Survey of NCAA Athletic Trainers’ Administration of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Weight Certification Program

Author

Samuel Konrath, Utah State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

12-2021

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology and Health Science

Committee Chair(s)

Dale Wagner (Committee Chair)

Committee

Dale Wagner

Committee

Brennan Thompson

Committee

Tyson Barrett

Committee

Edward Heath

Abstract

Context: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a minimum weight certification program in 1997 to help protect wrestlers from dangerous weight loss practices. Despite nearly a quarter of a century of this program, there is no published research detailing the implementation of it.

Objective: Determine how the NCAA minimum weight certification is being implemented across Division I programs.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Survey

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 35 (45.5%) of 77 NCAA division I wrestling athletic trainers responded to the survey.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Survey data on how the NCAA minimum weight certification program was implemented at the division I level was collected.

Results: Nearly all respondents used athletic trainers to take their measurements. Most staff (74.3%) had five or more years of experience taking the measurements, and only one (2.9%) had less than a year of experience. The time prior to competition that the measurement was taken ranged widely from 2 to 110 days. Nearly all (97.1%) used skinfold calipers, and just one program (2.9%) specified a different method, iDXA scan. Of those using the skinfold calipers, 52.9% used Lange calipers and 32.4% did not know the caliper type. Everyone used the same three measurement locations. Body density was converted to %BF with the Brozek formula at 13% of the institutions, the Siri formula at 4.3% of programs, “other” (defined by respondents as the optimal performance calculator provided by the NWCA) at 13% of schools, and 69.6% did not know.

Conclusion: Overall, there appears to be great consistency in the administration of the minimal wrestling weight standards across NCAA Division I wrestling programs.

Recommended Citation

Konrath, Samuel, "Survey of NCAA Athletic Trainers’ Administration of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Weight Certification Program" (2021). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023. 1606.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1606