I know for certain that Richard doesn't drink. From some of Will's posts on here, I suspect he does!

I really am concerned that there are restrictions on who you can video tape and where and why.

This is what I would love to see:

A day where you can watch any wrestling match, anythime, anywhere, from any time period. Bare with me, but wouldn't it be great if Kansas was on the cutting edge and started broadcasting major events over the internet. If we had multiple Class sites with historical films of epic matches. If you could say do a search of John Doe from 1999 to 2003 and were able to watch his finals match at state when he tech falled a kid. Scouting for Kansas kids would increase. National attention could possibly increase.

I mean there have been duals, and regional matches and just everyday contests between two average joe teams and individuals that can be more intense then two #1's fighting it out. Why not have it to the point where if you choose to be involved with Kansas Wrestling, you already know that you are being filmed, because everyone is at (said events).

I mean its legal to film us all over the world for security purposes and 9/11 and bla bla bla. Why not make it all equal and make it positive for the sport.

I agree with you Glue. It seems like the interpretation from KSHSAA has moved the bar 9X further to the right than was the intent. If we are at a tournament and there is a marquee match-up in the finals of another weight class than your own kid, are we really saying that we can't tape the match for the enjoyment of watching two highly skilled wrestlers battle?

I know thats what I got out of the message. That SUCKS!

I wish I could goto youtube.com and find matches of great kansas wrestlers today without much effort.

As a person that has lived wrestling. I can say that I enjoy a watching a good match, from 103 to HWT, from 3A to 6A. I would hate to see restrictions on being able to see, hear, and feel greatness unless you were there (without a camera).

Please contact your school's AD and put together a formal written request to have this rule abolished. I would be shocked if there is much, if any resistance.

I too would like this to be available for these reasons. I would never film another wrestler just to scout them, but we have reviewed matches to try to learn what the opponent did well, what my son did well, or not well.

Will,
While I do not always agree with you, I understand and appreciate your desire to improve Kansas wrestling. You do raise valid points and sometimes you make me think through an issue and even change my mind.

I think it is not a positive thing however when we as parents are dealing directly with the KSHSAA. I know you are going to have the I'm a taxpayer and I'll do what I want answer, but hear me out. Rick Bowden is an important piece of the puzzle in getting things changed. I can't help but believe that we make him more resistant to change when we use the words stupid, absurd, Orwellian, ridiculous, crazy, in an e-mail rant to him. In all seriousness, if I was him, I would resist change just to spite you.

I know you want immediate results and think you are being helpful. My 2 cents says KSHSAA change can only occur when the high schools themselves ask for change. We may be able to foster this by discussion here and with our high school coaches/ADs, but we will never be successful in one on one complaining to Rick Bowden. The system will not work if 8000 parents deal directly with Rick.

I'm against changing it.

Will, you have enough money, just buy the KSHSAA. Then we can make our own rules and tell some of these guys the way it is.

What is your favorite benefit from banning video taping?

Seriously against video taping if you don't have a wrestler involved. Ok then.....

Guess they better not be taping and airing 3A State anymore.

See its really bad for the sport to have such restrictions against. The upside and PR we can do for the sport is too great. I mean isn't a dream for you all to have a higher amount of respect for Kansas wrestling? That can be done with larger amounts of media being involved with our sport. Meaning showcasing great matches, great events..... If you follow the rules based on what some are saying none of this will ever occur.

I think even the current restrictions do not apply to the State semi finals and finals. Not exactly positive?

Point taken.

Man this is a tough crowd to get alignment.

Still would like to see easy access to any or all matches in the state. Like a ww.kswrestlingvideoyoutubegooglevideo.org Rather then just results.

I'm aligned with you. I just think we need to think our methodology through. There will be regulation on high school sports. My point is that we should pick our fights carefully and treat each other and the KSHSAA with respect. We assume there is always a yes/no right/wrong answer and that we know what that answer is. In reality it's seldom so clear cut.

So I am a coach for Wichita Heights and this is our Bye week. We dual Kapaun next week. Kapaun duals Bishop Carroll this week. So what you guys are saying is that it is a bad idea for me to go watch this dual and video tape it for future reference huh? LOL

What if I have a photographic memory and my brain works like a digital video camera? Will I get thrown out or will people stand in front of me during the KMC v. BC dual? Man... this is so confusing... hahahah!

One thing to consider when discussing this rule is, who owns the rights to your wrestlers image? Can any person video your child and publish that video, maybe even for profit without your consent? What was it a couple of years ago we had individuals video taping national tournaments and selling or swapping those images for the purpose of sexual erotica. This surely wasn't the consideration when the rule was written, but it could be a concern today.

I didn't go to last year's Metro Classic -- but I did buy it on DVD. Hopefully that will always be available.

The rule is simple, you can video tape your wrestler, this applies to a school, coach or parent. You may not video tape others wrestling at the tournament/dual without both schools permission. The penalty for taping with out permission is not specified however I have seen the person video taping wrestlers not associated with him forfeit his camera and tape until the tournament is over and he was ejected. This has happened on more than one occasion. As you said Mr. Cokeley, the tape "might come in handy for a certain tournament held the third weekend in February", this is clearly the reason the rule is in place and it is a clear violation. The enforcement of this rule does not lie with the mat officials but with the home tournament management. Anyone caught taping should/could be subject to the penalty specified above. If one does not like the rule, lobby to change it with the KSHSAA and National Federation, however until it is changed please obey the regulation to avoid any future conflict. Thanks

So now are we going to have the videotape police going around tournaments checking everyones camera. This rule is unenforcable!
Why have a rule if there is no way to enforce it.

I want to state again, I did not video tape any matches! There were no 4A 119lb contestants wrestling in this event that I needed to tape. I was just proximate to the scene and I as well as the GC AD and Lwayne misinterpreted the rule. It is odd the lwayne did that and then states above that it is a "clear violation." I guess we will have to create a wrestlingtapexchange.com site so that legally recorded matches can be viewed. If the rule is to prohibit preparation for state then that makes things even more unfair. Those who have a match with their competition can have a tape to study for state while those who don't and live too far away to view a match of their competition cannot. Football teams exchange tapes of their opponents so why would we prohibit wrestlers from doing the same?

It makes no sense and even the opposition is so hard pressed to justify why he is opposed that he cannot support his position.

Okay....I have been reading this with interest. I teach internet safety. One of the big things we teach students is to NEVER put down any personal information that you would not want to share with EVERYONE. When you put something on the internet, you are not just sharing this information with people in the same league, same city, same state, or even same country. Do you really think it would be a good idea to videotape wrestlers and post them on the internet for EVERYONE to see? Yes, for 99% of the wrestlers, everything would be okay. But you can not forget about that 1% where videotaping and putting their image on the internet would be a very bad idea. And the school/parent responsible would get in huge lawsuit situations. consider this.... 1. the child who has/is suffering from sexual abuse and now their abuser can watch them wrestle on the internet. 2. the child who strikes the eye of the pedophile who now knows the child's name and the school they attend thanks to the wrestling videotape they saw 3. the child who has left the area secretly because of an abusive parent but now that parent knows where they are (or other abusive family members) 4. the child who starts getting tormented because everyone saw a terrible match they had or an incident they are not proud of haunting them for years to come because it's on the internet(they are only teenagers after all, we all have done things in the heat of the moment we regret) 5. the child whose parents value their child's privacy so will not let them go out for wrestling if all matches are videotaped and shared on a social website. 6. Cyberbully incidents 7. a child who suddenly finds their image on apparel and being used to sell advertisements. 8. Worse, a child who finds their image on some not-so-nice-sites advertising not-so-nice stuff.

Like I said, for the 99% of the kids out there, nothing bad is every going to happen and nothing is wrong with posting a videotape of their matches. But for that 1% (and you never know exactly who they are)...it can be horrible. That is why there are so many federal and state laws protecting minors privacy.

Now, about the videotaping of matches so you and your child can watch. Basketball and football teams exchange tapes with each other. That is true. But they do not go around showing it to everyone. And the team gets to decide which tapes they send. After the school views it, they destroy it or send it back. If they would post it on the internet or sell it, they would have to pay huge fines. They know this and it is controlled. Can we control all the parents to follow the same rules? Can you tell me that if we allow anyone to videotape any matches, none of them will be showing up on youtube? being sold? or worst? You say it is only for your wrestler to watch so he will get better. But, can I trust you? Can you trust me?

And one more thing, this isn't something that is only happening in wrestling. I know of a student in a 6A school that is now banned from attending all activities after he was caught videotaping the schools basketball games and posting the highlights on youtube. Anyone who is caught videotaping an athlete that is not their own child can have their videotape confiscated by the school officials.