Common question or statement from parents- I would let her wrestle but I dont want her to have to cut weight...

My common response- it should never be about cutting weight, but it should be about wrestling at a weight that she is comfortable with. The athlete should look at where they are at the beginning of the season. Most wrestlers will lose a few pounds due to the conditioning involved in wrestling, and some may lose more than others. "Cutting" weight, especially for a new wrestler, is the last thing they should be concerned about. The athlete should concentrate on learning technique, learning the rules of the sport, and adjust their mindset to living healthy, and in a way that will support their activities.

Consider-

Are you already at a recognized weight class?

Are you between 2 weight classes?

Does the athlete want to go down in a weight class, and if they do, can they safely maintain that weight?

If an athlete drops a weight class-

Do they feel strong, or are they becoming lethargic?

Is there a loss of concentration, or a general feeling of fatigue?

Is the athlete now running out of energy at the lower weight class during the course of the match?

I personally am not an advocate for cutting weight, especially large amounts of weight, and especially for female wrestlers. With problems such as eating disorders effecting women at a rate twice as high as men, pushing extreme weight loss behaviour is poorly advised, and can be dangerous. As coaches, we need to promote health habits, and be hypervigilant in recognizing danger signs in all of our athletes in regard to cutting weight.

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