2012-13 Membership

General Information

Become a member of the IKWF and USA Wrestling

Membership in the IKWF and USA Wrestling provides many benefits including:

Membership in USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States.
Membership in the largest kids folkstyle organization in USA Wrestling.
Insurance coverage for clubs, practice facilities, events, wrestlers, coaches, and officials.

As members of the IKWF and USA Wrestling, insurance coverage is of the upmost importance. Click the headers below for detailed information to charter your club or to become a member as a competitor, coach, or official.

Insurance Information

Please review the documents below for detailed information concerning insurance coverage's.

USA Wrestling's Insurance Summary
Medical Information and Waiver Forms

DO NOT submit the MEDICAL INFORMATION forms to the IKWF. These forms should be kept with your club files. Any forms submitted to the IKWF will be returned to the primary club contact.

USA Wrestling Notice of Injury

If you are injured during an IKWF club activity or event, download this form and follow the instructions in the cover page.

Membership Dues

Note: All membership is valid September 1st through August 31st (charters and membership cards).

Club Charter - $125
Additional Insured - $20 per site
Event Sanction - $100
Competitor Membership - $40
Coach Membership - $30
(coaches and officials are responsible to pay $15 for their background screening.)
Mat Official Membership - $25

All dues must be paid to the IKWF. Make checks payable to IKWF and mail to the address on the Contact Us page.

Charter your Club

Chartering your Club with the IKWF requires the completion of, in most cases, 3 forms:

Club Charter Application ($125)

All clubs must complete this form each season (Sep. 1 - Aug.1). If don't remember or don't have a club code, don't worry about it. It will not delay the processing of your club membership. Below is additional information provided by USA Wrestling to assist you with club organization and general membership in USA Wrestling.

Letter from USA Wrestling Manager of State Services

USA Wrestling Club Organizing Guide

USA Wrestling Club Marketing Strategies

Additional Insured Application (Optional - $20 per site)

A completed additional insured application will provide insurance cover for your practice facility or facilities.

The "Name of the Party Making Application" is you.

The "Name of Certificate Holder" is the owner/operator, school district, or company who either owns or manages your practice facility. If you practice at a school it is better to list the school district rather than the school name.

IKWF Charter Form Supplement

At the time you file your club charter, the IKWF requires each club to declare:

A) The head coach and his/her contact information.

B) The street address of your primary practice facility (i.e. the facility where you practice more than 50% of the season).

Sanction your event

Sanctioning your event enables our wrestlers to compete and learn from the skills taught to them at IKWF club practices. Most tournaments are used as club fundraisers but this does not negate the responsibilities of the tournament director and the tournament host club from providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all wrestlers, coaches, officials, and spectators. Complete the forms below and submit to the IKWF.

Event Sanction Application ($100)

Tournament directors and the tournament host club are responsible for ensuring:

All wrestlers have a current USA Wrestling competitor card and have been age verified by the IKWF office.

Important: All coaches must have a current USA Wrestling coaches card and it must be displayed between their neck and waist while coaching at the event. Failure to follow this requirement will result in disciplinary actions taken against the tournament director and the tournament host club.

All officials must have a current United States Wrestling Officials Officials membership card.

Your event will be listed on the IKWF and USA Wrestling's "Events" pages.

You can also provide the IKWF with an event flyer to be included with the basic event information listed on these website. Please email the flyer or the link from your club website to ikwf@ikwf.org.

Additional Insured Application (Optional - no fee when included with Event Sanction)

Although it is not required, the IKWF highly recommends you complete the Additional Insured Application so your club will receive a "date-specific" insurance certificate for your event.

The "Name of the Party Making Application" is you.

The "Name of Certificate Holder" is the owner/operator, school district, or company who either owns or manages your practice facility. If you practice at a school it is better to list the school district rather than the school name.

Competitor Membership

All wrestlers must hold a valid USA Wrestling competitor membership card.

Please Note: If a competitor card is purchased for pre-season training purposes, the competitor has until November 14th to declare their club for the IKWF season.

2012-13 IKWF Competitor Membership Application ($40)

The above application should be used for any wrestler who participates in any IKWF event.

2012-13 Non-IKWF Competitor Membership Application ($40)

The above application should be used for any wrestler who WILL NOT compete in IKWF events (i.e. high school wrestlers or junior high wrestlers).

Wrestler Club Transfer Request

The IKWF is a club-based organization. There are specific by-laws which pertain to IKWF membership and club affiliation. You should consult the IKWF by-laws for specific language regarding both of these items.

IKWF by-laws stipulate once a USA Wrestling membership card is purchased with a particular club the wrestler is a member of that club for the entire season.
The IKWF by-laws allow a wrestler to petition to be transferred to a different club.
- Transfer request must be submitted by January 1st of the current season.
- Transfer may only occur to another team within the same sectional.
- Wrestlers (or families) who physically move are not bound to transfer to a club in the same sectional (i.e., family moves from Rockford to Bloomington).
Wrestler Club Transfer Request Form ($25, non-refundable fee)
If you wish to transfer clubs, please complete the attached form and submit to the IKWF office with the $25 non-refundable fee by the January 1st postmark deadline.

**** The information provided here does not imply or suggest a transfer will be granted. ****

Coach's Certification

All IKWF coaches must have one of the following certifications to coach in the IKWF State Series:

National Coaches Education Program (NCEP)

Copper, Bronze, Silver, or Gold certified

American Sports Education Program

Coaching Wrestling Principles

Ways to get certified:

Look for NCEP clinics listed on this website. Clinics will be listed when they are scheduled.

Go to ASEP's website and take either the ASEP Coaching Wrestling Principles online course or NCEP Copper Certification online course.

Coach's Membership

All coaches must hold a valid USA Wrestling coaches membership card.

Please Note: Any individual UNDER 18 years old IS NOT required to pass a background screening.

USA Wrestling Background Screening Policy

Prior to issuance of a coaches membership card, individuals are required to pass a background screening EVERY OTHER YEAR. Please review the document above to understand the minimum requirements needed to pass the background screening. If you have any questions you should contact Tony Black, Manager of State Services for USA Wrestling (719) 598-8181.

Coach's Release and Waiver of Liability

Any coach who passed the background screening during the 2011-12 season IS NOT required to pass a background screening for the 2011-12 season. Download the above release and waiver of liability, complete it, and mail to the IKWF office with a $40 check for payment of membership fees.

Returning Coach Instructions ($30)

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) DID NOT pass a background screening during the 2011-12 season (September 1st through August 31st).

New Coach Instructions ($30)

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE NOT been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) HAVE NEVER passed USA Wrestling's background screening (i.e. new coaches to the IKWF and USA Wrestling).

Official's Membership

All officials must hold a valid USA Wrestling officials membership card.

Please Note: Any individual UNDER 18 years old IS NOT required to pass a background screening.

USA Wrestling Background Screening Policy

Prior to issuance of a official's membership card, individuals are required to pass a background screening EVERY OTHER YEAR. Please review the document above to understand the minimum requirements needed to pass the background screening. If you have any questions you should contact Tony Black, Manager of State Services for USA Wrestling (719) 598-8181.

Officials Release and Waiver of Liability

Any official who passed the background screening during the 2011-12 season IS NOT required to pass a background screening for the 2011-12 season. Download the above release and waiver of liability, complete it, and mail to the IKWF office with a $35 check for payment of membership fees.

Returning Official Instructions ($25)

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) DID NOT pass a background screening during the 2011-12 season (September 1st through August 31st).

New Officials Instructions ($25)

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE NOT been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) HAVE NEVER passed USA Wrestling's background screening (i.e. new officials to the IKWF and USA Wrestling).

Online Registration

USA Wrestling offers online registration through www.usawmembership.com.

All USA Wrestling members since 2007 have been issued a USAW ID and password.
If you don't have or lost this information, contact the IKWF office for assistance. We can provide you with your USAW ID and password.
If you create a duplicate account at www.usawmembership.com, it will be deleted and merged with your existing account. Please contact the IKWF office for assistance.
The IKWF office staff will help you navigate their membership system.

2012-13 Membership

Become a member of the IKWF and USA Wrestling

Please review the documents below for detailed information concerning insurance coverage's.

DO NOT submit the MEDICAL INFORMATION forms to the IKWF. These forms should be kept with your club files. Any forms submitted to the IKWF will be returned to the primary club contact.

If you are injured during an IKWF club activity or event, download this form and follow the instructions in the cover page.

Note: All membership is valid September 1st through August 31st (charters and membership cards).

A completed additional insured application will provide insurance cover for your practice facility or facilities.

The "Name of the Party Making Application" is you.

The "Name of Certificate Holder" is the owner/operator, school district, or company who either owns or manages your practice facility. If you practice at a school it is better to list the school district rather than the school name.

At the time you file your club charter, the IKWF requires each club to declare:

A) The head coach and his/her contact information.

B) The street address of your primary practice facility (i.e. the facility where you practice more than 50% of the season).

Tournament directors and the tournament host club are responsible for ensuring:

All wrestlers have a current USA Wrestling competitor card and have been age verified by the IKWF office.

Important: All coaches must have a current USA Wrestling coaches card and it must be displayed between their neck and waist while coaching at the event. Failure to follow this requirement will result in disciplinary actions taken against the tournament director and the tournament host club.

All officials must have a current United States Wrestling Officials Officials membership card.

Although it is not required, the IKWF highly recommends you complete the Additional Insured Application so your club will receive a "date-specific" insurance certificate for your event.

The "Name of the Party Making Application" is you.

The "Name of Certificate Holder" is the owner/operator, school district, or company who either owns or manages your practice facility. If you practice at a school it is better to list the school district rather than the school name.

All wrestlers must hold a valid USA Wrestling competitor membership card.

Please Note: If a competitor card is purchased for pre-season training purposes, the competitor has until November 14th to declare their club for the IKWF season.

The above application should be used for any wrestler who participates in any IKWF event.

The above application should be used for any wrestler who WILL NOT compete in IKWF events (i.e. high school wrestlers or junior high wrestlers).

The IKWF is a club-based organization. There are specific by-laws which pertain to IKWF membership and club affiliation. You should consult the IKWF by-laws for specific language regarding both of these items.

- Transfer request must be submitted by January 1st of the current season.- Transfer may only occur to another team within the same sectional. - Wrestlers (or families) who physically move are not bound to transfer to a club in the same sectional (i.e., family moves from Rockford to Bloomington).

If you wish to transfer clubs, please complete the attached form and submit to the IKWF office with the $25 non-refundable fee by the January 1st postmark deadline.

All IKWF coaches must have one of the following certifications to coach in the IKWF State Series:

Copper, Bronze, Silver, or Gold certified

Coaching Wrestling Principles

Look for NCEP clinics listed on this website. Clinics will be listed when they are scheduled.

Go to ASEP's website and take either the ASEP Coaching Wrestling Principles online course or NCEP Copper Certification online course.

All coaches must hold a valid USA Wrestling coaches membership card.

Please Note: Any individual UNDER 18 years old IS NOT required to pass a background screening.

Any coach who passed the background screening during the 2011-12 season IS NOT required to pass a background screening for the 2011-12 season. Download the above release and waiver of liability, complete it, and mail to the IKWF office with a $40 check for payment of membership fees.

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) DID NOT pass a background screening during the 2011-12 season (September 1st through August 31st).

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE NOT been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) HAVE NEVER passed USA Wrestling's background screening (i.e. new coaches to the IKWF and USA Wrestling).

All officials must hold a valid USA Wrestling officials membership card.

Please Note: Any individual UNDER 18 years old IS NOT required to pass a background screening.

Any official who passed the background screening during the 2011-12 season IS NOT required to pass a background screening for the 2011-12 season. Download the above release and waiver of liability, complete it, and mail to the IKWF office with a $35 check for payment of membership fees.

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) DID NOT pass a background screening during the 2011-12 season (September 1st through August 31st).

The above instructions should be used by individuals who a) HAVE NOT been issued a USAW membership card (competitor, coach, or official) since 2007 or b) HAVE NEVER passed USA Wrestling's background screening (i.e. new officials to the IKWF and USA Wrestling).

State Series

State Tournament Information

- Transfer request must be submitted by January 1st of the current season.
- Transfer may only occur to another team within the same sectional.
- Wrestlers (or families) who physically move are not bound to transfer to a club in the same sectional (i.e., family moves from Rockford to Bloomington).