Course 01 · Interactive Trainer

Running Weigh-Ins

Six short steps. Each step ends with a quick check — you’ll see the correct answer if you miss it, then you can try again. Plan on about 15 minutes.

Progress — Step 1 of 6 0% complete
1 Setup
2 Scale
3 Workflow
4 Brackets
5 Rules
6 Done
Step 01

Show up & log in

You’re at the scale. Three jobs — weigh the wrestler, get the actual weight into USA Bracketing, and escalate anything weird. That’s it.

Show up 15–30 minutes early. The event manager will hand you the event name and password (these are shared event credentials — not personal accounts). Get to usabracketing.com/worker, search for the event name, and enter the password.

1 Weigh Wrestler steps on the certified scale.
2 Enter Get the actual weight into the system.
3 Save Click save. Call the next wrestler.

Before the line forms, also: test the scale with a known weight, confirm wi-fi is working, and check that the paper backup roster is on the table within arm’s reach.

Quick check
You arrive at the scale 20 minutes before doors open. The event manager hands you a printed slip. What information must be on it for you to do your job?
Right. There are no personal accounts for weigh-in work — every volunteer at the scale uses the same event-specific login. The event name + event password is all you need to get into the worker portal.
Step 02

Know your scale

Two kinds of scale are common at events. The first question to ask the event manager: which one are we using today? The workflow is slightly different.

Type A · Manual

You read & type

A standalone digital or analog scale. Wrestler steps on, you read the number off the display, you type it into USA Bracketing.

Type B · Bluetooth

Scale auto-fills

A wireless scale connected to the laptop or tablet. When you click the weight field first, then the wrestler steps on, the scale auto-types the weight straight into the field.

Key Bluetooth rule Click the weight field before the wrestler steps on. The scale sends the weight to whatever field has focus — click the wrong place and the weight ends up in the wrong wrestler’s record. Always click first, then weigh.

Test the scale with a known weight before the line forms. For Bluetooth, also confirm the USB dongle is plugged in and the scale is paired.

Quick check
You’re running a Bluetooth scale. A wrestler walks up. What do you do BEFORE asking them to step on the scale?
Right. The Bluetooth scale auto-fills whatever form field is currently focused. If you weigh before clicking the field, the weight goes nowhere (or worse, into the wrong record). Always: pull up the wrestler → click the weight field → then they step on.
Step 03

The per-wrestler workflow

This is the loop you’ll repeat for every wrestler. 30–60 seconds each once you’re warmed up. Steps 3 and 4 are where the two scale types differ — everything else is the same.

1

Pull wrestler up by name

Type their name in the search. Have them show their wristband or registration if you need it.

2

Confirm division and weight class out loud

Read it back to them: “You’re Bantam 70, right?” Catches registration mistakes early.

3

Weigh them

Manual: Read the weight off the scale (to the tenth). Say it out loud.
Bluetooth: Click the weight field first, then they step on — weight auto-fills.

4

Enter or verify the weight

Manual: Type the actual weight. Double-check what you typed matches the scale.
Bluetooth: Verify the field matches the scale display exactly. If they don’t match, clear the field, have the wrestler step off and back on.

5

Save / mark as weighed in

Click save. The wrestler is locked in.

6

Tick paper roster. Next wrestler.

Cross them off on the paper backup too. Then call the next wrestler.

Quick check
You’re running a Bluetooth scale. The wrestler steps on, the scale shows 72.4 lbs on the display, but the USA Bracketing field shows 72.0. What do you do?
Right. The scale display is the source of truth. If the field doesn’t match, the Bluetooth dropped data — clear the field and re-weigh, don’t guess and type a number yourself. Quick to fix; no need to escalate.
Step 04

Know your bracket format

How “over weight” works depends entirely on which bracket format the event uses. Ask the event manager which one you’re running before the line starts.

Type 1 · Weight-Class

Pre-set classes

Wrestlers registered for a specific weight class (e.g., Bantam 70). They must make that class. Over weight is a real problem — escalate.

  • Makes weight → save and move on
  • Under class → still fine
  • Over class → escalate
Type 2 · Madison / Scramble

Built from weigh-ins

No pre-set classes — brackets are built after weigh-ins from the actual weights. Nobody is ever over or under.

  • Any weight → save and move on
  • Confirm age / division
  • The system builds brackets later
The trap to avoid Don’t reflexively escalate “over weight” problems at a Madison/Scramble event — there’s no class to be over. The actual weigh-in weight is the bracketing weight. Just record what the scale shows.
Quick check
It’s a Madison/Scramble event. A wrestler steps on and weighs 78.6 lbs. Their registration form said they planned to weigh around 72. What do you do?
Right. In Madison/Scramble there’s no “over weight” — the registered estimate doesn’t bind them to anything. Brackets get built from the actual weights you record. Just enter what the scale shows.
Step 05

The rules & when to escalate

The whole job hinges on four rules and one clear escalation list. Don’t freelance — the event manager is there for the unusual stuff.

  1. Enter what the scale shows. No rounding. No helping a wrestler “make weight.” The system needs reality.
  2. Don’t argue weight-class changes at the scale. Send all class-change questions to the event manager.
  3. Tick the paper roster too. Every saved wrestler gets a check on paper. That’s your backup if wi-fi drops.
  4. No coaching, no negotiating. “Sorry, I just enter what the scale shows” is a complete answer.
Escalate · Call now

When to call the event manager

  • Wrestler is over their weight class (weight-class events only)
  • Wrestler isn’t in the system
  • Anyone asks for a class change
  • Bluetooth scale stops auto-filling and won’t reconnect
  • Anything weird you can’t resolve in 10 seconds
Quick check
A coach walks up while you’re mid-line and says, “My kid is one pound over — can you just bump him up to the next weight class? It’s no big deal.” What do you say?
Right. You’re a neutral data-entry station — class changes are a call the event manager owns. Don’t argue, don’t freelance, don’t fudge weights. Escalate cleanly and the line keeps moving.
Course Complete

You’re ready to run the scale.

Know your scale. Know your bracket format. Show up on time. Enter what the scale shows. Escalate the weird stuff. That’s the whole job.

Get the printable Weigh-In Station Card →

Not affiliated with USA Wrestling or USA Bracketing — an educational resource for the Cali Wrestling community.

Course 01 · Running Weigh-Ins · Cali Wrestling