How to Weigh in High School Wrestlers

There are more than 250,000 high school males who participate in wrestling each year, making it the sixth most popular male high school sport, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Weight is a concern for most wrestlers since many have to lower their weight prior to a match to wrestle in a specific weight class. Rules have been developed to prevent unhealthy or drastic weight loss. It is the responsibility of wrestling coaches and officials to know these rules and how to weigh in high school wrestlers.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a person approved for weigh-in and assessments. Teams weigh in their wrestlers at the beginning of the season prior to any match or tournament. Only individuals approved by the state's high school activities association are allowed to perform the assessments. Approval is generally granted to doctors and nurses. It is the responsibility of the coach to find an appropriate person for the initial weigh-in and assessment.

    • 2

      Create an Alpha-male roster. Place the name of each wrestler who may compete on the roster and then write their weight at the initial weigh in next to it. Also record their hydration level and their body-fat percentage which are collected using a urine sample and skin calipers respectively. Input the information into a spreadsheet and bring it to every wrestling dual and tournament. It is used for comparison during the weigh-in prior to a match.

    • 3

      Complete weigh-in and assessment before match. Begin weigh-in and assessment one hour before a match starts. Check and record each wrestler's weight, body-fat percentage and hydration level. Round up weight to the nearest tenth and inform wrestlers who fall between two weight classes that they will wrestle at the higher weight class.

    • 4

      Compare results to the Alpha-male roster. Weight loss limits apply to high school wrestlers, who are only allowed to lose 1.5 percent of their weight per week from the weight listed on the Alpha-male roster. Disqualify any wrestlers who have exceeded this weight loss or any whose names and initial weight aren't on the roster.

    • 5

      Challenge a weigh-in if necessary. Coaches can challenge a wrestler's weigh-in as long as this is done before the last wrestler weighs in. After a challenge, the wrestler still competes, but the weigh-in data from the match as well as the Alpha-male roster are forwarded to the state's high school activities association who make the ultimate decision. If they find weigh-in rules have been violated the team may be required to forfeit the match or tournament.