Let me say a few things here. As an official I thought the tournament was very well run. We wer edone by 5:00 which is darn good for the number and quality of kids wrestling. As far mat space let me answer your question OneEagle. Simply stated the answer to your question is no. There is no minimum mat size requiremetn for any age in Kansas kids wrestling. USA Wrestling Kansas follows the NFHS rules in regard to Most rules. However there are certain modifications to rules in order to accomodate the format of kids tournaments. Namely with hundreds of kids its impossible to run full mats for every age group and weight at normal high schools around the sate, and still be out of there in any good time. What really annoys me is the parents that want the best of both worlds. They want plenty of mat space but they also want to be done by 2 in the afternoon. It just doesn't work that way. Now in regards to mat size. Kansas rules stipulate no minimum size with the following conditions.

Rule 2-1-2

Every wrestling area, no matter what size, must have a minimum three (3) foot safety mat area next to any floor surface and five (5) foot from any wall or post.

I can tell you that I really didn't have any problems at this tournament with kids going off the mat and I was working the older kids all day. Its your job as a wrestler to stay in teh center of the mat if your running off the mat, using the edge to your advantage, pushing your opponent off the mat, ect ect. Then that is your problem not the sites. If the only complaint that you can come up with for this tournament was half mats for 14 year olds then I would have to say that the Ottawa people did one heck of a job. Also Mr. Hosey how a tournament determines its weigh-ins is their choice. If a site determines that all weigh ins must be with a singlet on then that is the procedure. I don't believe I've ever heard of a tournament weighing in with a singlet over the shoulder and the procedure at Pittsburg was incorrect.

As for the spectator thing. I wasn't up in the stands so I didn't get to se the view from there. But I will say if you parents would keep your kids up in the stands in stead of by the mat their would be considerably better views. I don't know how many times I had to back people off the mat.

Anyway once again great job Ottawa for a well run tournament.