January 6, 2010

TO: ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, WRESTLING COACHES AND WRESTLING OFFICIALS

RE: REMAINDER OF THE WRESTLING SEASON

Dear Athletic Directors, Wrestling Coaches and Wrestling Officials:

Happy New Year! I hope you each took time to relax and spend time with your familiesand friends over the holidays. It’s important to take time to rejuvenate yourselves andallow wrestlers to find renewed enthusiasm so they are ready for the next two months. One month from today 1A and 2A sectional tournaments will be taking place!

Sportsmanship & Character1) Athletics must enhance the educational experience of student-athletes. Athleticsmust teach students how to be successful in life, beyond athletics. In order for thiseducational experience to happen coaches and officials must respect each other andexpect nothing less from the wrestlers. We all have a duty to help wrestlers learn to winand lose with character. Let’s all keep high expectations for good sportsmanship andcharacter and expect nothing less than respect for one another.

Post-Season Tournament Dates for 2009-10* Class 1A & 2A Sectional Tournaments: Saturday, February 6, 2010* Class 1A & 2A Regional Dual Meets: Tuesday, February 9, 2010* Class 1A, 2A & 3A District Tournaments: Saturday, February 13, 2010* State Wrestling Tournament: Wednesday - Saturday, February 17-20, 2010* Class 3A Regional Dual Team Meet: Tuesday, February 23, 2010* State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament: Saturday, February 27, 2010

Offensive Starting Position SequenceThe following sequence is required when a wrestler assumes the offensive startingposition:1) set the knee, or knees, and feet;2) place the palm of one hand on the opponent’s navel;3) place the head on, or above, the midline of the opponent’s back;4) place the palm of the other hand on, or over, the back of the opponent’s near elbow;

The offensive wrestler now becomes stationary, and the referee gives a verbal commandof “set,” notifying both wrestlers that we have proper starting position of the top wrestler. When the offensive wrestler is set, the official should give the second verbalcommand of “set” and also give the same visual signal as was given when settingthe defensive wrestler (as seen in diagram “F” below. These verbal and visual

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signals are notification to the wrestlers, coaches and fans that the wrestlers areproperly set. The referee then pauses momentarily before blowing the whistle to startwrestling. This sequence is to eliminate rolling starts by the offensive wrestler. Eachofficial’s pause before blowing the whistle may be somewhat different, but the key will befor the individual official to be consistent for all starts.

Growth Allowance and Scale AllowanceWrestlers who have made scratch weight at the lowest weight they intend tocompete for the remainder of the season now receive the growth allowance at anyeligible weight class in which they choose to weigh-in. For example, if a wrestler hasmade scratch weight at 130#, he receives the growth allowance at either 130# or 135#without losing his certification at 130# or negatively affecting his descent plan. Also, hecan use the growth allowance at 135# before using it at 130# with no adverse affects.

FOR WRESTLERS WHO HAVE MADE SCRATCH WEIGHT, AND WHOSE COACHESHAVE INDICATED IN THE NWCA ON-LINE SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE USING THEGROWTH ALLOWANCE, ITS USE IS MANDATORY. These wrestlers must use thegrowth allowance for the remainder of the season. To weigh-in for the 130# weight classa wrestler who receives the growth allowance would need to weigh in excess of 127#. Coaches, go into the “Team Roster Grid” and indicate which wrestlers have madescratch weight and should receive the growth allowance. IF YOU DO NOT WANT A

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WRESTLER TO RECEIVE THE GROWTH ALLOWANCE DO NOT INDICATE IN THEON-LINE SYSTEM THAT HE WILL USE IT.

If a wrestler is never going to compete at their MWC be sure to raise their MWC sotheir descent plan is accurate. REMEMBER, ONCE YOU DECIDE THAT A WRESTLERWILL USE THE GROWTH ALLOWANCE OR RAISE HIS MWC IT CANNOT BECHANGED!

A scale allowance due to consecutive days of competition or weather-relatedpostponements is optional for each wrestler. Some wrestlers may use it while othersmay choose not to.

Slams and Mixed Martial Arts HoldsA slam is defined as lifting and returning an opponent to the mat with unnecessary force. A slam can occur from any position (top, bottom or neutral). A wrestler does not needto be in a standing position to be called for slamming the opponent. A slam should becalled without hesitation if the official believes it occurred.

Mixed martial arts holds are starting to creep into high school wrestling so coachesand officials must be aware of them. Coaches, do not allow your wrestlers to practicethese types of holds in the practice room or tolerate their use at any time. Officials, whileyou may not be well versed in mixed martial arts holds, be aware they can occur. Mixedmartial arts holds can cause serious injuries within seconds so it is important foreveryone to be aware of their possible use.

Any hold used to punish an opponent or which restricts breathing or circulation isillegal and should be called immediately for the sake of the wrestler.

Dual Meet Weigh-insCoaches, be sure to place your wrestlers on the proper line of dual meet weigh-insheets. A wrestler can compete one weight class above the weight class he actuallyweighed in for, but cannot compete at a weight class below where he is placed on theweigh-in sheet, regardless of his weight. For example, if a wrestler who receives thegrowth allowance at the 130-pound weight class weighs less than 132-pounds and isplaced on the 135-pound line the only option he has is to wrestle at the 135-pound weightclass. He forfeited the opportunity to wrestle at the 130-pound weight class because ofbeing placed on the 135-pound line, even though he made weight for that weight class. If a change needs to be made at the weigh-in regarding what weight class a wrestling isweighing in for, write it down on the weigh-in form, notify the opposing coach(es) beforethey sign the form, and notify the official(s) of the change.

Wrestlers’ Reporting to the Scorer’s Table at Dual MeetsI call your attention to NFHS rule 6.2.2 which addresses wrestlers properly reporting to thescorer’s table in dual meets. Wrestlers must report to the scorer’s table before reportingto the mat. Once the first wrestler has properly reported to the scorer’s table, the secondwrestler is to report. Once the wrestlers have reported in the proper order, neither canbe withdrawn or replaced without disqualification of the wrestler and the weightclass being forfeited. If the wrestlers have not reported in the proper order, the referee

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shall correct the error without penalty to either contestant. If a team is forfeiting a weightclass, the coach must indicate to the scorer’s table they will be forfeiting.

Tiebreaker I and Tiebreaker IIRemember, overtime is an extension of the regulation match. In tiebreaker I andtiebreaker II this means the offensive wrestler may signal to the referee that he wants togive the defensive wrestler one point for an escape and have wrestling begin from theneutral position. The wrestler who has the choice of position in the first tiebreaker mustchoose top, bottom or defer. The wrestler who has the choice in the second tiebreakermust choose top or bottom. However, once the wrestler who has the choice choosesthe bottom position, the offensive wrestler can make the decision to give thedefensive wrestler one point for an escape and have wrestling begin from the neutralposition.

End of Match Protocol for Dual Meets and TournamentsThe IHSAA Wrestling Coach’s Advisory Committee has recommended, and the Boardof Control has approved, that the Athletic Association develop a standardized endof match protocol for all matches. This protocol is designed to diminish excessivecelebrations, and the appearance of poor sportsmanship when some wrestlers go to theopposing team’s bench or corner to shake the coach’s hand after a match and others donot. Officials must be sure to discuss the proper end of match protocol withcoaches and wrestlers as part their pre-meet duties.

At the end of any match in a dual meet or tournament, the following protocol shall befollowed:1. Referees should move quickly after a match to get in proximity of the twowrestlers to facilitate the hand shake between the wrestlers and direct them to theirrespective team benches or corners.2. The wrestlers shall shake hands and the referee shall declare the winner byraising the winning wrestler’s hand.3. The wrestlers will then proceed to their respective team benches or cornerswithout excessive celebration and without going to the opposing teams bench orcorner.4. Post match handshakes with the opposing coach are not to be permitted. If awrestler should forget the protocol and go to the opposing team’s bench to shake handswith the coach the referee should simply remind both coaches of the protocol that hasbeen established.

As the recommendation for an end of match protocol came from the wrestling coachesadvisory committee, it is expected that all coaches will establish it as an expectation for allmatches. Officials can help by discussing the protocol during their premeet duties anddirecting wrestlers to their respective benches/corners when immediately after the post-match handshake. If a wrestler forgets and goes to the opposing bench/corner it is hopedthat someone from the opposing coaching staff will shake his hand. In this event, theofficial should go to each coach and remind them of the protocol. If it is apparent a teamis making no attempt to follow the protocol, the official should call me at the AthleticAssociation the next day so I can visit with the school’s administration about the situation.

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This protocol does not discourage teams from going through the congratulatory line at theend of a dual meet. This congratulatory line emphasizes good sportsmanship and all teampersonnel should be encouraged to participate.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to work with you. We maynot always agree, but I’m willing to listen to legitimate concerns. Have a great rest of theseason and I wish you success in the post-season.

Sincerely,

Alan BesteAssistant Executive Director<abeste@iahsaa.org>

***OFFICIALS - PLEASE READ - VERY IMPORTANT***

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING WRESTLING SPORTSMANSHIPRATINGS ON-LINE IS 5:00PM, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010!!!

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

In March all registered officials will receive instructions on how to RE-REGISTERON-LINE. Registrations are due May 1 with a grace period until May 31. On June1 a late fee will be assessed to each late registration. Officials, it is your responsibilityto submit your re-registration ON-LINE before the penalty deadline. We will NOTwaive the late fee for officials re-registering after May 31st.

THE DEADLINE FOR RE-REGISTERING AS AN OFFICIAL, WITHOUTPENALTY, IS MAY 31ST! A PENALTY WILL ASSESSED TO EACH RE-REGISTRATION SUBMITTED AFTER MAY 31ST - NO EXCEPTIONS!!

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