Hydration Test & Weight Certification

I am glad that Randolph and Morris Knolls did not score in the final 8 minutes of the game. I did not feel that bad for leaving early. Just so everyone knows, I arrived at the restaurant just as the calamari was being passed around, so I did not miss much.

Yesterday was a great experience. My services were rendered to District 9 yesterday. These schools had their wrestlers hydration test, weigh-in and have their weight certification. The schools in District 9 are Boonton, Delbarton, Hanover Park, Madison, Mountain Lakes, Morristown, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills and Whippany Park.

Just so you know. The NJSIAA has hired the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) to set forth the rules and guidelines for proper weight certification. The NWCA has worked since the early 1990’s to develop a professionally established weight plan to keep wrestlers on the same program. Many states have adopted this process as well as the NCAA. Basically, it is a play that does not permit (or feasibly allow) a wrestler to drop below 7% body fat. Simply put, the wrestler must first be hydrated. The height and age are entered into a calibrated scale. There is a 1.0 pound allowance for clothing – this was pre-entered and the scale was at –1.0 before the wrestler stepped on. This very expensive and high tech scale measures the wrestlers weight and uses an electronic current to measure the percent of body fat of the wrestler.


The following is copied directly from the NFHS website and will help you more understand the process:

… the NWCA has worked closely with the medical advisory committees of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to develop and deliver a "turn key" web-based program, known as the NWCA Optimal Performance CalculatorTM (OPC) to accomplish the following objectives:

• Determine a lowest allowable weight class for each wrestler.
• Establish a safe weight loss/weight gain plan.
• Produce all necessary compliance forms.
• Deliver the program to the scholastic and collegiate community for nominal cost.
• Provide an opportunity for wrestlers to build a customized diet that honors their weight loss/weight gain plan.

In a day or two, coaches, parents and wrestler can all have access to that wrestler plan. I can assure you that all letters of the law established by the NFHS, NWCA and NJSIAA were strictly enforced by the working parties yesterday. All parties working the certification site yesterday attended a seminar the NJSIAA a few weeks ago to learn the process and everyone’s job.

I can tell you that I was very impressed with the kids. They were all very respectful, organized and well informed. I am sure that most coaches have stressed the importance of the test. The failure rate for non-hydrated athletes was very low.

All I can tell you that I am very excited for an excellent wrestling season! Bring on the weekend! I will be the Hanover Park Christmas Tournament on Saturday.

See you all soon and thanks for listening!