Below are some of the new rule changes for the 2019-2020 Wrestling Season and the NFHS Rational for the change:
4-1-3 Change: ART. 3 . . . Wrestlers shall wear light heelless wrestling shoes, reaching above the ankles. If the shoes have laces, the laces shall either be taped to the shoe or secured by a locking device on the wrestling shoe in an acceptable fashion. If laces are visible, they shall be secured in an acceptable fashion. If the shoe laces come undone the penalty would be an automatic stalling call. (NOTE: acceptable secure fashion could be double knotting of the laces)
Rationale:
This rule holds the coach and wrestler accountable to verification that they have come to the mat properly equipped. This also allows the usage of double knotting of the laces as another way to secure the shoes.
4-2-1 Change: ART. 1 . . . During competition all wrestlers shall be clean shaven, with sideburns trimmed no lower than earlobe level. Hair trimmed and well groomed The hair in its natural state, shall not extend below the top of an ordinary shirt collar in the back; and on the sides, the hair shall not extend below earlobe level; in the front, the hair shall not extend below the eyebrows. (Photos 2-3) A neatly trimmed mustache that does not extend below the line of the lower lip shall be permissible. If an individual has hair
longer than allowed by rule, it may be braided, or rolled if it is it shall be contained in a cover so that the hair rule is satisfied. (Photo 4) Physical hair
treatment items that are hard and /or abrasive such as (beads, bobby pins, barrettes, pins, hair clips, etc. or any other hair control device) shall not be
permitted. A legal hair- controlled device such as rubber band(s) shall be secured so as not to come out readily during wrestling. The legal cover shall
be attached to the ear guards…at the site. If an individual has facial hair, it must shall be covered with a face mask. All legal hair covers and face masks
will be considered as special equipment. If an individual’s hair is as abrasive as an unshaved face, the individual shall be required to shave the head as
smooth as a face is required, or wear a legal hair cover.
Rationale:
The term "well groomed" is extremely subjective and there is no standard to meet such an arbitrary expectation. Hair that is manipulated poses no threat
to either wrestler. It is neither abrasive nor cumbersome. However, physical hair treatments do present a risk to either wrestler due to the hardness,
texture (sharpness) or abrasiveness and should not be allowed.
5-25-2 Change: ART. 2 . . . A takedown shall be awarded when one or both knees of the defensive wrestler are touching the mat beyond reaction time or when the
defensive wrestler's legs or torso are controlled and the majority of the wrestler's weight is supported by his hands. (photo 31) wrestler's hand(s) touch the mat beyond reaction time.
Rationale:
This rule change eliminates a double standard that was created when the definition of a takedown was revised last year. So now we have a double standard in the rulebook. To be consistent we need to say that whenever the hand(s) touch the mat they are considered supporting point(s). By removal of the "majority of the wrestler's weight" criteria, we will eliminate the need for the official to make a judgmental call on weight bearing extremities. In addition, the application of our new rule on "supporting points" becomes consistent throughout the rulebook, not just on or around the 28-foot circle.
7-3-1 Change: ART. 1 . . . Going out of the wrestling area or forcing an opponent out of the wrestling area, by either wrestler at any time as a means of avoiding wrestling an imminent scoring situation, is a technical violation fleeing the mat. Both wrestlers should make every effort to remain inbounds. When the
referee feels that either wrestler has failed to make every effort to stay inbounds during an imminent scoring situation, the offending wrestler shall be penalized for fleeing the mat. There can be no technical violation of fleeing the mat if near-fall points have been earned.
Rationale:
The current rule for stalling presents a situational conflict for the official to make one of two calls, fleeing versus stalling for the similar type of action.
Fleeing is an automatic point where stalling may be a warning on the first violation and a point on the second violation. This change would allow the
referee to only apply the technical violation call of fleeing when the action is related specifically to a scoring situation. All other types of leaving the
wrestling area as a means of avoiding wrestling would fall under the rule of stalling.
8-1-3 Change: ART. 3 . . . Penalties and Warnings are cumulative throughout the match. Each infraction has its specific penalty. The penalty for an illegal
hold/maneuver, technical violation (except false start or incorrect starting position), unnecessary roughness and wrestler’s unsportsmanlike conduct in
the match is awarding the opponent of the offender one match point on the first and second offenses and two match points on the third offense. A fourth offense shall result in disqualification. The first call for stalling will receive a warning prior to the opponent of the offender being awarded a match point. The first two calls for a false start or incorrect starting position will be receive cautions. Following the two cautions, one match point will be awarded to the opponent of the offender for each subsequent
violation. (See Penalty Chart)
Rationale:
Officials need to call stalling more consistently in order to increase the level of aggressive, offensive wrestling. By removing stalling from the progressive
penalty sequence, officials will be able to penalize wrestlers more freely without complicating the matter when it is combined with other penalties (locked hands, fleeing, grasping clothing, etc.) Removing the stalling call from the penalty progression will allow officials more freedom to call stalling
earlier, more consistently and without hesitation when they feel it is warranted.
8-1-4 Change: ART. 4 . . . Warnings and Penalties for stalling are cumulative throughout the match and are penalized independent of the progressive penalty chart. On the first offense the wrestler will receive a warning. The opponent of the offender will be awarded one match point on the second and third offense, two match points and choice of position on the next restart for the fourth offense. A fifth offense shall result in disqualification. (See Penalty Chart)
Rationale:
Officials need to call stalling more consistently in order to increase the level of aggressive, offensive wrestling. By removing stalling from the progressive
penalty sequence, officials will be able to penalize wrestlers more freely without complicating the matter when it is combined with other penalties
(locked hands, fleeing, grasping clothing, etc.) Removing the stalling call from the penalty progression will allow officials more freedom to call stalling
earlier, more consistently and without hesitation when they feel it is warranted.
8-2-4a, b1,2,3 Change: ART. 4 . . . CONCUSSION
a.Any contestant who exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the match and shall not return to competition until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. (See NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports, in Appendix B.)
b. The following modifications to injury time-outs will be used in all competition regarding injuries to the head and neck involving cervical column and/or nervous system:
(1) In the absence of appropriate health-care professional, (physician and/or certified athletic trainer) all injuries to the head and neck involving the
cervical column and/or nervous system will be covered by the same time frame as other injuries. (See 5-28-6, 8-2-1)
(2) When appropriate health-care professional(s) are present, they have jurisdiction to extend the allowed time limit to a maximum of five (5)
minutes for evaluation of the injuries to the head and neck involving cervical column and/or nervous systems only, at which time the athlete would be
required to prepare without delay for continuation or default the match.
(3) A second occurrence of injury to the head and neck involving cervical column and/or central nervous system in the same match shall require the
wrestler to default the match.
NOTE: When this provision is used, the time consumed for the injury will in no way affect time used, or available, for other types of injuries.
Rationale:
This proposal allows additional time to evaluate concussions when an appropriate health-care provider is present. If one is not present, the regular injury time is used. It can only be used once to avoid fake injuries. It cannot be used for any other types of injuries. An additional five minutes is reasonable and has worked successfully in Wisconsin for the last 27 years.
9-2-2f Change: ART. 2 . . . In dual-meet competition, if teams have identical scores, the following team tie-breaking system shall be used to determine the winner. Criteria a-e remain the same.
f. The team giving up the least number of forfeits. Criteria shall be re-labeled through q.
Rationale:
This rule change maintains that forfeits should not be encouraged by rules that give the forfeiting team an advantage. Teams should be encouraged to
put a wrestler on the mat for every weight class - not penalized by the likelihood of giving up scoring events counting against them (criteria H and
beyond).
Official Signal
#28 Tapping the front of the head with a balled-up fist of either hand to indicate that the five (5) minute Head/Neck/Cervical Column Evaluation time
is to begin.
Rationale:
To support the new rule change to indicate that
Head/Neck/Cervical Column evaluation time has begun.