The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee upgraded its recommended wrestling weight certification policies to mandated rules in April 2005. The PIAA instituted a state-wide wrestling weight control program as of July 1, 2006. Weight certification may only be performed by state trained and certified assessors. Each of Guthrie Sports Medicine's certified athletic trainers are also certified weight assessors. There are four basic components to the new rules. They are as follows:

1) A lowest-allowable weight class for each wrestler has been established, with a minimum 7% body fat for boys and 12% for girls.

2) A hydration test with a specific gravity of urine being equal to or less than 1.025 has been added.

3) A safe weight loss descent plan has been established. A wrestler may not lose more than 1.5% of his body weight per week.

4) An education plan specific to nutrition and weight management for all wrestlers has been added.

The timeframe for completing the weight certification process runs from October 2, 2006 to November 14th, 2006. All wrestlers must be certified by November 14th or they cannot begin practice.

In addition to the routine paperwork filled out by the weight assessor, a separate form (called Section 7) is filled out for each student by the assessor and signed by a physician. This is needed in addition to the routine sports medicine physical conducted by the physician.

We wish you all the best of luck on the road to Hershey!

INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO NEW YORK STATE

In New York State, regional testing sites have been set up for the weight certification process in Bainbridge, Binghamton and Ithaca. Wrestling weight certifications will not be accepted unless they are completed at one the designated testing centers.

NATIONAL INFORMATION