Originally posted by Gibby:
Coach twink,
I hope that they are more vigilant in adopting something other than the pilot program. It would make more sense as a protection of litigation.
Gibby,
What would you suggest for the KSHSAA to adopt? As I see it this system makes sure that kids aren't cutting before the season so they can get within 10% of the weight they want to cut additional weight. The hydration test makes sure that the athlete hydrated when they weigh in the first time. This is a new safegaurd in place.
The body fat test ensures that athletes are not cutting weight they don't have to lose. In order to live 3-4% body fat is required (this fat composes the cell membranes and the fatty linings of the nerve cells called myelin sheaths (spelling?). 7% seems a reasonable number, and is the medical consensus. Many people may say they know someone with a body fat as low as the 3-4% required for life, or even lower. This is due to inaccuracy of the measurement techniques. Even the "Gold Standard" of fat testing, under water weighing, has a measurement error of around 3-4% (that number may not be exactly correct since it has been a few years since the Biophysical Foundations of Sports class we discussed this issue in). As all other measurement methods are based on the underwater weighing technique, the error inherrent in them increases. The 7% body fat is additional safegaurd #2.
Additional safegaurd #3: hydration testing for certification. This helps ensure the athletes can safely hold the weight they are wrestling.
I have just listed 3 safegaurds the KSHSAA is implementing to protect our athletes all of which will come at a minimum of a head ache for coaches, and will still allow wrestlers flexibility as opposed to the descent plan outlined by the NFHS.
What would you add to this, how would you implement it, and would it be more burdensome than it is worth to implement?
