Minnesota/USA Wrestling

See message below regarding what is required for coaching matside.  This will be enforced this year.   

If you ALREADY have your Coaches membership purchased, you do not need to read this message, skip to the message below on what is required.  If you have NOT purchased your membership card yet, READ this message and the message below.

Coaches memberships require a background check that needs to be done online PRIOR to the card being purchased.   This background check only needs to be completed ONCE every 2 years, so if you completed and passed it last year, you do not have to do the background check again this year.  The National office made a change to the process this year and will NOT allow me to update a membership without the background check being done.  They were having to refund too many memberships when the background checks did not come back favorable.

Therefore, in order to purchase your Coaches card at the State tournament, you will NEED to bring along with you a copy of your invoice that says you submitted the background check, prior to arriving at the tournament. 

The process for getting your floor pass will be a lot faster if you have a copy of your coaches card with you.  We will form two areas at the conclusion of the meeting, one for those coaches with their cards in their hand, the other where we have to look them up.  If you need to purchase the card, you will want to do that prior to the Coaches meeting (remember to have the invoice from your background check with you).

Please do not hesitate to contact Donita Flodeen if you need assistance printing your coaches membership card.  507-263-3964 (home) 612-709-1932 (cell)

Requirements for coaching matside at a Minnesota State tournament in 2010.  Requirements for out-of-state events are determined by the specific tournament.

You must have a current USA Coaches Membership and......

 #1)  Attend a short 20 minute coaches etiquette meeting (there are 3 of them scheduled before the tournament begins)

#2)  Pay a $10 fee for a floor pass and have that floor pass displayed at all times.

#3) Pay a $5 fee for a floor pass if you bring back the floor pass and display wallet from the previous year.

NO COPPER OR BRONZE CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE MN STATE TOURNAMENT

In Addition:  Coaches with a current Bronze card and current USA Coaches membership card will get a Free Coaches Floor pass without having to attend the "etiquette" clinic.

Beginning with the 2008-2009 membership year, coaches were required to submit to and pass a background check.  This process is being mandated and implemented by the National office and is required once every two years.  A background check performed by another entity will not satisfy the requirements from the national office.  To find out more information about this process, go to http://www.themat.com/forms/2008_Background_Policy.pdf

To complete the background check, you first must obtain a current membership. You can either purchase this online ($40.00) or through the State office ($35.00).  (See membership tab for specific information).

Once your membership has been purchased, if you did not complete a background check last year, you will then log into the membership site.  Go to http://www.usawmembership.com/  There are two options for you, one for those that already have they logon id and password, and one for those that do not.  If you do not have your logon id and password, after clicking the appropriate link, a box will appear that you will need to enter in your email address.  This email address needs to match the email address you provided when you obtained your current membership.  Within a few minutes, your logon id and password will be emailed to you. (You may need to turn off "cookies" on your computer in order to get the box requesting your email address).  Once you have your logon id and password, log back into http://www.usawmembership.com/  You will then be instructed on how to complete the background check.  There is a cost associated with this process, so please have a credit card available.

Once you have passed your background check, you will receive an email.  You will then want to log back into the membership site and print your coaches membership card.

If you have any questions on this process, please do not hesitate to contact Donita Flodeen at 507-263-3964.

Bronze level certification is required for certain Regional/National level tournaments.  To find out more informaton regarding this certification, please visit the National Website www.themat.com and click on the Coaches Corner.  There will be information regarding the clinic's or contact Chris Willaert at cwillaert@mnusawrestling.org phone: 507.382.0988 for more information

MN USA Wrestling will be holding a Bronze Certification Clinic on March 21, 2010 at Eagan High School.  It will begin at 9:00 am and is expected to complete approximately 1:00 p.m.   The clinic will be led by Heath Bakken.  The cost is $75 if you pre-register (register by March 19th) or $100 at the door.  Registrations will be accepted by Donita at the MN State Folkstyle tournament or you can mail your reservation using the attached form.   Please contact Donita if you have any questions:  507-263-3964 or 612-709-1932.