Mt Zion Kids Wrestling Club
Tournament Information
Event Registration: Registrations are accessed through the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) website. (http://www.ikwf.org/) It can be confusing because each tournament is run a bit differently. Please see the attachment for further information on how to register. We will email you updates and reminders before the tournament deadlines.
Fees for each tournament vary on what the host charges. They are generally around $20 per wrestler, and you will pay the fee based upon the registration format of each tournament. You only pay for the tournaments you participate in.
Departing Times: First of all, they are EARLY! Weigh-ins range from 6-8am and we like to get there at the beginning to save our seats so that all of our parents can sit together and cheer on the whole team. Please check the event flier or information for all weigh-in times. We meet at the Intermediate School parking lot and caravan over to the tournament location. You are not required to meet if you would like to go on your own. The caravan times are different depending on where the tournament is and will be e-mailed out the week before each tournament. The caravan will leave at the exact time communicated. We will not wait.
Clothing/Gear: We suggest the kids have their singlets on underneath their warm up clothes before they get to the tournaments for weigh-ins. Wrestlers are weighed in wearing their singlets and socks. Make sure that fingernails are trimmed as they are checked at weigh-in and a wrestler will be turned away to clip them if they don’t pass inspection. Temporary tattoos are forbidden. If hair is long, a cap will be required to be worn over the hair and attached to the headgear. Please remember to have your wrestler’s competitor card with you at all tournaments. Also, don’t forget head gear and wrestling shoes.
Tournament Day Times: Tournaments usually start around 9 am. Check the event flier for this information. The tournament matches are bracketed by age groups, usually within 2 years such as 6 and under; 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14, then by weight and most of the time, skill set. The "IKWF Age" of each wrestler is determined by their age on December 31st. Within the age bracket, those of similar weight will be in a bracket. Those brackets are usually 4-man round robin, which means that your wrestler should get 3 people to wrestle throughout the day. Usually, the wrestlers will have long breaks in between each of these 3 matches. You can usually tell with the flow of the day how long it might be as they circle back to all the age brackets and have announcers giving the crowd information. Typically, tournaments end between 3pm and 4pm.
What To Bring/Food: The following are some things that you might want to bring: A stadium chair, blankets to save your seat, snacks, any video games (DS’s, ipads, etc.) for the kids to play between matches. Most tournaments do not allow coolers but if you are discreet about snacks, you should be fine. There are concessions at the tournaments that offer breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Typically, you will not have time to leave to go anywhere for lunch as you do not know the exact time of your wrestler’s matches so do keep in mind that these concessions are typical food for sporting events.
Identification/Floor Behavior During the Tournament: Only coaches with IKWF cards with Copper Certification are allowed on the mats. You have to have your coach’s card visible for everyone to see. Almost all coaches wear an ID lanyard around their necks. Cameras are not allowed on the floor. If you want to take pictures, you have to take them from the stands. This is an IKWF rule and heavily enforced at all tournaments.
Scoring/Awards: Most of the time, each wrestler is paired in a bracket with people from other clubs. During the match, the referee will award points to wrestlers for such moves as takedowns, escapes, reversals, and near falls in 3 one-minute sessions within the match. More information on what moves are awarded certain points can be found online. The wrestler with the most points wins, unless there is a pin which is an automatic win. For those 3 matches, the record of the wrestler determines what place the child receives. For example, in a 4 man bracket, there is 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4thplace for each. They usually receive a trophy or a medal once all matches are completed in the bracket. Please remember that all kids will lose matches and it is up to all of us to keep them motivated! With motivation and additional experience, the wins will come.
Please remember that our wrestling club is representing the community of Mt. Zion, and we want all wrestlers and parents to exhibit good sportsmanship and pride at our tournaments.
