Kyle,

I should have prefaced the issue with Junior High wrestling by stating these wrestlers are kids that have been involved with wrestling for quite some time.

I don't think anyone will dispute the facts that for the most part, junior high wrestling is a hinderance to those that have been involved with wrestling for quite some time. I too was introduced to wrestling in junior high, which spurred me into kids. At the time however, I wasn't that good and doing the "federation" route wouldn't have been the best for me. For those that have asked, I don't blatantly call out federation over kids, but sit with the parents and discuss it.

On towards the issue of giving rides. You do give a sound resolution - at the same time, that resolution holds little water in court. Check the court case involving the death of two girls and severe injury to another that had permission slips for the girls to ride with someone on the team to softball practice, held at another facility. The case is a little fuzzy, it's been a while, but I believe the premise was that if the students were traveling to a school sponsored activity (practice), it was the responsibility of the school to provide transportation. I believe it was settled out of court. The case was with a KC school district.

This case was a major concern with me while teaching in the Wichita school district. The wrestling team was not given a school bus for competition. For close competition, the students were to either drive themselves or with their parents. This drove me nuts, and was one of the reasons I left. Kids "carpool" to the events and that in itself was a no-no. Seeing the huge liability placed upon my shoulders concerning actions I had limited control over, I left.

A piece of paper, though signed, is really nothing more than a piece of paper. It may excuse you from liability, but rest assured, a crafty lawyer can work around it.

Richard:

I find it intriguing that you bring up STUCO and Kay as life skill answers - two organizations that traditionally take the cream of the crop and make them better.

I should have prefaced my post by stating something along the lines of taking the average/below average kid and making them better. Many of the sports do not have "cuts." Wrestling and football are examples. I understand the needs for cuts, not enough gym space or spots. Which furthers my point.

I also wouldn't be inclined to use Music as an example of something that affords kids the opportunity to gain a scholarship - at least not in what is deemed the traditional model of athletics. I would be completely happy if athletics were held to their standards. If they were, the following changes would occur.

1. A class on thier sport. We would be just like Oklahoma and Texas in that regard.

2. No distance restrictions for tourney travel. When I was in high school, the music department went to the Orange Bowl to play. How great would a wrestling trip to Florida be?!

3. (From an athlete perspective), missed class time to help raise money for the wrestling team. Several high schools do "singing telegrams" on Valentine's Day as a fundraiser.

4. More time with my family. Then again, my wife may feel differently. But if I were able to hold practice during "class", I'd get to see my wife and baby more. Let's be honest, I'd probably stay at school drawing up defensive schemes instead of going home.

But back to the initial post, which was frustration over the inability to support Tyler by the wrestling family. For the most part, I understand the intent of the rules, I just don't agree with the rigidness of the application.