Greetings,
Please excuse the length of this post.
My name is Greg Mann and I am the supt. of schools in Norton, KS and also a member of the KSHSAA committee working on the development of the new weight control plan.
First of all, let me say that ANY system which is devised (current one included) will (does) have gaps and problems which those who are prone to bending rules will exploit. This is sad, but there are those who look for competitive advantages in the darkest corners of human endeavors.
Without a lot of time spent on the whys and wherefores of the plan, let me just sum it up with one word--LIABILITY. Basically, why would Kansas not do as much to safegaurd the health of its athletes as do other states? Why would Kansas not follow the most recent and current medical advice that is available? The issue of not being a voting member of the National Federation due to not being in compliance with all Federation rules is really, in my mind, besides the point and not germaine to this issue. As you know Kansas is currently not in compliance due to our weigh-in procedures and currently not voting members of the Fed. (I personally believe the way we do it is the best for kids and am willing to "remain on the outside looking in." )
The Kansas pilot plan has two of the National Federation components; the third component, a escent plan, appears to me to be a nightmare to monitor and enforce. As I understand it from the medical members of our committee, the 1.5% optimum weight loss per week is based on studies done with people who are "civilians" and not athletes who are working their butts off 5-6 days per week in both aerobic and anerobic exercise. Whether or not to include the third component is something that will have to looked at very closely this coming fall.
Keep in mind that in 2005-06 it is planned to pilot the proposed Kansas plan only and to collect data. Schools that have agreed to pilot will still follow current Kansas regulations; that is, the only sanctions they would receive would be due to failure of not following whatever is in the current KSHSAA handbook.
Hydration:
During standard calendar weeks #17, 18 & 19 the athletes of the pilot schools will be hydrate tested at the time of their alpha weight. Notice that pilot schools will be allowed to determine the alpha weight of their wrestlers BEFORE the season officially starts. (those who come out late? The committee will take up this issue in the fall). The pilot schools will also hydrate test their wrestlers at the time of their certification.
How will the hydration be measured? The use of a color chart will/can be used as a rough screen. If an athletes urine is obviously within the safe range of color, that is good enough. If it is too close for the person doing the determination a "dip stick" will be necessary. The charts will be provided free of charge by the KSHSAA and dip sticks cost about 50 cents each; these measure the specific gravity of the urine.
Refractometers would also be allowed, if schools would want to go to the expense of purchasing them or acdess them elsewhere.
Fat Testing
7% (males) and 12% (females) wll be the optimum measure used for determining optimum wrestling weight.
Whether or not a waiver system will be utilized will have to be discussed further. The athlete whose hydration is OK but has less than 7% body fat should oviously have grounds for a waiver. What about the wrestler whose optimum weight places him between two weight classes? This could perhaps be grounds for a waiever.
Fat testing will take place only once, at the time of the alpha weighin. The two most practical and least inexpensive methods are the use skin calipers or tanita scales. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The tanita has the advantage of being very quick--the disadvantage is that they are somewhat expensive ($1400-$1500). They utilize bioelectrical impedencance to ascertain the amount of fat.
Calipers have the advantage of being inexpensive, but take much longer that the scales if done correctly, are prone to operatior error, and should be done by someone who has training and experience in their use due to the two disadvantages cited above.
The issue of scales vs. calipers in their accuracy and use is no different than some schools still using spring and others digitals in their weighins.
At this point in time it is the intent of the KSHSAA to allow local districts to determine what personnel to use and how to format the measuring of both hydration and fat.
What if the rule was Pilot plan was "real?" Schools will have the three week window before the start of practice to hydrate and fat test. Hydration would determine if a student could be fat tested. If the hydration is too low, no fat test allowed and no alpha weight determined. After an appropriate wait (yet to be determined) the athlete could hydrate test again and if passed, be fat tested and alpha weight taken. No wrestler would be allowed to certify unless they could pass the hydration test first.
The March Issue of the KSHSAA Journal contains an article (pages 15-16) about the work of the committee up to that point and a photo and listing of the members of the committee.
BTW--the rules are being discussed only in relation to highschool wrestling.
Greg Mann; supt211@ruraltel.net
