Hey guys here is an excellent article that my brother, Max wrote on the topic. Please read and give opinions.
http://awawisconsin.com/weight-cutting/ (http://awawisconsin.com/weight-cutting/)
Great article that makes sense and more coaches should adhere to.
What a great blog, & the message means more coming from someone like yourself. This is as you point out a battle, & one that is sure to draw opposition. Simply visit the youth forum & read one of the recent threads regarding a youth team representing the State in a national competition & you will see adults defending the practice of young wrestlers cutting weight. It is no secret at the youth level we have kids cutting in excess of 10% of their body weight, even at the lowest weight classes. These are often not weight classes that have kids with excess weight they can easily shed. Too often at the youth level it truly comes down to which kid is willing to cut the most weight vs the skill of the wrestlers involved. This creates sloppy technique as the difference is strength is all the advantage the naturally larger wrestler needs. More importantly, it chases kids away from our sport.
That is why it is so important to have someone with your credibility point out that at the college level it is much more important to maintain a healthy diet, stay hydrated, & have great technique.
Excellent
Great write-up. Coaches can only do so much...it is up to us parents. I just overheard a father go in depth about his sons (10 yr. old?) weight. Father knew the difference the CHILD weighs in the morning versus night, and that "he should be able to stay at it this weight for state this yr"....it is November!