High School Wrestling Rules Changes Announced for 2008-09

[HSWrestling]

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee emphasized risk minimization and standardized procedures to assist both coaches and referees through 16 wrestling rules changes for the 2008-09 school year. Rules changes were made by the committee at its April 5-7 meeting in Indianapolis [...]

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[therick]

I like the change to the stalling rule. Hopefully, it'll be enforced on those wrestlers who's primary defense to a shot is to tie up the opponent's ankles, or arms and wait for a stalemate.

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I also like that they're now going with the same starting sequence (elbow last) as the NCAA on the mat.

[Snackem]

I like the change to the stalling rule. Hopefully, it'll be enforced on those wrestlers who's primary defense to a shot is to tie up the opponent's ankles, or arms and wait for a stalemate.

I also like that they're now going with the same starting sequence (elbow last) as the NCAA on the mat.

Wow I like that a lot. I'm glad to see HS wrestling moving in that direction. It'll be good for kids to start preparing for the next level.

[Kyle N.]

I'm sick and tired of the refs who let the wrestlers do referees position completely wrong. Their hand is clearly past the belly button, and their arm is not just above the elbow. Hopefully this will smack some consistancy in the faces of the refs.

[Spider]

I'm sick and tired of the refs who let the wrestlers do referees position completely wrong. Their hand isclearly past the belly button, and their arm is not just above the elbow. Hopefully this will smack some consistancy in the faces of the refs.

It's the palm, which extends to the base of the thumb. If the top wrestler has long fingers, it can apear that he's reaching too far over, but he still might be legal.

[tiger]

wow, they did away with the backflip defense. didn't see that coming but makes sense.

[M Richardson]

It's the palm, which extends to the base of the thumb. If the top wrestler has long fingers, it can apear that he's reaching too far over, but he still might be legal.

Some of the guys around here must either have 8" long fingers, or navels located near their kidneys.

[Kyle N.]

It's the palm, which extends to the base of the thumb. If the top wrestler has long fingers, it can apear that he's reaching too far over, but he still might be legal.

I see what you're saying, but yeah, I meant the palm. My bad. I meant like when their wrist is on the belly button and the refs just ignore it and continue the match, that's what irritates me.

[Spider]

I see what you're saying, but yeah, I meant the palm. My bad. I meant like when their wrist is on the belly button and the refs just ignore it and continue the match, that's what irritates me.

Yes, I agree that the correct starting position isn't enforced strictly enough, but I also hate it when the kids are all coiled up and ready to explode on the whistle, and the ref spends what seems like five minutes scrutininzing their starting position. He should be able to assess the legality in a second or two.