National Federation of State High School Associations

2021-22 NFHS WRESTLING RULE INTERPRETATION POWERPOINT

B. Elliot Hopkins, MLD, CAA

Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF

STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

• NFHS (located in Indianapolis, IN – Est. 1920):
• National leader and advocate for high school athletics and performing arts programs.
• Serves 51 state associations, 19,500 high schools and 12 million student participants.
• Writes playing rules for 17 high school sports for boys and girls.
• Offers online education courses for high school coaches, officials, parents, students and others.
• Ensures that students have opportunity to enjoy healthy participation, achievement and good sportsmanship in education-based athletics.

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NFHS RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE

• The NFHS Rules Review Committee is chaired by the chief operating officer and composed of all rules editors. After each committee concludes its deliberations and has adopted its recommended changes for the subsequent year, such revisions will be evaluated by the Rules Review Committee.

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RULE CHANGES

Rule Change

REPRESENTATION

RULE 1-4-3 Exception

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RULE 1-4-3 Exception

• ART. 3 . . . No wrestler shall represent the school in more than one weight class in any meet or wrestle in more than five matches (championship or consolation), excluding forfeits in any one day of competition. Exception: No wrestler shall wrestle in more than six matches (championship or consolation), excluding forfeits in any one day of a tournament conducted by the state high school association for qualification to the state high school championships or the championships themselves.

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Rationale:

Increasing the number of matches from five to six would allow postseason tournaments with more than 8 competitors in a weight class to complete the tournament in one day. This would be a substantial help for post-season qualifying tournaments and state championship events where travel can be extreme. In many cases, this would eliminate the need for schools to stay overnight in order to participate in their respective state qualifying tournaments and state championship events.

Rule Change

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WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS RULE 4-4-1a AND b (NEW)

Rule Change

• For the first time, the NFHS has adopted standardized weight classes for girls wrestling (when girls wrestle girls).

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• Effective July 1, 2023: State associations can adopt one of three sets of weight classes.

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WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS RULE 4-4-1a AND b (NEW)

Rule Change

• Effective July 1, 2023: State associations can adopt one of three sets of weight classes for boys wrestling (or when girls wrestle boys).

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RULE 4-4-1a

Rule Change

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ART. 1 . . . A state association shall select one weight class. Competition shall be in one of the following sets of weight classes when girls are wrestling girls:

• a.(12) 100 lbs., 107 lbs., 114 lbs., 120 lbs., 126 lbs., 132 lbs., 138

lbs., 145 lbs., 152 lbs., 165 lbs., 185 lbs., 235 lbs.

• (13) 100 lbs., 106 lbs., 112 lbs., 118 lbs., 124 lbs., 130 lbs., 136

lbs., 142 lbs., 148 lbs., 155 lbs., 170 lbs., 190 lbs., 235 lbs.

• (14) 100 lbs., 105 lbs., 110 lbs., 115 lbs., 120 lbs., 125 lbs., 130

lbs., 135 lbs., 140 lbs., 145 lbs., 155 lbs., 170 lbs., 190 lbs., 235 lbs.

RULE 4-4-1b

Rule Change

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• b. A state association shall select one weight class. Competition shall be in one of the following sets of weight classes when boys wrestle boys (or when boys wrestle girls):
• (12) 108 lbs., 116 lbs., 124 lbs., 131 lbs., 138 lbs., 145 lbs., 152

lbs., 160 lbs., 170 lbs., 190 lbs., 215 lbs., 285 lbs.

• (13) 107 lbs., 114 lbs., 121 lbs., 127 lbs., 133 lbs., 139 lbs., 145

lbs., 152 lbs., 160 lbs., 172 lbs., 189 lbs., 215 lbs., 285 lbs.

• (14) 106 lbs., 113 lbs., 120 lbs., 126 lbs., 132 lbs. 138 lbs., 144

lbs., 150 lbs., 157 lbs., 165 lbs., 175 lbs., 190 lbs., 215 lbs., 285 lbs.

RULES 4-4-1a and b

Rule Change

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Rationale:

Effective July 1, 2023: We have more member state associations (32) sponsoring girls wrestling and providing an equal number of uniform weight classifications is now necessary. Due to fluctuating demographics of our student enrollment, each state association shall select one of the three sets (12, 13, 14) of listed weight classes for boys and one of the three sets (12, 13, 14) for girls. These recommended weights are based upon data from over 215,000 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) assessments.

WEIGHING IN RULE 4-5-7

Rule Change

• Contestants are no longer required to exclusively wear low-cut socks, if worn. Any style of socks can be worn while weighing in.

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Rule Change

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RULE 4-5-7

• ART. 7 . . . All contestants shall weigh-in wearing a legal uniform (4-4-1) and a suitable undergarment that completely covers the buttocks and the groin area. Contestants shall not weigh-in wearing shoes or ear guards. Female contestants shall also wear a suitable form- fitted compression undergarment that completely covers their breasts. Contestants may wear low-cut socks that cannot be removed or added if the wrestlers do not make weight.

NOTE: No additional weight allowance shall be granted for weighing-in wearing a legal uniform.

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Rationale:

With the new 2020 rule change concerning the weigh-in process; that all wrestlers wear a legal school uniform with appropriate undergarment(s) which makes the skin check a separate procedure. The requirement of low-cut socks to see all necessary skin is a moot point. Any length socks should be acceptable to wear during weigh-in. This solves a long-time argument concerning socks length.

Rule Change

DELETION OF THE TWO-POINT STALLING PENALTY DURING BAD TIME

RULE 5-1-1e

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RULE 5-1-1e

Rule Change

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• ART. 1 . . . Bad time is wrestled with the wrestlers in the wrong position or the wrong wrestler being given choice of position:

Sub-articles a.– d. remain the same.

• e. on the next restart after opponent receives a two-point stalling penalty.

Rationale:

The sub-article is no longer needed due to the 2020 NFHS 8-2 rule change.

HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL DURING BAD TIME

Rule Change

WILL NOT BE VOIDED

RULE 5-1-3f (NEW)

• When HNC injury time occurs during bad time, the HNC time used will not be voided.

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RULE 5-1-3f

Rule Change

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• ART. 3 . . . Any points, penalties, or injury time that occurred during bad time shall be voided with the following exceptions:
• Sub-articles a.-e. remain the same.
• f. Head/Neck/Cervical Column (HNC) injury time.

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Rationale:

With the addition of a head/neck/cervical injury timeout definition and separate injury rule, this amendment is needed to accommodate the modification of this injury timeout rule as it relates to bad time.

HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL COLUMN (HNC) RECOVERY TIME CLARIFICATION

Rule Change

RULE 5-28-3

• HNC time-out is not connected to recovery time.
• When HNC time is used, the time used does not

impact a wrestler’s recovery time allowance.

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RULE 5-28-3

Rule Change

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• ART. 3 . . . Recovery time. If a contestant is injured as a result of an illegal hold/ maneuver, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct during the match or the result of a false start (by the opponent) in the neutral position, the wrestler is entitled to two minutes of recovery time, which is not deducted from the injured wrestler's injury time allowance nor shall it constitute an HNC timeout. (5-28-6, 6-4-3, 8-2-2)

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Rationale:

This proposed rule change is partnered with the proposed change to rules 5- 28-6, 6-4-3, 6-6-2 and 8-2-4b1&2, 8-2-6.

HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL DEFINITION TIME- OUT

Rule Change

RULE 5-28-6

• The appropriate health-care professional can evaluate the injured athlete for up to five minutes during Head, Neck and Cervical Column (HNC) time.
• A second use of HNC time will cause the wrestler to default the match.

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RULE 5-28-6

Rule Change

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• ART. 6 . . . Head/Neck/Cervical Column (HNC). If a contestant is injured, and the onsite appropriate health-care professional (AHCP) determines that additional time is needed will have up to five (5) minutes (maximum) to evaluate the wrestler’s head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system. the wrestler is entitled to five (5) minutes, minus the elapsed injury time. A second occurrence of injury to the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system in the same match shall require the wrestler to default the match. (8-2-4a, 8-2-4b1 & 2)

Rationale:

There was a desire to establish a separate injury time-out that involves the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system and not connect it with the existing two

(2) 1 ½ minute injury time-outs or any other stoppage of the match. This separate timeout is supported and covered in existing rules that give the referee the authority to observe signs,

symptoms and behaviors of a concussion and respond appropriately.

HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL COLUMN AND/OR

Rule Change

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NERVOUS SYSTEM (HNC) ADDED AS A TIME-OUT

RULE 6-4-3

• The HNC time-out is the 5th occurrence in which a referee may stop a match. Other time-outs are: blood, injury, recovery and referee’s.
• HNC time gives an appropriate health-care professional the ability to properly evaluate the wrestler.

RULE 6-4-3

Rule Change

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• ART. 3 . . . If a wrestler is injured due to legal or illegal action, the referee shall stop the match under these certain conditions: a)

injury time; b) blood time; c) recovery time; d) referee’s time; e)

Head/Neck/Cervical Column (HNC) injury time. (5-28-3, 5-28-6, 8-2- 4a, 8-2-4b1 & 2)

Rationale:

There was a desire to establish a separate injury time-out that involves the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system. This change would identify this occurrence as a

separate timeout.

HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL COLUMN

RULE 8-2-4b 1 and 2 EVALUATION PROCEDURE

Rule Change

When an appropriate health-care professional (physician or certified athletic trainer) is present, they can evaluate the HNC area for up to five minutes. When one is not present, only injury time of up to one minute and 30 seconds can be used.

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RULE 8-2-4b1

Rule Change

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ART. 4 . . .

• Sub-article a. remains the same.

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 or certified athletic trainer) all injuries to the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system (HNC) will be covered by the same timeframe as other injuries Rule 8-2-4a. (5-28-3, 5-28-6, 6-4-3, 8-2-6 and 8-2-9 8-2-1)

RULE 8-2-4b2

Rule Change

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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 the cervical column and/or nervous system only, at which time the athlete would be required to prepare without delay for continuation or default the

match. When appropriate health-care professional(s) (physician or certified athletic trainer) are present they have jurisdiction to evaluate the injured wrestler for injuries to the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system only during the allowed time limit (maximum) of five (5) minutes. After that evaluation, the wrestler 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 the cervical column and/or nervous system in the same match shall require the wrestler to default the match.
1. 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.

RULE 8-2-4b 1 and 2

Rule Change

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Rationale:

There was a desire to establish a separate injury time-out that involves the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system and not connect it with the existing two (2) 1 ½ minute injury time-outs. This separate timeout is supported and covered in existing rules that give the referee the authority to observe signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion and respond appropriately.

COACHING ALLOWED DURING HEAD, NECK AND CERVICAL TIME-OUT

Rule Change

RULE 8-2-6

Coaching is permitted during injury time, blood time, recovery time and HNC time. Two team attendants and appropriate health-care professional(s) may attend to either wrestler.

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Rule Change

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RULE 8-2-6

• ART. 6 . . . During a timeout for injury, recovery blood time, recovery time or head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system time, two team attendants and appropriate health-care professionals shall be permitted on the mat with either wrestler. Coaching is allowed during injury time, blood time, recovery time or head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system time.

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Rationale:

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In conjunction with the other rule changes of the addition of injury timeout of the head, neck involving the cervical column and /or nervous system (HNC), it is necessary to reorder the various injury timeouts and add HNC.

IMMINENT SCORING WHEN AN INJURY OCCURS RULE 8-2-9

Rule Change

• When a match is stopped for injury (including HNC) and the referee determines imminent scoring, including near-fall, would have been successful, the referee shall charge the injury timeout and award the applicable points to the non-injured wrestler.
• HNC injury time-out does not count against a wrestler’s injury time allowance.

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RULE 8-2-9

Rule Change

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• ART. 9 . . . When a match is stopped for an injury, including HNC, during an imminent scoring situation and the referee determines that scoring (takedown, reversal, escape, near-fall) would have been successful if the wrestling had continued, the referee shall charge an injury time-out, or if appropriate an HNC timeout, to the injured contestant and award applicable points to the non- injured wrestler.

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Rationale:

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This proposed rule change is partnered with the proposed change to Rules 5- 28-3, 5-28-6, 6-4-3, 8-2-4b1&2 and 8-2-6.

EDITORIAL CHANGES

CHOICE OF POSITION NOT AFFECTED BY FORFEITS

Editorial Change

RULE 6-3-1

• Which team has choice at the end of the first period is not affected by multiple forfeits during a dual meet.

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RULE 6-3-1

Editorial Change

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• ART. 1 . . . The winner of the toss shall choose the odd or even numbered weight classes listed consecutively. This choice is not altered in case of fall, default, forfeit(s) or disqualification.

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Rationale:

Clarification.

CORRECTION OF ERRORS DOES NOT VOID HNC TIME USED

Editorial Change

RULE 6-6-2

• When an error occurs in the positioning of wrestlers and bad time occurs, HNC time is not voided.

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RULE 6-6-2

Editorial Change

• ART. 2 . . . When an error occurs in positioning of wrestlers:

• a. At the start of the third period; or
• b. At the start of the second 30-second tiebreaker; or
• c. At the start of the ultimate tiebreaker; or
• d. After the opponent has taken his/her second injury time-out; or
• e.

On the next restart after the opponent receives a two-point

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stalling penalty.

RULE 6-6-2

Editorial Change

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NOTE: All points earned during bad time are canceled – Exceptions: In Rule 5-1- 3, any points, penalties, or injury time that occurred during bad time shall be voided excluding the exceptions of 5-1-3a-f, following corrections made and a rest of one (1) minute, the period shall be re-wrestled. In other situations when there is bad time, and if the amount of bad time can be determined by the referee, bad time shall be deleted and/or re-wrestled without delay.

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Rationale:

Editorial. It was necessary to add the HNC rule as an exception and to restructure the note for clarity purposes.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS

Points of Emphasis

• State associations will have the option to adopt NFHS Girls Wrestling weight classes.
• The new procedure also provides state associations the flexibility to select one set of weight classifications for boys and another for girls.

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BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

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• Discussion about weight classes invariably creates a lot of energy around the number of classifications and the actual weights themselves. The 2011-12 academic season was the last time high school weight classes were modified. Based on your perspective, fortunately or unfortunately the world has changed dramatically since 2011.

BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

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• We have an increased interest in our sport by girls with growing participation numbers and the 30th state association will be sponsoring and hosting a girls’ wrestling championship next school year. Simply stated, it is time to offer a uniform set of weights for girls in different classifications for states to select one that best fits their needs (and allow for growth in the future).

BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

www.nfhs.org

• Boys’ wrestling continues to decline, there are some mitigating factors that contribute to the downturn. In part, one of those factors is reflective of our fluctuating student enrollment demographics nationally. Towns and cities have shifted their populations and we are witnessing a phenomenon playing out across the country that schools and their enrolled student bases are changing drastically.

BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

www.nfhs.org

• Many of our member state associations have struggled filling 14 weight classifications since we changed the weights in 2011. The new rule of providing an option for state associations selecting 12, 13 or 14 weight classifications makes tremendous sense and will allow them the chance to address some of those challenges and allow more students to benefit from wrestling.

BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

• Consequently, the suggested weights are data and science driven. These recommended weights are based upon data from 215,000 body fat assessments from high school students nationally by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

Points of Emphasis

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BOYS AND GIRLS WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

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• We have established the implementation date as July 1, 2023 to give coaches, schools and students the opportunity and time to prepare for the new weights. Our goal for this rule change is to give states who needed flexibility the chance to make better educated decisions in their state and to allow more students to wrestle.

HEAD/NECK/CERVICAL COLUMN (HNC) TIME-OUT

Points of Emphasis

www.nfhs.org

• The HNC time-out is the 5th occurrence in which a referee may stop a match. Other time-outs are: Blood, injury, recovery, referee’s.
• HNC time gives an appropriate health-care professional the ability to properly evaluate the wrestler.

HEAD/NECK/CERVICAL COLUMN (HNC) TIME-OUT (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

www.nfhs.org

• There was a desire to establish a separate injury time-out that involves the head and neck involving the cervical column and/or nervous system and not connect it with the existing 1 ½ minute injury time-outs. The HNC timeout is the 5^th occurrence that a referee would stop a match.

HEAD/NECK/CERVICAL COLUMN (HNC) TIME-OUT (CONT.)

Points of Emphasis

www.nfhs.org

• This separate timeout is supported and covered in existing rules that give the referee the authority to observe signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion and respond appropriately with or without an appropriate health-care professional present.

STALLING IN THE ULTIMATE TIEBREAKER

Points of Emphasis

• While stalling can be penalized severely during the course of a match, the Ultimate Tiebreaker (UT) is a unique scenario in which the offensive wrestler is rewarded by maintaining control/riding out.

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STALLING IN THE ULTIMATE TIEBREAKER

• Stalling by nature and by definition is something we typically do not reward during regulation time of a match. In fact, it is severely penalized because wrestling is an attacking and rigorous activity. The aggressive wrestler benefits in the number of points he/she accumulates during a match. But the Ultimate Tiebreaker (UT) is a unique one-time situation that has some different nuances. In proper context, we have wrestled an entire regulation match, three overtimes (one 60 second and two 30 second) and remain tied. If no scoring occurs during the UT, the offensive wrestler is rewarded a match point during the UT for maintaining control/riding out (6-7-1c8, 9-1-8, Scoring Symbols (pg. 58)) and will ultimately win the match.

Points of Emphasis

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RULES REMINDERS

LOGO ON EAR GUARDS RULE 4-1-4

Rules Reminder

• Any manufacturer's logo/trademark/reference that appears on the wrestling ear guards, including legal head covering, can be no more than 2-1/4 square inches with no dimension more than 2-1/4 inches and may appear no more than once on ear guards.
• No additional manufacturer's logo/trademark or promotional reference shall be allowed on the wrestling ear guard. [Effective July 1, 2022]

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ILLUSTRATION #53 RULE 7-1-5d

Rules Reminder

Illustration #53 in the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book has been updated to clarify that once near-fall criteria are met, this is a legal headlock.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

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