Ask The Assessor
Weight Assessment Questions
Sandy Kim Master Assessor
CIF
Why take advantage of early assessment?
There can be several reasons to do the assessment early. One can be as simple as convience. Others can range form having a wrestler who has goals to wrestle in early tournamnets and needs to the extra time to get to his desired weight. CIF rules allow a male wrestler to wrestle with a minimum of 7% body fat. They also only allow a wrestler to lose only 1.5% of their total assessed weight weekly. That is done to protect the wrestler from crash dieting and to encourage safe healthly weight loss. This formula and the varibles it uses means that the earlier the wrestler assesses the earlier he will be allowed to wrestle at a lower weight. Eligible dates are calculated for coaches by the NCWA via an Alpha Sheet that tracks the dates a wrestler is eligible to compete at the lower weight.
What are the dates for Assessing?
October 15th is the first date and Janurary 15th is the last. There are circumstances a wrestler can be assessed after January 15th. I recommend you check with your League and Section to find out the exact circumstances and if your wrestler meets the exceptions.
What is the average for Body Fat %?
This Chart is a good guide.
Why did they start this program?
I believe Mike Moyer from the National Wrestling Coaches Association summed it up best: Other questions or to schedule team assessment feel free to call me at Sandy Kim (415) 457-1103
Tips on passing the HYDRATION Test
The Hydration Test is a popular conversation in the wrestling room, this is some information gathered and hopefully you will read and apply it during your weight control effort.
The purpose of the hydration test is to help assure that each wrestler’s weight taken at the time of
measurements are an accurate so that weight from which a minimum weight can be established. Below are some guidelines that can help you prepare for the hydration test and staying hydrated means more than passing the hydration test. It is an important step in making sure you perform your best in the sport of wrestling.
Our bodies are 60 to 65% water by weight. Water is second only to air in its importance to our survival.
. Dehydration compromises muscular endurance and strength. The key to staying hydrated is to drink plenty of non-caffeinated beverages throughout the day, and to replace fluid loss incurred while working out. On a daily basis, this will help you feel stronger and last longer at practice and matches. It will help you pass the hydration test before your measurements are taken.
PASSING THE WRESTLING HYDRATION ASSESSMENT
Following these tips will give the most favorable body composition assessment results and help wrestlers pass the hydration assessment.
Two days before hydration and body composition assessment:
DRINK AT LEAST 8-10, 8-OUNCE GLASSES OF FLUIDS DURING THE
DAY. (Remember, water has no calories.)
• Drink an additional 16-24 ounces of water for each pound you may have lost that day during a sport practice.
• Avoid drinks containing caffeine, such as iced tea, caffeinated pop, & coffee.
• Increase the intake of high fiber foods to help eliminate excess waste from
The body. (Grain breads, muffins & cereals, fruits, salad, vegetables)
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
• AVOID foods high in fat. (Fried foods, fatty meats, fries, pizza, nuts,
Regular salad dressings)
• AVOID salty foods. (Potato chips, pretzels, pizza, tuna, crackers, soft drinks,
Sports drinks)
• Discontinue the use of vitamins, and other supplements, unless prescribed by your doctor, as they may cause the urine to be darker than normal.
One day before hydration and body composition assessment:
• CONTINUE DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER. You should be urinating
Several times during the day and your urine should be clear, if you are fully
Hydrated.
• Continue to avoid vitamins, and other supplements, unless prescribed by
your doctor.
• Drink an additional 16-24 ounces of water for each pound you may have lost
that day during a sport practice.
• Avoid drinks containing caffeine, such as iced tea, caffeinated pop, & coffee.
• Avoid eating foods high in chocolate.
• Continue eating smaller meals, more frequently meals.
• Continue to eat foods high in fiber.
• CONTINUE TO AVOID FOODS HIGH IN FAT AND SALT!
The day of hydration and body composition assessment:
If it is an early morning assessment:
• DO NOT EXERCISE BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT!
• DRINK A GLASS OF WATER WHEN YOU FIRST GET OUT OF BED.
• Do NOT urinate until you get the test site and so you can provide urine
Sample.
• Do NOT eat until after the assessment.
Late morning, or afternoon, assessment:
• DO NOT EXERCISE BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT!
• CONTINUE TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
• Urinate several times during the day until 1-2 hours before the assessment.
• Eat small portions and eat lighter foods. (Fruits, cereals, juices)
• DO NOT EAT fatty or salty foods.
• DO NOT DRINK salty drinks, such as pop & sports drinks.
• DO NOT EAT within several hours of the assessment.
Submitted by Tough Time Wrestling Club,
National Wrestling Coaches Association
"NWCA Optimal Performance Calculator"
By Mike Moyer, Executive Director –
Background: The NWCA (nonprofit established in 1928) was thrust into the national spotlight in 1997 when three college wrestlers were tragically killed while engaged in extreme weight loss activities. Even prior to the accidents, excessive weight loss plagued wrestling for many decades. Immediately following the accidents, the NWCA collaborated with renowned sport scientists to develop a nationally mandated weight management program that would safeguard wrestlers from future weight loss related accidents. As a result, all wrestlers are now required to undergo pre-season assessments for body composition, hydration, and weight. The raw data from these assessments is entered into the online NWCA Optimal Performance Calculator – OPC so an ideal competition weight and safe weight loss/gain plan can be established. In addition, the athletes are assigned to daily nutrient goals (fats, carbohydrates, protein, calories) based on their weight loss/gain plan. They can access an integrated menu of food options for the purposes of developing a customized diet. To date, all collegiate governing bodies (i.e. NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, California Community Colleges) and thirty five state high school athletic associations license the OPC to administrate their respective wrestling weight management programs (over 240,000 student-wrestlers participate annually). The NCAA Medical Advisory Committee has conducted several peer reviewed, published research studies to demonstrate the success of this weight management initiative. All indications appear to support the notion that scholastic and collegiate wrestlers are among the healthiest athletes in the nation. Through this journey, the NWCA has emerged as a national leader in promoting healthy weight management/nutrition to young kids.
Migration to "All Sports" Community: In 2003, several state high school athletic associations suggested that we modify the OPC to accommodate the unique needs of all sports. For example, in sports like women’s gymnastics and cross country, a high incidence of eating disorders exists so a weight/body fat gain program is necessary. In football, it is evident that some players are obese and occasionally have died to heat related illness (and dehydration related disorders). The NWCA responded to this obvious need by modifying the OPC to accommodate these broader markets. Many of the state associations across the nation are now promoting the new OPC functionality to their participating schools. This market includes over 7 million scholastic boys and girls.
Opportunity to Serve the Physical Education Community: Many state high school athletic associations are closely aligned with their respective state departments of education. Several of the state high school athletic associations are currently introducing the NWCA to their respective state departments of education for the purposes of using our tool to diagnose and combat childhood obesity in the general student population (k-12). In September 2006, the NWCA received a $250,000 government grant to modify the OPC for specific use in the physical education and adult diet/fitness communities. All modifications have since been completed and the tool is now ready to be introduced to these expanded communities. Renowned researchers, Dr. Alan Utter and Dr. Dave Nieman at Appalachian State University are currently conducting a fitness-nutrition intervention research study on middle school students in Pennsylvania to demonstrate the effective of the OPC in the non-athletic market. The NWCA intends to ask state departments of education to include the OPC in their physical education curriculums as a way to combat childhood obesity.
Further increasing the likelihood of our success with this initiative are the following factors:
- The United States Department of Agriculture is using the NWCA as a centerpiece to launch their national "Eat Smart, Play Hard" campaign aimed at curbing childhood obesity.
- The NWCA is partnered with the Iowa Department of Education and USDA to participate in a statewide fitness/nutrition campaign in 2006/07.
- The OPC is already in most schools in 37 states (for wrestling wt. mngt. purposes) so it will be relatively seamless to introduce the modified program to physical teachers (in many instances, our coaches are the PE teachers).
- A growing number of states already require body mass indexing for all students, K-12th grade.
The primary goal of the NWCA is to position wrestlers (and athletes in general) to be the ultimate role models for promoting fitness and nutrition in schools across America. Our association with national governing bodies such as the NCAA, National Federation of State High School Associations, the National Athletic Trainers Association, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Action of Healthy Kids lends considerable credibility for our association in the sport science area of competition performance.
For more information, please contact Mike Moyer at the NWCA office at 717-653-8009.
Has this program effected the number of High School Wrestlers?
According to the results of the NFHS the anwser is no. As a matter of fact Wrestling numbers are up for the past 22 year in a row.
High school wrestling participation grows for boys and girls in 2010-11 in NFHS report
NFHS
08/24/2011
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has released its 2010-11 High School Athletics Participation Survey, and the sport of wrestling has grown in all five categories identified.
The statistics for boys and girls wrestling grew during the 2010-11 season concerning the number of athletes participating.
In 2010-11, there were 273,732 boys competing in wrestling, an increase of 842 wrestlers from the previous year (a 0.3 percent increase)
The number of girl wrestlers in high schools grew to 7,351 athletes, an increase of 1,217 wrestlers from the previous year (an impressive 19.8 percent increase). This made girls wrestling the fastest growing sport for high school girls in terms of percentage increase.
The number of girl high school wrestlers has gained every year since 1990, a streak of 22 straight years of growth in participation
Wrestling remained the No. 6 most popular boys sport in terms of number of participants and the No. 8 most popular sport in terms of number of teams.
When combining the number of boys and girls involved in wrestling in 2010-11, the total number grew to 281,083, which increased 2,059 for the year. This amounts to a 0.7 percent increase in total wrestlers for the year.
There was an increase in the number of high schools which fielded boys wrestling teams. In the 2010-11 season, there were 10,407 boys wrestling teams, an increase of 44 teams, for a percentage gain of 0.4 percent.
There were 1,215 girls wrestling teams this season, an increase of 206 teams, for a percentage gain of 20.4 percent.
For the 22nd consecutive year, the number of student participants in high school athletics increased overall.
There was a total of 7,667,955 participants in 2010-11 in all sports, an increase of 39,578 for the year.
The top 10 states for boys wrestling participation were: 1. California (27,833); 2. Illinois (17,133); 3. New York (14,367); 4. Ohio (11,693); 5. Michigan (11,195); 6. North Carolina (10,724); 7. Pennsylvania (9,900); 8. New Jersey (9,718); 9. Georgia (8,490); 10. Florida (8,412)
The top 5 states for girls wrestling participation were: 1. California (1,910); 2. Texas (1,706); 3. Washington (922); 4. Hawaii (456); 5. Iowa (277)
