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Weigh-in procedures head list of revisions in high school wrestling announced by National Federation
4/19/2002
Bruce Howard/NFSH
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 19, 2002) – The modification of the weigh-in
procedure for duals, multiple-duals events and individual tournaments,
and the establishment of a gender-appropriate weigh-in procedure headline
the rules changes approved by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its
April 7-8 meeting in Indianapolis. The rule changes will go into effect with
the 2002-03 wrestling season.
Jerry Diehl, NFHS liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee, said that
the focus of the committee continued to be on the weight-management issue.
“The committee has made changes that it feels are bringing our schools
one step closer, or staying in line with, our weight-management
philosophy,” Diehl said.
The significant changes to the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book include Rule
4-5, which now states: “The weigh-in procedure for duals, multiple-dual
events and individual tournaments has been modified to reflect the same
procedure, with the only difference being the one-hour and two-hour time frames.”
“The weigh-in procedure was just fine-tuned to expedite the process,”
said
Dave Carlsrud, chairman of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee and
assistant
to the executive secretary of the North Dakota High School Activities
Association (NDHSAA). “If a wrestler needs to challenge another scale,
it
must be done immediately, rather than waiting until others are
finished.”
In addition, a gender-appropriate procedure has been established for
weigh-ins. The authorized weigh-in person shall be of the same gender
as the
wrestlers.
“We addressed a situation that has not existed in the past,” Carlsrud
said.
“People who are doing weigh-ins and skin inspections need to be of the
same
gender.”
In Rule 4-5-3, the language permitting state associations to establish
weigh-in procedures for subsequent days of tournaments has been
removed. All
regular- and post-season tournaments will now be following the two-hour
weigh-in stipulation for each day of a tournament.
Other significant changes dealt with risk minimization, including Rules
4
and 5.
With Rule 4, the 215-pound weight class is no longer an option. There
are
now 14 weight classes with the addition of the 215-pound weight class.
The
committee felt the large variance in weight between the 189-pound and
275-pound classes would be addressed with the addition.
“Adding the 215-pound weight class is a positive thing,” Carlsrud said.
“We
use it in North Dakota, and often it is accompanied by great
competition.”
Rule 4 now states that, “A wrestler’s shaved head must be no more
abrasive
than a clean-shaven face or the competitor must wear a legal hair
cover.”
The rationale resulted from the head being used more than a face while
tying
up with an opponent and the abrasiveness has caused problems similar to
the
unshaven facial hair.
In addition, language has been inserted in Rule 4 to limit a competitor
to
the weight class that the actual weight determines. The competitor may
not
re-weigh at a higher class. Penalties for illegal holds, unnecessary
roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct have been added to Rule 5. By
adding
these three violations to the list of infractions, all penalties are
treated
the same.
Two other areas also were addressed with the rule changes — equipment
and
sportsmanship.
Rule 4 added language to define an undershirt when worn under the
sleeveless
shirt. The undershirt must be of a single, solid color, unadorned and
with
no more than one, visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark. Rule 4 also
states
that the requirement for a shoe to have laces has been removed as long
as
the shoe meets all other regulations.
In the sportsmanship area, Rule 7 stipulates that the throwing of any
wrestler’s equipment is now unsportsmanlike conduct. In addition, Rule
7 now
states that the penalty for coaching an injured wrestler during an
injury
time-out has been removed.
In Rule 1, the committee approved a minimum recommended body fat for
females
of 12 percent. The minimum recommended body fat for males will remain
at
seven percent.
“With the increasing number of female wrestlers, the committee felt
this
change was necessary,” Diehl said.
The NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee stressed the Points of Emphasis on
front
headlocks; hygiene of the wrestlers, including clothing and mats;
intimidation; unnecessary roughness and taunting; and headgear delay.
Rule Changes for 2002-2003
4-1-1a. Language added to define an undershirt when worn under the
sleeveless shirt.
4-1-3. The requirement for a shoe to have laces has been removed as
long as
the shoe meets all other regulations.
4-2-1. A wrestler’s shaved head must be no more abrasive than a
clean-shaven
face or the competitor must wear a legal hair cover.
4-4-1. The 215 lbs. weight class is no longer an option. There now are
14
weight classes.
4-5. The weigh-in procedure for duals, multiple-dual events and
individual
tournaments has been modified to reflect the same procedures with the
only
difference being the 1-hour and 2-hour time frames. A gender-specific
procedure has been established for weigh-ins.
The provision for state associations to establish weigh-in procedures
for
subsequent days of tournaments has been removed. All regular and
post-season
tournaments will now be following the 2-hour weigh-in stipulation for
each
day of a tournament.
Language has been added that once a wrestler weigh-ins, the competitor
cannot re-weigh in order to move up to another weight class.
5-2-5f, g and h. Penalties for illegal holds, unnecessary roughness and
unsportsmanlike conduct have been added to this Article.
7-4-2. The throwing of any wrestler’s equipment is unsportsmanlike
conduct.
7-5-3. The restriction of coaching a competitor during an injury
time-out
has been removed.
Points of Emphasis
1. Front headlocks
2. Hygiene: wrestler, clothing and mats
3. Intimidation, unnecessary roughness and taunting
4. Headgear delay
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USA Wrestling to conduct Women’s Wrestling Open Forum during U.S. Women’s Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., Friday, April 26
4/19/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling will conduct an open forum on women’s wrestling during the 2002 Las Vegas United States Women’s National Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The forum is scheduled for Friday, April 26, at 4:00 p.m. in Room S233 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is during a break in the wrestling action, and prior to the 6:00 p.m. session of the U.S. Women’s Nationals tournament.
On hand will be Mitch Hull, USA Wrestling’s National Teams Director and Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling’s Director of Special Projects, who are national staff members working on women’s wrestling programs.
In addition, members of USA Wrestling’s Women’s Sports Committee and USA Wrestling’s ad-hoc Women’s Development Committee have also been invited to attend.
All topics pertaining to women’s wrestling, including Senior-level programs and age-group developmental programs, will be addressed. Coaches, athletes, parents, fans and wrestling leaders are invited to attend the meeting.
“USA Wrestling is committed to developing the world’s best women’s wrestling program,” said Hull. “We have some exciting plans for our women’s program. We also seek input from those involved in women’s wrestling, as well as those who wish to support the program.”
This is the second year that USA Wrestling has provided open forums on women’s wrestling at its major events.
Those who have opinions and input are also encouraged to visit TheMat.com, and post their thoughts on the Women’s bulletin board.
Women’s wrestling has been added as an Olympic sport, with its debut at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Women’s wrestling is also one of the fastest growing segments of the sport on all levels.
The 2002 Las Vegas U.S. Women’s National Championships will feature the best Senior-level women wrestlers in the United States, battling for coveted national titles and All-American honors. This is also the qualifying event for the 2002 World Team Trials, set for June 21-23 in Saint Paul, Minn.
