dedication to the sport and for your commitment to fostering a safe and competitive environment for all young wrestlers.
Thank you for your time,
Bruce Jones
Lion Elite
