Coaches,    As we intensify pre-season workouts for our scholastic athletes, and gear up to test our new international rules, I want to take a few of your minutes.  It is both a responsibility and a pleasure for me to update you on our accomplishments in 2003-2004 and our goals for '04-'05.    Congratulations and Thanks should always come first!  To our Olympic Team, their families, and our Coaches go both.  Congratulations on three wonderful tournaments and six medals.  Thanks for representing us with dignity and style.    To all of the staff at USA Wrestling, thanks for every effort you've made to make our profession more efficient and productive for the athletes we serve.  We are, without doubt, the most educated, prepared, informed, involved, and committed body of wrestling coaches in the world.  We see the efforts of our staff and appreciate them.    To the Board of Directors, USAW, the Council of State Chairs, and the members of the Junior Olympic Wrestling Committee, thank you for answering the needs and concerns of 19,000 coaches and for amplifying our voice, so we can truly make a difference.    To the members of the National Coaches' Council:  Ray Brinzer; Mike Duroe; Rick Gumbel; Tadaki Hatta; Mike Hagerty; Chris Horpel; Mark Reiland;  thanks for the long phone calls, late meetings, and all the extra time you give to paving the way for all our constituents.      2004-2005 REVIEW  We had the most productive year on record, since the inception of the Coaches' Council in the late 80's.  The highlights include:  v Composing, adopting, and ratifying a new set of by-laws that reflect the vision and mission, the purpose and needs of our organization, its sub-groups, and its individual members;  v Monitoring the medical check and weigh in process, at our largest and most prestigious event (Fargo), ensuring due process for all athletes, their coaches, and parents;  v Proposing removal of the restriction of the " ¾ Nelson" in Cadet competition ( this proposal was adopted by the State Chairs and Board of Directors… the ¾ is now legal for Cadets);  v Proposing a domestic moratorium on the new FILA rules for 2004-2005, maintaining the existing continuity between folkstyle and the Olympic styles for age group American athletes wrestling National events (this proposal was adopted by the State Chairs and Board of Directors…  Cadets & Juniors qualifying for international competition will use new FILA rules…  those earning only National recognition will compete under 2003-2004 rules);  v Requesting and receiving additional meeting time for our Developmental Coaches, during the National Convention in Fargo (an additional meeting, early in the week has given greater voice to our Greco contingent and allowed us to give more quality thought to the issues that concern us);  v Defraying increased expense, at the National Office level, without directly impacting card price to athletes (realizing that we incur far more risk and receive far more benefits, we proposed raising our own card price… the State Chairs and Board adopted our proposal)     2004-2005 GOALS  v Continue to work cooperatively with our offices of National Teams and Coach Education to improve and enhance benefits and programs for member coaches;  v Use input from our FILA resources and National Coaches to develop appropriate strategies for incorporating new FILA rules in our age group programs;  v Nurture our relationship with the Junior Olympic Committee and State Chairs, so that our concerns receive prompt and positive endorsement;  v Develop and implement efficient means of communication for all coaches, through effective use of existing technology.    UPCOMING EVENTS  There's a great National Coaches Seminar in Colorado Springs, October   21-24. I hope to see many of you there!    Sunkist has been selected as a test site for the new FILA rules, October   28-31. If you have concerns, please contact me after the event.      Our National Coaches' Council will have a conference call sometime soon.  Please…  if you have any issues or concerns, contact one or more members of the council.  They include:  Mark Reiland             Merv167@aol.com  Ray Brinzer     petruchio@perlmonk.org  Chris Horpel    dswf@attbi.com  Tadaki Hatta   thatta@ravenna.portage.k12.oh.us  Mike Hagerty   mhagerty@BSSD.NET  Rick Gumble             rgumble@yahoo.com  Mike Duroe   mikeduroe@aol.com  Rusty Davidson  rustyd@7cities.net    Please accept my best personal wishes during the upcoming scholastic season… for you , your athletes, and your family.    Rusty