Wrestling Weight Certification Calculator
SUMMARY OF REGULATIONS:
1. A wrestler is required to have their Minimum Wrestling Weight (MWW) determined prior to competition.
2. A wrestler’s Minimum Wrestling Weight (MWW) is based on 7% body fat for male wrestlers and 12% body fat for female wrestlers.
3. Percent body fat must be assessed by an IHSA Certified Body Fat Assessor using a 3-Site Skinfold for Male wrestlers; 2-Site Skinfold for Female wrestlers
4. A wrestler’s maximum weekly weight loss is set at 1.5% of their “certified body weight”. For example, if a wrestler’s certified body weight is 150.0 lbs that wrestler’s maximum weekly weight loss would be 2.25 lbs (150 x 0.015 = 2.25) or 0.32 lbs per day (2.25/7 = 0.32).
IMPORTANT DATES:
5. The first date a wrestler can schedule their body fat assessment to determine their MWW is week 19 on the IHSA calendar (Monday, November 5th)
6. The last date a wrestler is eligible to have their MWW determined is week 30 on the IHSA calendar (Friday, January 25th). NOTE: This final date is for wrestlers that didn’t compete during the season for whatever reason (i.e., injury)
Body Fat Assessment Appeal
1. A wrestler is eligible to “Appeal” their initial Body Fat Assessment one time.
2. The Body Fat Assessment Appeal allows a wrestler to have their Body Fat re-assessed using the same Skinfold assessment OR Hydrostatic Weighing
3. The “Final Appeal” date is week 24 on the IHSA Calendar which is Friday, Dec. 15th. This means that a wrestler must have their Body Fat Appeal completed and the results sent to the IHSA no later than Friday, Dec. 15th. If a wrestler does not complete their body fat appeal assessment AND have their results sent to the IHSA by Friday, Dec. 15th they will have to compete at their original MWW for the remainder for the season.
What coaches & wrestlers need to know prior to scheduling their initial Body Fat/Weight Certification.
• If a wrestler can make scratch weight at the time of their initial weight certification then it doesn’t matter what their percent body fat is. For example, if a wrestler’s desired weight class is 138 pounds and their initial body weight is 138.0 pounds, their % body fat could be less than 7% and it wouldn’t matter. They qualify for the 138 pound weight class.
• If a wrestler cannot (or it is not desirable) to qualify for their desired weight class by either making scratch weight at their initial weight certification (or combination of body weight and % body fat) then they can appeal their assessment, however, the last day to complete the appeal is (week 24 on IHSA Calendar) DEC. 15th. Remember that a wrestler is not allowed to lose more than 1.5% of their initial body weight starting the date of their initial weight certification. With that said, a wrestler must know, what is the maximum body weight they can weigh-in at the day of their appeal (if they weigh more than this they will be disqualified due to violating the maximum weekly weight loss of 1.5% of their initial body weight). If this body weight on the day of their appeal is still more than their desired weight class then they must know what % body fat (sum of 3-skinfolds) they need to achieve in order to qualify for their desired weight class.
• What body weight and % body fat does a wrestler need to achieve to compete at their desired weight class. If this is mismanaged or not fully understood coaches/wrestlers runs the risk of disqualifying themselves from a weight class, they can safely achieve.
Summary: Ideally all your wrestlers will make scratch weight for their desired weight class on their initial weight certification assessment; OR they achieve a body weight and percent body fat that allows them to qualify for their desired weight class on their initial weight certification assessment.
If neither of the above scenarios work, then the wrestler must APPEAL their initial weight certification assessment.
For a wrestler to qualify for their desired weight class at the time of their appeal they must:
a. Be eligible to make scratch weight by the date of their appeal (following the 1.5% rule).
b. If a wrestler is not eligible to make scratch weight by the date of their appeal, they will need to achieve the body weight and percent body fat combination that allows them to be eligible to make their desired weight class.