Dear Valued Members,

ISWA WRESTLING NEWS & UPDATES --------------   APRIL  2020

DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – ALL ISWA TOURNAMENTS WERE CANCELLED

INCLUDING THE ISWA 2020 FREESTYLE/GRECO STATE FINALS Clubs:  Thank you in advance for communicating this with your members.

From: Tony Black at the USA Wrestling Office in Colorado Springs, CO. 

For immediate release, April 20, 2020 – USA Wrestling postpones National and Regional events through July 1

Due to the nature of what it would entail to host a national or regional USA Wrestling competition, with the first priority being the health and safety of all participants involved, USA Wrestling has extended the postponement of its national and regional events through July 1.

In addition to the 10 national and regional events that USA Wrestling previously postponed through May 10, there are 10 additional events which have now been postponed:

•        Western Regional Championships, Farmington, UT, May 14-16
•        Northern Plains Regional Championships, Rochester, MN, May 15-17
•        Central Regional Championships, Fort Wayne, IN, May 15-17   
•        Southeast Regional Championships, Wilmington, NC, May 22-24
•        UWW U23 & Junior World Team Trials, Geneva, OH, May 29-31    
•        Southern Plains Regional Championships, Dodge City, KS, June 5-7
•        16U National Duals, Loves Park, IL, June 9-13
•        14U National Duals, Franklin, IN, June 10-14  
•        Junior National Duals, Tulsa, OK, June 16-20
•        USA Wrestling Kids Nationals, Wisconsin Dells, WI, June 25-27 

Working with its COVID-19 Advisory Committee and relying on current advice from health and government agencies, USA Wrestling is currently formulating the specific safety measures that must be put in place in order for the resumption of club practice and local or state competitions. Any such activity will only be possible when held under the guidelines set by local and state health authorities and in compliance with the safety measures being developed for the sport.

As this situation regarding this pandemic remains fluid and ever-evolving, USA Wrestling will continue to monitor its policies regarding National and Regional events, sanctioned events and club practices, and additional changes to these policies are possible.

Now that the Folkstyle season has been cancelled, many of our wrestlers are wondering about the International Wrestling styles of Freestyle and Greco-Roman. A tentative RTC schedule - Regional Training Centers – is being developed and will be released as soon as possible due to our country’s current situation.

The ISWA 2020 CULTURAL EXCHANGE is currently on hold due to the current COVID-19 situation, the annual Cultural Exchange trip is being developed and information will be released as soon as possible.

2020 FS/GR Mat Officials Clinic

The ISWA hosted a Freestyle/Greco-Roman mat officials’ clinic at the ISWA Office on March 1, 2020. The clinic was presented by Mark Mundy – ISWA FS/GR Mat Official Director. The clinic was attended by several Indiana officials who had an open date off their club schedules. Currently Mark and ISWA Vice Chair Ben Nicely are creating a video clinic that will include rule emphasizes and examples of FS/GR scoring actions.

USAW/ISWA LOCAL Sanction Events 

As for March 30, 2020 USAW had an announcement about local sanctioned events current status. As of

March 30, 2020 USAW advised the following information– With unanimous support of the USA Wrestling COVID-19 Advisory Committee, USA Wrestling has suspended all sanctioned events through May 10th, 2020.  

Stay tuned for more updates as USAW and the ISWA are advised at the local level of completion. Currently clubs are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED NOT TO BEGIN UNTIL STATE OFFICIALS FIND IT SAFE TO RETURN TO CLOSE PROXIMITY CONACT.   The ISWA will be working at the state level with our local health department in taking proper measures to keep our members safe during these uncertain times.  With communications sent to membership emails, social media and the ISWA website its important to keep our members informed about what our organization is suggesting and mandating.  Thank you for your continued patience as this fluid situation is being evaluation on a week by week basis.  A BIG SHOUT out to our coaches and club members, board of directors, officials and respected wrestling leaders members are able to watch work outs virtually to stay conditioned while practicing social distancing as advised by health officials.  If you have concerns or questions the ISWA is here for our valued members.  Feel free to email office@iswa.com if you have concerns or questions.  

Excellwell Dr. Robert Hoffman Virtual Talk with Jim Tonte: https://iswa2016.sharepoint.com/sites/iswaboardofdirectors/Shared%20Documents/General/ISWA_HOFFMAN_HD_PROD.mp4

Dr Robert Hoffman’s, CEO of Excellwell is offering a free online Mindset Survey for members.  Talks from Dr Hoffman will now be virtual due to cancellation of Folkstyle State Finals, where Dr Hoffman would have presented the benefits of the 10 Mindsets from Excellwell.  Survey link: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExcellwellAMS_ISWA_VIP

Receipt ID: ISWA VIP

Survey results will be emailed to member within a week of taking survey.  Members are encouraged to complete the survey before May 8th as further Mindset discussions will be previewed virtually with the ISWA.

Club Competition-FREE ONLINE COACHES CERTIFICATION

Indiana members who are taking advantage of USAW FREE Bronze and Cooper Coaches certifications has pushed Indiana in the top nationally in certifications!  Even further the ISWA has challenged clubs to compete from club to club for prizes awarded top certification participants! Any member either athlete or coach can complete the free course and help their club on to a friendly competition of top club coacher certification completion!  Questions contact Danny Struck at Danny.struck@iswa.com