On the form attached there is a ”form expiration date”. This line item was not on the previous year’s paperwork. I think that it may have been added to accommodate your situation. As a tournament director, I have two important notes I’d like to add to this issue. One, I would not accept a form expiration date from a doctor for any skin related “contagious” condition that was more than a week older than the diagnosis and treatment of said condition. Secondly, a “birthmark” would need to be documented by description and location on the body or I may find the validity of the form suspect and any skin condition that is not deemed to be contagious but cannot be fully documented by both description and location on the body would need a release that is “currant”. In the past, I believe “currant” was defined as less than one week old. I am not a doctor and most tournament directors aren’t either; all we can do is interpret the docs diagnosis and treatment listed on the form provided. But we can judge the form to be incomplete or inconsistent. Please help your doc out by asking him to take the time to fill out and document your individual situation in detail.
I know that this issue is an inconvenience for some. But the rules in this case were put into place for the greater good of our sport. The close body-on-body contact of this sport requires us to take the necessary precautions to protect the greater group even though some may find it inconvenient for the individual. No tournament director wants to be put in the situation of telling a parent/child that they cannot participate. I am not suggesting that a birthmark or other non-contagious skin condition should prevent you from wrestling; just help ensure the validity of the system that is in place and "if in doubt, check it out"!
Last edited by Mark J Stanley; 01/30/08 10:07 AM.
