Attention High School Coaches: I have begun a thread on the coach's forum for proposals for the KSHSAA board.

Where is the coaches forum?

High School coaches have a forum heading all their own...contact Mike Juby for details.

Why don't we communicate the changes to the wrestling parents and supporters too?

Will,

The proposed changes in the coach's forum are intended to be a discussion for consideration to present to KSHSAA. It is intended for discussion so that recomendations can be bounced off other coaches and the list narrowed to a manageable few that may be presented.

I know you and many others have many valid suggestions and they may be made at any time here but like many threads, they sometimes take on a life of their own and the topics take many turns.

By having the coach's forum, way we can keep the discussion focused and possibly get a few changes made that will benefit Kansas kids. KSHSAA board members will not seriously consider a lengthy list but a focused proposal may hopefully get things going...like getting the growth allowance earlier!

Any parents and supporters wishing to offer advice may do so here! Let the games begin!

How about we create as long as a list as we can. I will challenge Musselman and Bowden to a cage match. They can be a tag team and I will go it alone. If I win we get all changes. If they win I never post a negative KSHSAA comment again.

It is BS that we can't have many changes. Kids only get four years to compete and it takes YEARS to change anything. That isn't right! Lets change the process NOW. KSHSAA works for the coachs and schools, not vice versa. Stand up for what you believe in and FIGHT. Quit being a bunch of namby pambies and get something done.

Unchain coaches so they can coach in March, April and May.

Overturn or disregard the 5 match per day limit. Make it 7 so that big tournaments could be held in one day.

Get rid of that stupid 30 point competition point rule. Develop a system that encourages weekday individual duals and lets kids REALISTICALLY get 60 matches if they want them.

Abolish the rule the prohibits attending non sanctioned events prior to the beginning of the season and during the holiday break.

Deregulate, completely, middle school wrestling so that we can grow the sport. Wrestlers should be allowed to compete in their school program and club program simultaneously.

Allow wrestlers to practice as much as they want to with who they want to. Let them attend clinics or camps during the season. If someone WANTS to get better, freakn let them!

Give the two pounds after the holiday break.

Abolish the 500 mile and video tape rules. Technology has outdated them.

Okay, I am just getting warmed up!

Eliminate the use of the word "fair" in the KSHSAA rulebook and handbook!

How about the state assign a neighboring school to cross against for hydration testing. The opposing AD would test the other team.

Sounds like a valid idea to cut down on the cheaters. But, I wouldn't worry about my two boys Walker and Texas Ranger they wake up in the morinin' and piss excellence like their ole' man.

We could sell tickets to the aforementioned cage match! I am sure Mark Stanley can get the Topeka Expo Center. Between the gate, parking, concessions, and t-shirts we might be able to make a dent in the education cuts that are being debated in the political cage fight at the State Capital.

I'd buy a few myself...should be more entertaining than the political cage fighting about to take place!

Mr. Cokeley,

I could not agree with you more on any of your suggestions, especially the middle school rule. I strongly support our middle school program (and high school). However in order to develop our wrestlers for these programs, club wrestling is needed as well. It just seems the KSHSAA turns a deaf ear to realistic and valid ideas. Your list I am sure speaks for many in the wrestling community, not just coaches. By the time the middle school ruling is changed, my middle schoolers will be in college. The suggested changes for high school will unfortunately have no effect for my senior. However, we need to move forward and get the KSHSAA into the current century!

I disagree with the cage fighting as a fund raiser for budget cuts. Just line up KSHSAA members on bar stools and sell pies. Its alot easier and should more than cover budget cuts. I would buy 100 pies myself and let the unforunate throw them just to be FAIR. LOL...... Choclate pies $5, blueberry pies $3. Would be alot of fun and we wouldn't have to worry about Mr. Cokeley getting hurt.

Most of all, I would like to see the 5 match rule revisited. My son has been bitten twice by that rule. Really disheartening for a kid that has a bad 1st round match (in a large tournament) to understand that he now has no chance to wrestle in the consolation finals.

A coin flip simply does not inspire.

I totally agree,... We wrestle alot of oklahoma tournaments. The kids are ready before we are and wrestle many more matches. We can't hamstring our kids and expect to have the scouts give them a fair look.

i thought the five match limit was a national rule?

It is!

I have seen the list of requests and I have one thing to say, ABDONED the effort to get dual state. In light of all of the cuts that are going to happen we cannot possibly expect a change that will extend the season or cost more money.

I know that we DO NOT have to abide by the NHSFAA rules. We have modifications for weight control and weigh-ins. We MUST adopt the 7 match limit to provide an opportunity for 16 team tournaments on one day and to let wrestlers get more matches in one day as schools will be cutting back travel, overnight stays, etc. Football teams play for 48 minutes and 7 matches is only 42. Kansas could be the trend setter. To me this rule is sorely needed and you all know I am a fan of dual state and a host of other changes. Honestly, why do we need the KSHSAA? There is a cost cut! Schools should police themselves and the glutony of administrators, schoolboards, and other employees could be utilized to perform the functions they now handle.

As queasy as this makes me feel to say....I agree with you Cokeley. (just kiddin) KSHSAA doesn't want to change many things. It's the same way in my "real" line of work, music education. We lobby to get things changed, or rather, fixed and it never seems to get done. And, as with the 5 match rule and others mentioned, there is no real "reason" I can see to not modify them. Oh well, I would like to see you in a cage-but don't think you'll get any takers! And I know why you want more duels in the NEAR future. St. James will win Regionals next year and be in position to punish some teams in duel settings! Good luck this weekend!

Will:

I had never really thought of the football thing before, but you're right. I'd be happy with a sixth-match; my experience is that once you hit a 16-team tourney, you usually end up with two days which solves the problem. As for following the NFHS rules, that was pretty much shot down when Kansas went against the weigh-in rules 10 years ago, and no one appears to have died from that.

Also, insofar as the 500 mile rule goes, sure, abolish it. But keep in mind under the current economic climate, it's a little like being allowed to buy a school airliner to go to meets. You can make it legal, but who is either going to A) approve it or B) be able to afford it? And as for the video tape rule, that's about as well-enforced as the seat-belt law. Nine of 10 times, you're never going to get caught doing it.