1. Weigh-ins

  1. OAWA Weigh-in Policy
    1. The OAWA recommends the use of night before/morning of on-site weigh-ins wherever possible for events. On-site weigh-ins provide the greatest level of assuredness that athletes’ weights are consistent and verifiable at events.
  2. Weigh-ins for Provincial Championships:
    1. The Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association will utilize night before/morning of on-site weigh-ins for all Provincial Championships from the Cadet (15–16 year old) age group on up to and including Senior (20+). For Provincial Festivals and equivalent, remote weigh-ins with random weight verification can be used.
  3. Weigh-in Process for Local Events – Remote Weigh-ins:
    1. OAWA members recognize that for many local events, regional events, etc. that night before weigh-ins on-site are not practical. To deal with this, the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association supports a policy of weight verification at events. This practice is intended to help teams/clubs by allowing them to weigh-in off-site while dealing with the inherent variability resulting from among other things different scales being used, etc.
    2. To ease the financial burden on clubs/teams having to travel to event sites the night before the event, and possibly having to incur the added expense of hotel accommodations, the OAWA suggests that a process of remote weigh-ins be utilized for these events.
  4. Suggested Process:
    1. Team or club coach conducts a weigh-in at their site using a reliable scale. This weigh-in should ideally take place the day before the event and should be no more than five days before the event.
    2. This weigh-in can be conducted by the coach, but ideally should be verified by a second coach, an official registered with the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Officials’ Association, a Physical Education Head or Principal at a school, or similar. This is a suggestion only, not a requirement as OAWA appreciates this may not always be practical.
    3. Coaches should submit a list of exact weights, preferably to 1/10th of a kilogram for their wrestlers. If convenors prefer it, the coach can send athletes in at the weight class as listed by the convenor. The convenor can then plug these athletes into the appropriate weight-class their event is using.
    4. Coaches are reminded that by submitting this list, they are confirming to the convenor that the athlete has made weight at the weight submitted. Coaches should not build in the red dot variance as an ‘allowance’. That is not what the variance is for. On the day of the event, the convenor randomly selects a list of athletes whose weights must be verified. This list has commonly been referred to as a ‘red dot list’. It is the convenor's role to select who is chosen for weigh-in.
    5. It is suggested that the list be:
      1. 30 athletes for events up to 300 participants
      2. 50 athletes for events over 300 participants
    6. Convenors can increase the size of the verification group but may not decrease it.
    7. At least one athlete for each club should be checked, in all age groups.
    8. On the day of the event, there will be a weigh-in for the identified (red-dot) athletes. Athletes selected must be within the variance noted of the weight they were sent in at — the weight sent in for them, not the weight class.
    9. There should be a separate scale available for weight-checking so as not to hold up the official weigh-in.
    10. This weigh-in/weight verification is to be performed by an official registered with the OAWA/Ontario Amateur Wrestling Officials' Association.
    11. Athletes selected must be within the variance of the weight sent, (either the exact weight, or weight class, depending on the event).
    12. Athletes will only have one time on the scale, and must be on weight — that is, they can't try to weigh-in, miss, and come back later.
    13. The allowable variance is set at 1 kg.
    14. Contestants will be weighed wearing their competition attire or mandatory article of clothing covering male/female genitalia.
    15. Contestants will not be allowed to change out of their weigh-in attire into their normal attire in the weigh-in area. Contestants should be directed to a private area away from the weigh-in area.
    16. Convenors may use a lower variance (that is, less than 1 kg.), but may not increase it.
    17. For any athlete not making the weight they were sent in at including the variance, they will be eliminated from the competition. Further, their entire team will be required to weigh-in and any others not making their submitted weights with the variance will also be eliminated.
    18. If the event features multiple age groups and a staggered start, then each age group will have a separate weigh-in. Each will be considered a separate weigh in — that is, if an athlete for a club miss in one division, only the entire club team in that age group from that club must weigh-in, not their entire club across all age groups.
    19. Lastly, to further encourage compliance, it is suggested that there be a ‘No Refund Policy’ for any athlete eliminated due to being over the submitted weight plus the allowed variance.
    20. Please note: It is OAWA Policy that events not following this process will not be included on the OAWA schedule, will not be sanctioned, and cannot be approved for participation by OAWA members/clubs.
  5. Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association Policy Statement on Weight Loss
    1. The Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association opposes excessive weight loss. Excessive weight loss places athletes at risk both physically and from the standpoint of enjoyment of participation.
    2. For the purposes of weight loss, the coach is deemed to be responsible for the weight loss practices of their athletes. The phrase “I didn’t know” is not acceptable — it is the coach’s responsibility to be aware and prevent excess and dangerous weight loss. Coaches are advised to monitor their athletes’ weight and overall physical condition on a regular basis.
    3. Coaches are encouraged to educate athletes of the negative health and performance impacts of excessive weight loss. The OAWA will make such educational material available to all coaches at no charge upon request.
    4. Athletes following excess weight loss practices should be counseled first and if that is not successful, should be suspended from the team and referred for professional counseling.
    5. For all OAWA events, the use of extreme measures of weight loss are not advised. In addition, for athletes 18 years of age and under, these measures are in violation of association guidelines. Extreme measures of weight loss include:
      1. the use of diuretics and other medications
      2. the use of saunas
      3. the use of rubber suits or other vapor impermeable clothing, as well as the use of excessive clothing
    6. Enforcement is the responsibility of the event convener. Violation will result in disqualification from the event.
    7. For athletes in good physical condition, weight loss should not exceed 3% of total body weight immediately preceding the event.
    8. No athlete should be allowed to drop below a safe body fat ratio.
    9. The OAWA encourages tournament conveners to provide a weight allowance for early season competitions, and to gradually decrease this weight allowance as Championships approach.
    10. Coaches whose athletes found to be using excessive weight loss techniques, or who appear to be suffering the effects of excessive weight loss techniques will be educated on OAWA weight loss policy and will be required to educate their athletes on it as well.
    11. Coaches found to be contravening this policy will be subject to disciplinary action under the OAWA’s Code of Conduct for Members. Failure to comply with this policy will be considered abuse under the Code of Conduct.
    12. In the event of a concern regarding a coach or club, other concerned individuals (athlete, teammate, parent, opposing coach, league administrator, etc.) are invited to bring the matter to the attention of the coach involved. In cases where this is not practical or possible, the individual should report the matter to the Vice-President Administration of the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association for further investigation.

2. Mat Attire

  1. Organizers of local events are free to set their own policies regarding appropriate mat attire. The minimum expectations for mat attire are above knee shorts with no belt loops, zippers or pockets and a snugly fitting T-shirt.
  2. A uniform is defined as:
    1. a one-piece singlet designed for wrestling cut no lower in the back or front than the level of the armpits and under the arms no lower than one-half the distance between the armpit and the belt line
    2. a one-piece or two-piece uniform consisting of compression shorts or shorts designed for wrestling and a form-fitted compression shirt. The compression shorts or shorts designed for wrestling shall be school-issued and shall have a minimum 4- inch inseam that does not extend below the top of the knee. The form-fitted compression shirt shall not cover or extend below one-half the distance between the shoulder and the elbow. The shirt may be worn with compression shorts or shorts designed for wrestling. The uniform may use more than one school colour as long as they exist on both pieces. Religious exemptions are accepted
  3. However, for Provincial events, gender appropriate singlets are mandatory for wrestlers. Wrestling shoes/running shoes (no metal anywhere) must be taped.
  4. For Youth Wrestling, including Provincials, the use of ‘Rash-Guard’ style uniforms — tight fitting short sleeve shirt and shorts, is acceptable.