Rules

Bethany USA Wrestling Club Rules
2008-2009

1. Goals- Our goals are to teach the fundamentals of wrestling, good sportsmanship, team spirit, friendship, and to have fun. We want this experience to be a pleasant one for the kids and the parents.

2. Fees – The fee to join the club is $50.00. This helps cover the cost of the mandatory insurance, the membership card required by USA Wrestling and a team t-shirt.

3. Birth Certificate- This is a requirement of the Missouri USA Wrestling Association. Wrestlers are not able to get a membership card and participate without a copy of their birth certificate submitted with the application for membership. Note: If you are a returning wrestler from any USA Wrestling season, you do not need to submit another copy.

4. Equipment- Sometimes parents will sell the previous year’s equipment for a discounted price.
a. Wrestling shoes are required. These shoes must be worn only in the wrestling room and to tournaments. You may purchase these new or used.
b. Headgear is Mandatory for the protection of your children.
c. Athletic bags to carry gear to practices and tournament are recommended.

5. Practices- Practices are held every Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 pm-7:00 p.m. at the Bethany Community Gym.
a. Wrestlers should wear a t-shirt and comfortable, loose fitting shorts free of zippers, buttons or snaps, and wrestling shoes to practice.
b. Parents can stay and watch from either the bleachers or the stage, but will not be allowed mat side without a USA Wrestling coach’s card.
c. Non-wrestlers will not be allowed on the gym floor or near the mats. All spectators are asked to stay in the bleachers or on the stage. We reserve the right to close practices if there is too many outside distractions with parents and/or other spectators.

6. Wrestler’s Conduct - Wrestlers are expected to listen and follow instructions of their primary or substitute coaches. Lack of participation, "goofing off", back talking, fighting, name calling, picking on other wrestlers, teasing, and harassment of other wrestlers, etc. are unacceptable and will be disciplined. The parents will be called to come and pick up the child and that child may be suspended from the next practice and/or tournament. Continued behaviors will be grounds for dismissal from the club. No fees will be refunded.

7. Weight- The club does not encourage weight loss for the wrestlers. A wrestler is not bound to a certain weight for the entire season. The weight classes are generally in 5 pound increments and you can change as needed. But the weight you sign up for a particular tournament, is typically binding. If your child does not make that weight, he will not wrestle. Give yourself some leeway. If you have any questions, ask.


8. E-Mail- In an attempt to save time and money for copies, we would like to have everyone’s e-mail address to send updates and newsletters too. For those who don’t have email we will give your child copies of any notices at practice in a timely fashion. We encourage all parents to be informed and to participate in this great sport.

9. Tournaments- We encourage you to have your child participate in as many tournaments as possible. This is the best experience for the wrestler. However, no wrestler is obligated to enter any tournaments.
a. Tournaments are scheduled on Saturdays and some Sundays from December through March and most last ALL DAY.
b. We will collect a fee of $15 per tournament.
i. Tournament entry fees are usually $12-$15. The extra money collected being deposited in the wrestling club fund to be used for equipment (singlet, head gear, warm-up jackets).
c. Fees for the Regional and State tournaments at the end of the year are usually higher, between $15-$20.
d. There will be days assigned to collect money for the tournaments. If you don’t pay on, or by this day, you will not be entered in the tournaments that we were collecting for. NO EXCEPTIONS

10. Tournament Rules: Unsportsmanlike conduct in ANY FORM on the mat will not be tolerated and are grounds for dismissal from the tournament and/or the club.
a. Parents are expected to act sportsman like also. "Out of control" parents will be asked to leave.

11. Match/Record keeping- The parents will be given a sheet to keep track of their child’s wins and losses. This includes getting the opponents name and club affiliation, and actual score. This record will be very useful to the coach’s when Districts arrive. This record will enable the coach to seed (place) your wrestler at the best position possible. If you do not care how your child is seeded at Districts, then a form is not necessary to maintain. If it is important to you how your child is seeded, then please use the form provided.

12. Bethany Tournament – Our club will host a tournament during the wrestling season as this is the main fundraiser for the club. It is expected that the parents of our wrestlers volunteer to assist in running this event. This includes, table workers, bracket room staff, concession stand staff, gate keepers, etc. It is a big job and takes a lot of people to make happen.

13. Personal Hygiene – Due to the nature of wrestling, it is important for all to stay healthy and keep healthy habits.
a. Bathe immediately after every practice and tournament to prevent the spread of bacteria
b. Wash practice clothes and singlet after ever use
c. Clip fingernails, as needed, prior to practices & tournaments to prevent injury
d. Wrestling shoes are only to be worn at practice or tournaments