New Weigh-in Procedure Highlights High School Wrestling Rules Changes

4/16/01

Jerry Diehl/National Federation of State High School Association

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 16, 2001) - The issue of proper weight management was foremost on the agenda of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its March 25-26 meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee is composed of one voting member from each of the eight NFHS sections, along with representatives of the National Federation Coaches Association (NFCA) and National Federation Officials Association (NFOA). Sam Crosby of New Jersey is the chairman of the committee.

The main goal of the committee, according to Jerry Diehl, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee, was to provide a situation for athletes whereby they could concentrate less on making weight and more on wrestling.

The most significant rules changes dealt with Rules 4-5-1 and 4-5-3, concerning weigh-in procedures for dual meets and tournaments. These rules changes were implemented to eliminate the detrimental practices associated with dehydration that are considered to have a negative impact on a wrestler's well-being. In both dual meets and tournaments, wrestlers will be required to remain in the weigh-in area and not participate in any dehydration activities.

"In the past they could leave the area," Crosby said. "Now we are saying to the wrestlers that they should not be concerned with weight and be ready to weigh in at that time."

Rule 1-1-2 was also changed to provide for a random draw after the weigh-in to determine the wrestling order of the weight classes instead of working from the lightest to the heaviest classes.

"The traditional draw allowed for wrestlers in the heavier weight classes to hydrate, bulk up and wrestle out of their class," Crosby said. "This also adds some excitement to the match by not always having the heavyweights finishing a meet."

Another topic tackled at the meeting was the overtime procedure. Previously, at the end of regulation, if the score was tied, a disc was tossed to determine who would have choice of offense or defense to begin overtime. Now, Rule 6-7-1 has been changed to allow the wrestler who first scored a point during regulation to have the choice in the 30-second tie-breaker.

"I think this is a good change," Crosby said. "This will give wrestlers more incentive to get that first point."

In addition, four other rules changes were addressed:

* Rule 4-3-1 had language added to prohibit the use of any type of electronic communication between a coach and competitor.

* Rule 6-1-3 has been changed to reduce the time of an overtime period from two minutes to one minute.

* In Rule 6-6-2, failure of the official to give the opponent his choice following the calling of a second injury time-out has been added to bad time.

* A new article has been added to Rule 7-3-7 to also penalize the wrestler who appears on the mat not properly equipped, in addition to the penalty to the coach as addressed in Rule 7-5-3.

National Federation Of State High School Associations 2001-02 Major Wrestling Rules Changes

1-1-2 A random draw shall be conducted to determine the first weight class that will be competed in dual matches.

4-3-1 Language has been added to prohibit the use of any type of electronic communication between a coach and competitor.

4-5-1 New regulations for weigh-ins at duals have been implemented.

4-5-3 New regulations for weigh-ins at tournaments have been implemented.

6-1-3 The overtime period has been reduced from two minutes to one minute.

6-6-2 Failure of the official to give the opponent his choice following the calling of a second injury time-out has been added to bad time.

6-7-1 The procedure as to which wrestler has a choice in the tiebreaker has been changed.

7-3-7 A new article has been added to also penalize the wrestler who appears on the mat not properly equipped.