California Interscholastic Federation

Suggested Guidelines for Wrestling Tournament Directors

The goal of every tournament director should be to run a safe and efficient event. While these guidelines are only suggestions, we feel they will help you to achieve these goals.

The following is a list of suggested guidelines for tournament directors to help facilitate wrestling tournaments. These guidelines were compiled and presented to the CIF Wrestling Advisory Committee at the February 28, 2002 meeting. It is the intent of these suggestions to help tournament directors conduct tournaments which do not cause wrestlers, coaches, parents, and fans to return home late at night and then have them arrive early the next morning. This is particularly important during two-day tournaments. Again, these are only suggestions, but the advisory committee would encourage you to consider these recommendations in the best interest of wrestling.

• Limiting the Number of Teams

  It is recommended that you limit the number of teams allowed at your tournament. Most coaches surveyed would rather pay a higher fee if they were guaranteed the number of teams would be limited. A 25% rule has been recommended. This means you should not allow more than 25% over the bracket size of your tournament. The number of mats at the site is also an important variable. For example:

  Bracket Size	# of Teams	# of Mats
  16	20	5-6 mats needed
  24	30	6-7 mats needed
  32	40	7-8 mats needed

   

• Limiting the Number of Wrestlers, Not Teams (in tournaments)

  Tournament directors can ask coaches to fax a pre line-up list. This would enable directors to better determine if brackets are full and would allow for more flexibility in allowing additional teams to participate. Typically, these last minute teams create bracketing problems and often result in to many wrestlers in a weight division. Setting up a reduced, or pro rate for individual wrestlers will still allow tournament directors to collect fees and not lost revenue.

• No Wrestling Matches Should Be Held Past 10:00 p.m.

  In tournaments, where a second weigh-in is held, this guideline would enable all wrestlers to return home or to the hotel at a reasonable time. This 10:00 p.m. completion time could help enhance, not hinder wrestlers' performance during these long two-day events.

• Wrestle All Medal Rounds at the Same Time

  Finals should start as soon as possible after all preliminary rounds are completed. One or two hour breaks to set up for finals only prolong coaches and wrestlers getting home at a decent hour. Clearing the gym and charging for the finals can still be done. In fact, wrestling all six or eight medal matches produces more spectators, which can maximize gate receipts.

• Use the "Clip Board" Method to Help Keep Mats from Having Dead Time

  Most tournament directors swear by this method. All mats have two or three clip boards assigned to them. As each clip board returns to the head table with the completed bout sheet attached, matches are sent out to those mats. This method works very well with tournaments, where more than one gym is being used. It has been suggested that if each mat had thirty seconds of dead time after each bout, it would increase the total time of the tournament by up to two hours .

• Good Table Workers at each Mat is a Must

  The single most important variable in the flow of a tournament is good table help. An orientation for all table help, which includes scoring, timing, and match procedure is a must. Meet with these people a couple of days ahead and review important information related to helping the tournament run efficiently. Instead of having timers throwing towels in, have them walk on the mat at 15 seconds and count out loud the last 4 seconds of the match.

• Complete All Seeding Before the Day of the Tournament

  Having coaches fax, phone, and send seeding information ahead should be mandatory. Seeding a tournament in the morning often delays the scheduled tournament starting time. If possible, invite coaches to attend a seeding meeting sometime during the week. Be firm in your request for seeding information. Let coaches know there will be NO changes the day of the tournament. Most coaches feel seeding should be used to separate only the top four wrestlers in each weight. This results in much less confusion and will save a great deal of time.

• Weigh-in by Team, Not by Weight Class

  Besides being quicker, weighing in by team allows for better control of weigh-in regulations. Have as many scales as possible to help speed up this process. Organized expedient weigh-ins allow more time to prepare brackets.

• Eliminate "extras" Tournament

  While this concept does produce more matches for first or second round losers, it often results in adding additional mat time to the tournament schedule.

• Use Pooled Weights (Freshman and Junior Varsity Tournaments)

  Put wrestlers in groups of eight. This cuts down on empty brackets and keeps the tournament flowing. This system also enhances the quality of tournaments for parents and spectators.

• Wrestle Backs

  Tournament directors need to establish a fair and consistent format for consolation wrestle brackets. Eliminate the "carry" tournaments and single elimination type brackets. These are not fair to wrestlers, fans, coaches, and parents, who travel long distances.