ELIGIBILITY 

This event is open to all participants that meet the age group requirements (see Divisions tab) and have the proper USA Wrestling membership (see below). 

The 2023-2024 Membership Year begins August 21, 2023 and goes through August 31, 2024. 

Eligibility at Kids Nationals

In order to be eligible for Kids Nationals, one must compete in any regional or obtain a waiver to compete from his/her state chairperson.  For additional information on how to qualify or attend please contact your respective state representative CLICK HERE!

Approved as of the 2023 USA Wrestling Board of Director’s National Convention: 

• Participation at Regional & National Championships When both regional and/or national championships are offered to both genders in the same style(s) in Junior and 16U, wrestlers shall only be allowed to compete in the division of his/her gender.
   
• Participation at Regional & National Championships When both regional and/or national championships are offered to both genders in the same style(s) in 14U and below, wrestlers shall only be allowed to compete in the division of his/her gender. 

State teams shall be limited to four (4) wrestlers per age per style per weight class. Wrestlers who earn automatic qualifier status shall not count against any limit.

Junior & 16U Nationals (FARGO) Qualifications

All athletes who wish to participate in this event must go through their respective state to register.  This is not an open event. For additional information on how to qualify or attend please contact your respective state representative CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to your state chairperson on how to qualify for their state's 52nd  Annual USA Wrestling Junior & 16U National Championships (July 12-20, 2024) team.

For qualification rules visit USA WRESTLING – JUNIOR OLYMPIC WRESTLING COMMITTEE BOARD REPORT

Athlete Membership 

Wrestlers must enter their USA Wrestling Membership number when they register online. Wrestlers that do not have valid USA Wrestling Membership numbers will not be allowed to register. 

To purchase or renew your membership now, please visit www.USAWMembership.com.

If you have lost or forgotten your membership number, please contact svest@usawrestling.org 

CLICK HERE for more information on how to purchase and/or renew USA Wrestling Athlete Membership 

Wrestling Leader Membership 

All coaches that wish to gain access to the competition floor to coach athletes must have a current USA Wrestling Leader Membership Card. All USA Wrestling Leader Membership Cards MUST be attained prior to the event, due to mandatory background checking.

For a USA Wrestling Leader Membership Card, please CLICK HERE.

*PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 30 DAYS FOR COMPLETION OF USA WRESTLING LEADER MEMBERSHIP/BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS. 

Coaches must be prepared to show their current USA Wrestling membership card and photo I.D. to purchase a coach’s pass. Coaching credentials will only be issued to Wrestling Leader members at least 18 years of age who meet the appropriate NCEP certification requirement.

Minors accompanying credentialed coaches will not be allowed on the competition floor.

Coaches and athletes, please bring a copy of your USAW membership card & a photo ID with you to the event. Every coach and athlete will need to be bar code scanned into the event.

Coach’s passes are available online. Coaches are encouraged to pre-purchase prior to the event.

CLICK HERE to purchase coaching credentials.

*Scroll to the bottom of the page after clicking the link to select your profile

How to Earn Coaching Certifications 

Copper & Bronze Certification 

You can take the certification online through your membership profile. CLICK HERE for Coaching Certification. 

Scroll to manage and then coach certifications and once you purchase the course from your shopping cart your access it under the “my courses” tab. 

Certifications update immediately on your profile. You can print a membership card online and it will show all your NCEP Certification Levels. 

Please contact USA Wrestling's Manager of National Coaches Education Program, Mike Clayton, at mclayton@usawrestling.org if you have any issues. 

Regional/National Events

Approved as of the 2023 USA Wrestling Board of Director’s National Convention: 

• Participation at Regional & National Championships When both regional and/or national championships are offered to both genders in the same style(s) in Junior and 16U, wrestlers shall only be allowed to compete in the division of his/her gender.
   
• Participation at Regional & National Championships When both regional and/or national championships are offered to both genders in the same style(s) in 14U and below, wrestlers shall only be allowed to compete in the division of his/her gender. 

State teams shall be limited to four (4) wrestlers per age per style per weight class. Wrestlers who earn automatic qualifier status shall not count against any limit.

Automatic Qualifier – Junior & 16U Nationals

The following shall serve as automatic qualifiers at Junior & 16U Nationals and shall not count against any roster limit:

• Current year 1st-6th place at USA Wrestling Regionals (placement must be in the same age and style)
• Current year 1st-8th place at U15 Nationals (placement must be in the same style)
• Current year 1st-8th place at U17 Nationals (placement must be in the same style)
• Current year 1st-8th place at U20 Nationals (placement must be in the same style)
• Previous year 1st-8th place at Junior Nationals (placement must be in the same style)
• Previous year 1st-8th place at 16U Nationals (placement must be in the same style)

*For Hawaii and Alaska only, their roster limit shall not exceed 4 per weight class plus 2 additional wrestlers. The wrestlers can be at any weight class (e.g., 15 weight classes = 62 wrestlers)

Eligibility at Kid’s Nationals:

To be eligible for Kid’s Nationals, one must compete in any regional or obtain a waiver to compete from his/her state chairperson.

Weight at Kid’s Nationals:

At Kid’s Nationals, provided a wrestler has qualified for Kid’s Nationals or been granted a waiver to compete, he/she may not compete lower than the lowest weight weighed in at any regional, minus one weight class.

Transgender Policy

USA Wrestling deems it necessary to ensure, insofar as possible, that transgender athletes are not excluded from the opportunity to participate in wrestling competitions. As such, USA Wrestling’s Gender Policy is based on the results and guidelines of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) actions.

Please CLICK HERE to read the transgender policy document in its entirety in order to understand the guidelines USA Wrestling follows in regards to transgender athletes competing at USA Wrestling events.