NCHSAA Hair Rule Interpretation

[Longdayrunner]

While you will not find this letter or rule interpretation on the NCHSAA Wrestling website, NCHSAA Handbook and/or the NFHS Casebook, it goes without saying that this rule interpretation should have been circulated to more than the Regional Supervisors and Mat Officials.


10/8/19


Wrestling Regional Supervisors,


It was good to see everyone Friday, I hope all is well. Just wanted to clarify a point of discussion we had regarding wrestlers competing with hair longer than allowable by rule. Remember that they do not have to have a hair cover if the hair is held by a legal hair control device (IE: rubber band) and in a form (bun, rolled, braids, etc) that keeps the hair at a legal length.

For this year, we are interpreting this rule as such in regard to the hair becoming undone from the hair control device. Officials should be directed to give a wrestler a stalling call if their hair becomes illegal and they were using a hair control device, not a hair cover. Each subsequent “hair stoppage” would incur additional stalling calls, similar to calling stalling for the shoelaces coming undone. If they are wearing a legal head cover, then they are allowed to correct that by official’s timeout as this was legal equipment that became illegal during use. Hair is not equipment and cannot inherently be categorized as illegal or legal, it all pertains to the length of the hair. Therefore, if the hair becomes longer than allowable by rule while wrestling without a legal hair cover, it should be a stalling call in each
instance.

Thanks and let me know if you have any other questions.


Tra

[Coach Atwood]

I think this explanation is pretty clear and descriptive.  Bottom line is COACHES need to make sure their wrestlers are properly equipped and this won't be a problem.  Any of my guys/girls with hair length that exceeds the legal allowance will be wearing head covers that connects with the head gear even if they are wearing rubber bands, etc. This doesn't have to be a controversial topic.  Address is beforehand and it won't be a problem. 

[tompt]

Similar call for shoelaces. They can now be double knotted instead of taped. However if the knot comes undone it will be called stalling. If the laces are taped or held by the shoe, ie velcro, and they come undone it is an officials time out like before.

[Longdayrunner]

Regardless of how the shoelaces are complied with:

SITUATION 8: During the match, Wrestler B’s shoelaces become untied. Is this a technical violation? RULING: No, this is penalized as stalling. (7-6-6d)

[Ironman152]

The way Tom mentions it is how I have been told also. If it begins as legal in a legal cover and comes undone it is not penalized.  For hair and laces. 

[Longdayrunner]

The NCHSAA hair rule interpretation is in the letter above.  The RuleBook and CaseBook are clear regardless of how the laces are complied with, if they become untied, then it is stalling.  If the laces are complied with in a velco strap or zipper and/or some other device, and the laces comes out but are not untied, then it is not stalling and they can be replaced in the device without penalty.

[Ironman152]

Thats literally what we both just said, and you disagreed.

[Longdayrunner]

You said "For hair and laces." 

Your statement is unclear. Regardless of how a wrestler complies with his shoelaces, if they become untied it is stalling.

[jimt]

So, what if they are double knotted THEN taped...if they come out of the tape/velcro, but do not come untied, does the action need to stop at all?

[ReactionTime]

Only if the loose tape/velcro is creating a hindrance. But it wouldn't be a penalty.