Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion Kids Folkstyle All -American - Trading Singlets

This was posted yesterday on Themat.com

* All American Wrestling is not against the trading of singlets and other wrestling equipment.

* USA Wrestling sets the policy concerning the trading of singlets and equipment, not All-American Wrestling.

* Certain venues require a seller’s permit for all vendors at the event. If an arena enforces its policy, All American Wrestling has no control over that.

* All American Wrestling is willing to do anything to better the wrestling community. We welcome any suggestions to better our service to our customers.

We hope this clarifies the recent mis-understandings that have surrounded the issue of singlet and uniform trading.

Should you have any further questions, please do not to hesitate to contact: Mark A. Scott, USA Wrestling Director of State Services at 719-598-8181

And the responses to that, and multiple other mixed messages has already been abundant on the mat. In many ways the response has made people even more upset. This is a decision that USA Wrestling, AAW, or The Fargo Dome, all depending on who you talk to and at what time of day, has made that has backfired tremendously on them. Again, check out the national forums on this issue at one of the following links. I would encourage people to keep up the pressure. Links are as follows.

A USA Wrestling Article that Promoted the Trading of Singlets, What was good last year and all of the other previous years, including the benefits of it has all of a sudden become wrong: http://www.themat.com/pressbox/pressdetail.asp?aid=8030

Youth Forum that started the debate and controversy: http://www.thematforums.com/myforum/index.php?show_topic=4931&forum_id=6&pagenum=1

High School Forum Debate where the controversy has taken off. http://www.thematforums.com/myforum/index.php?show_topic=5034&forum_id=4

I have already written my letters of complaint to USA Wrestling, All American Wrestling, and The Fargo Dome. This is not just about selling of the singlets, someone asked about a compromise. I am fine with that, allow the kids to trade on site, and sell off site if they choose. I will admit, I have no problem with a kid who wants to buy, and/or sell a singlet. These are high school kids largely at this tournament and I believe, as has been proven in the numerous posts on The Mat, that the sales of singlets actually help the vendor. I'll leave it at that for now.

Sadly, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Furches fail to mention the reason(s) for the recent ban on this harmless past practice.

The rest of the article Chief Renegade failed to copy is pasted below along with the link:

USA Wrestling statement regarding Singlet Trading!

USA Wrestling statement regarding Singlet Trading
7/7/2005
USA Wrestling/

USA Wrestling encourages youth wrestlers to form friendships and to share their experiences with their peers as they compete in USA Wrestling National and Regional Championships. For many years, as part of building friendships, wrestlers have traded singlets and uniforms. These uniforms and singlets have become more unique, colorful and representative of the various states that the athletes represent at USA Wrestling’s Regional and National Championships.

Unfortunately, over the years, an element has emerged that has caused some concern for the operators of the event sites and for USA Wrestling. Often, USA Wrestling receives reports of items being stolen or of property being damaged due to the high volume of trading that takes place. More recently, the act of simply trading has escalated to the buying and selling of items, at sometimes very inflated prices.

It is this buying and selling activity that USA Wrestling is vehemently opposed to and will not tolerate. In addition, USA Wrestling must now address concerns and complaints from athletes and coaches about wrestlers stealing money and articles of clothing. These incidents are infrequent but they greatly affect the individuals that fall victim to these crimes.

Due to these unfortunate incidents, USA Wrestling has been directed by many venue operators that they cannot allow these trading activities. They are not willing to be responsible for the possible liability that may occur. In particular, this is the case with the FargoDome at the Junior and Cadet National Championships.

The procedures established for the FargoDome do not affect the trading of singlets and uniforms at other sites away from the FargoDome. It has always been USA Wrestling policy that the buying and selling of singlets is not allowed, and USA Wrestling will continue to take measures to insure such actions do not occur.

USA Wrestling is aware that its merchandiser, All American Sports, LLC, has taken unnecessary criticism for the recent policy changes by USA Wrestling in regards to trading. It should be made very clear and communicated that All American Sports, LLC stands by the following statements:

* All American Wrestling is not against the trading of singlets and other wrestling equipment.

* USA Wrestling sets the policy concerning the trading of singlets and equipment, not All-American Wrestling.

* Certain venues require a seller’s permit for all vendors at the event. If an arena enforces its policy, All American Wrestling has no control over that.

* All American Wrestling is willing to do anything to better the wrestling community. We welcome any suggestions to better our service to our customers.

We hope this clarifies the recent mis-understandings that have surrounded the issue of singlet and uniform trading.

Should you have any further questions, please do not to hesitate to contact: Mark A. Scott, USA Wrestling Director of State Services at 719-598-8181.

This reasoning is about the 3rd story that was told and it's a convienent cover up. My son will turn 11 this week and has traded and bought/sold for about 3 years at the national tournaments. He has never had an issue nor have I seen one. USA is hiding behind the whole "we are looking out for the kids angle". It's simply not a problem. Even more so when you are talking about HS kids at Fargo.

It's just a bunch or crap. I will say this however. I will bet that policy does not survive to see the end of tournament at Fargo. It will either be ignored or run over. Just my opinion, but I'll put my money on the creativity of those kids. I guess we will see.

SlamBam

Richard,

I did not intend to leave out the first part of the statement. I actually skipped down when I read it, to the statements that they chose to summarize their position. So, it wasn't intentionally "sad". Thanks for catching it.

Eric Johnson

Neither will change. The kids will trade & sell and some will do so at inflated prices. And there will be theives! Kids caught in the bathroom with a whole bundle of singlets. If memory serves me, last year at greely one of our cadets pointed out a boy that got into Florida's gear ?? and was rewarded for helping them get their gear back. I may have commented already on a tournament we went to in Cattoosa and one of our kids had a prized singlet stolen and the character was wearing it at the tournament. An argument and quit a controversy but our boy didn't get his singlet back. Sadly the incident in Ok the parents supported the thief. The parents and kid both should've been shot or at least ran out of the tournament. For those to say they've never heard of a problem ? I don't understand how you've missed it.
Personaly I think it's pretty neat trading and meeting kids from across the states and a lot of upstanding young men will still be doing so. Maybe in the corners or maybe in the motels but they will be trading singlets and stories. Write your letters of protest but I won't. The truth is some kids will steal so they can get in the game and trade. Sad thing is some parents will steal for their kid or cover for them which is just as bad. USAW nor anybody else is not going to say we know this is going on and approve. Hey we'll give you a corner to trade in. They've tried that. Thanks, maybe see ya there, Dan

Noblet, you are speaking of different problems than I was. I was talking about big kids bullying little kids as USA was stating. I have not seen that. You are speaking of kids flat out stealing from other kids, and this really has nothing to do with trading. Unfortunately, stealing goes on with or without singlet trading.

My point is the "theives" will continue to steal regardless of open trading forums. The good kids (which are the vast majority) are the only ones affected. I agree with you on many points but just wanted to clarify.

FYI-Good luck to Matt in Fargo!!!

BadBo

Positively agree with the vast majority. Thanks for wishing Matt good luck, he will need it. I'm pretty excited about next week but not looking forward to the drive. Dan