High schools are permitted to use bioelectrical impedance analysis as an alternative to skin fold caliper and air displacement options to determine body fat percentage. Additionally, there is a 2-lb growth allowance for each weight class per season. As with NCAA athletes, high school wrestlers may lose no more than 1.5% of body weight per week. Minimum body fat during the wrestling season is set at 7% for boys and 12% for girls. High school wrestlers must have a urine specific gravity of 1.025 or less for their preseason weigh-in. 43 The National Federation of State High School Associations adopted guidelines that apply to high schools in all states in 2006. In the high school wrestling arena, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association was the first state high school athletic association to implement a plan to curtail weight cutting among high school wrestlers. 41, 42 Table 6 provides a list of the variables and the equations used in the calculation of LAW1 and LAW2 for reference. The highest of these calculated weights is the lowest weight allowed for competition during the wrestling season. The LAW2 accounts for the 1.5% body weight loss per week permitted during the season. The LAW1 formula incorporates the minimum body fat of 5% allowed by the NCAA. Body fat and weight are entered into an online optimal performance calculator and are used to calculate the lowest allowable weight (LAW) by using 2 different methods. Body fat is measured by using 1 of 3 methods: skin fold caliper measurement by a trained evaluator, hydrostatic (underwater) weighing, or air displacement plethysmography (commonly performed by using a Bod Pod device). If the urine specific gravity is 1.020 or less, the athlete is considered well hydrated and can weigh in. ![]() Before the competition season, athletes submit a urine sample from a witnessed collection for testing. Additionally, the NCAA established a system of setting a minimum weight for competition during the wrestling season by using a calculation that incorporates hydration status (based on urine specific gravity), weight, and body composition. 41 The updated NCAA rules banned the use of diuretics, impermeable suits, and saunas for weight loss and decreased the amount of time between weigh-ins and competition. 40 In response to these deaths, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) instituted new rules designed to curb the practice of acute weight loss the rules were implemented in 1998 and updated in the 2003–20–2014 rule books. In 1997, over the course of 33 days, 3 college wrestlers died as a result of attempting drastic weight loss before competition. 20, – 24 After 2 to 3 days of dehydration, replacement of intracellular fluids takes 48 hours. Using these tactics over the course of several days can lead to progressive dehydration because many athletes fail to fully rehydrate each day. ![]() 19 Examples of dehydration techniques include fluid restriction, spitting, vomiting, steam baths, saunas, using laxatives or diuretics, and wearing nonporous suits to increase sweat production. The term hypohydration refers to the state of suboptimal hydration, and dehydration describes the transition from a well-hydrated to a hypohydrated state. 17, 18 This process, referred to as “weight cutting,” allows competitors to weigh in at the lowest possible weight most athletes subsequently attempt to regain weight by rehydrating between the weigh-in and competition. 4 High school and college wrestlers report high rates of fasting, restricting fluid intake, and engaging in practices that increase sweating for acute weight loss. Up to 67% of athletes involved in weight-class sports, such as wrestling, boxing, and weight-class crew, attempt to lose weight acutely with dehydration techniques.
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