Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion Kids Folkstyle 2025-2026 Bylaw Proposals Review Prop 6: Limited Coaches Bands, State Officials

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Reminders:

• Proposal here is in it's original form as it was submitted. On this submittal each numbered item represents a separate proposal and vote
• Executive Board - Voted the following way:
  1. Null
  2. 0 Yes, 8 No, 3 Abstain - Board No
• 2/3rds State Body Vote is required for passage for those items voted no by board. 50% + 1 majority vote by State Body for those voted yes.

Note: On proposal #1, the board determined that this is not within the purview of the board or the body to vote on as the State tournament operation is controlled by the State Tournament Committee. It is this committee that makes a great many decisions on how the tournament is run and the logistics behind it. The committee operates within the framework of the bylaws already existing and to restrict them in such a way would have very serious negative effects on the way the tournament(s) are run. Further it was suggested the proposal was phrased in such a way as a suggestion more than an actual proposal, thus the committee will be more than willing to take input from the body as it ramps up decision making on said tournament. They would also like to point out that the selling of bands at the past seasons tournament was not done to lesson traffic, it was done to partially make up the tournament budget shortfall which was the result of competitor entry fees set to 0 in that year, itself done as a gesture of goodwill towards the competitors families.

On proposal #2, Officials Director William Isom spoke at some length of the history and context around how officials have been selected for the State tournament. He pointed out that districts selecting officials for the State tournament has never been a bylaw within USAWKS. Many years ago it was the way that it typically happened, however that has not been the case for at least 10 years at this point. He noted that the old way of selection every year resulted in numerous issues such as officials being selected who were not consistently meeting the standards expected at a tournament of this magnitude. It also locked out many of the younger officials who were becoming excellent officials but did not have the name or facial recognition of those who had been around for 10,15+ years (essentially the good ole boy) system that most say they despise.

When USAWKS begun it's current system of letting the Officials Director (3 different individuals to this point) dictate these selections, the quality, consistency, and satisfaction with officials at the tournament increased dramatically and that continues to this day. Finally he noted that each District already has a fairly large amount of say in whom they want to see at this tournament from their district already. Each of the 3 or 4 District Head Officials is automatically selected, each of the 4 District Official of the Year choices is generally automatically selected, So that is 2 spots for each district right off the bat. The current Officials Director plus the 2 predecessors each solicit(ed) recommendations from each of the 4 District directors directly, and while that individual isn't required to select those recommendations, there has always been serious weight given to those. So in effect, what was proposed in this proposal is mostly already being done. He believes that this position should continue to have the latitude and freedom to make these selections which will almost always result in an excellent crew worthy of this tournament, both now and in the future.