Wrestlers are required to pass a hydration test to be assigned to their minimum weight class.The hydration test measures the specific gravity of the athlete's urine to determine how hydrated the athlete is. Dehydration is a detectable sign that may reveal excessive training and/or improper nutrition. If the athlete is found to be dehydrated, he will be ineligible for competition

Hydration Testing Methods

There are many methods for determining hydration status, including monitoring body mass changes, measuring sweat, various blood markers and analysis of urine. Here are more detailed descriptions of some of these methods:

• urine specific gravity — using a refractometer.
• urine color — comparing to a chart.
• sweat analysis — measuring electrolyte composition using patches.
• sweat loss — total loss using body weight changes.
• sweat rate — site specific sweating.