Virginia High School League

VHSL

VHSL Handbook ~ First click on the main website page then scroll lower to find the "HANDBOOK" logo in "VHSL Quick Resources"

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VHSL Weight Control Program ~ Click Here

VHSL Weight Control Program (another link) ~ Click Here

VHSL Wrestling Weight Control Program

Page 9 says “Athletes should weigh prior to each practice and record the weight on a weight chart providing a tracking system that can be reviewed daily by coaches to monitor and discourage unhealthy weight bouncing.”

Wrestlers may begin losing weight toward their lowest authorized weight class later in the season with a maximum weight loss per week is 1.5% of their body weight calculated week by week.

The monitoring of weight required by the VHSL WCP should be taken within the hour prior to the start of wrestling practice daily to maintain a consistent comparison from day to day.   Weights taken at the end of practice will represent loss of water weight which may be an unhealthy representation of a wrestler’s weight loss schedule.  Daily monitoring of a weight fluctuation of greater than 3 % should be  scrutinized by the coach and may lead to a recalculation of the weight loss schedule. 

Minimum Wrestling Weight (MWW) at 7% body fat for males and 12% body fat for females.  Doctor’s notes are needed for athletes below 7% and 12% body fat respectively.  Wrestlers would not be able to lose more than 2% of the weight recorded at the time of weight certification under these conditions.

A wrestler who is less than 7% body fat would not be allowed to lose weight, he would be allowed to participate at a weight class no more than 2% below the baseline weight (allowing for safe hydration variation).  For example, if a wrestler is 6% body fat and weighs 123 pounds in a normally hydrated state (USG of 1.010–1.020), he would be allowed to weigh-in 2% below that (123 x2% =123-2.44 or 120.56 lbs).  Because the VHSL allows the wrestler to round down, he would be permitted to wrestle in the 120-weight class. 

2% Buffer Rule – Page 34 of the VHSL WCP Manual says the following: ”a wrestler who is permitted to weigh as low as 123.9 for the126 lb weight class in the process of descending down to the 120 lb  weight class in the future may actually weigh in as low as 121.4 (123.900-2.478=121.422) and be eligible to compete.  In addition, if the athlete were to weigh-in up to 0.5 lbs less than 121.4, they are permitted to step off the scale, drink at 8 ounces of water or more and then step back on the scale and be eligible to compete.  If they  athlete were to weigh-in less than 120.9, they would be ineligible to compete in that match and the next scheduled match”.

Page 9 says “School administrators to load wrestling schedules in the NWCA program by Nov 1 each year.”

Page 9 says “Event weights to be loaded within 24 hours of each weigh-in.  School administrators to access a program switch, when permission is received by the League office, to allow 1pound allowances for inclement weather.”

Page 8 of the VHSL WCP Manual says wrestlers must have at least one official competition weigh-in at scratch weight for a weight class and participate that day at that event at that weight class or one weight class above to be eligible for conference tournament participation at the weight class they weighed in at. 

Page 9 says “coach must provide proof of actual weight for all weigh-ins for each entry in the conference tournament. VHSL weight form with required signatures will be used for verification”

Page 9 says “Principal or designee shall verify each wrestler's compliance with the VHSL WCP through verification comparing MELs with WCP Coach Official Team Reports and match weight sheets one time during the season, during the second week of January. Only the W-3 VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOO LEAGUE HANDBOOK ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES forms need to be completed and forwarded to the VHSL office during the second week of January. WCP Coach-Official Team Reports and MELs are used only by the local principal  for verification.” 

Page 18 says “The wrestler must weigh in a “scratch weight” at one official match weigh-in to be eligible for post season participation.”

A wrestler may wrestle one weight class above his/her current weight at weigh-in for that particular competition.  If the wrestler desires  to return to his/her certified weight after wrestling up a weight class, he/she may do so at any time during the season pending  compliance with the allowable weight loss per week as indicated by  the VHSL WCP.