2007-2008 INTERPRETATIONS

January 14, 2008
Reminder to officials – if you have not sent in your application for consideration of assignment for post-season tournaments (KSHSAA Regional and State) – please do so ASAP.  Officials assignments will be made within the next few weeks and you do not want to miss out on an assignment possibility if you have met all the requirements. 

Each official can access the application form by logging on to the KSHSAA web site under the official’s tab (using their own unique password and their official’s number).  Once on their own page, click on the sport of “wrestling” under the information as to the sports they are registered in, on the next page that comes up, they can click on “post-season application form”.  Officials can fill out the page on-line and send it in, or print it out and fax it to the KSHSAA.  IF THE FORM IS SENT IN VIA THE ON-LINE PROCESS MAKE SURE A CONFIRMATION COMES BACK INDICATING THAT THE FORM WAS RECEIVED AT THE KSHSAA OFFICE.

 Regional host sites – host sites were posted on the KSHSAA wrestling home page.  Information re: the regionals will be sent by each host site manager to the schools assigned to the regional.  Please remember that all entries will be done “on-line”.  If you have questions regarding this process, contact the regional manager for your regional.

State tournament pairings – we will also post on the KSHSAA wrestling home page under the heading “2007-08 State Tournament information” a link to the “state tournament brackets”.  This initial bracket will show the pairings by regional designation.  On Saturday, Feb. 16 the specific designation of each regional (as to which one is “A”, “B”, etc.) will be posted on our web site. 

January 7, 2008
Certification example:  With the deadline for certification now less than a week away, it is appropriate to address a couple of questions re: application of certification that sometimes arise.  Over the year’s I’ve found that the use of examples is sometimes the easiest way to clarify the KSHSAA policy on this.

Example 1:  Wrestler A weighs 134.9 pounds during a regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-in.  At the weigh-in he passes a hydration assessment.  He uses this as his certification weigh-in for 135#.  At a subsequent regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-in, he weighs in at 139.7 and will be wrestling in the 140# weigh-class for that competition.  Has the wrestler broken his 135# certification?  Answer: No, since he only wrestled up one weight class above 135# class, he has not broken his original certification.  Question:  Can he use the hydration assessment when he weighed-in at 134.9 as meeting the hydration assessment for the later weigh-in at 139.7 so that he can be certified at 140#.  Answer:  Since the major concern with respect to hydration and the rationale for having hydration assessment for wrestlers is that wrestlers do not deplete/dehydrate themselves in order to reach a minimum weight, if in this case the wrestler wanted to certify at 140# and since he was hydrated at a weigh-in for a lower weight, the wrestle could use the 139.7 weight weigh-in as now his certified weight.

Example 2:  Same wrestler as in Example 1.  After certifying at 135# class based on competition weigh-in at 134.9 and passing a hydration assessment at that weigh-in, opts to compete in the 145# weight class in a competition.  Must he now “recertify” for the 135# class?  Answer:  Yes – when the wrestler competed in a weight class that is more than one weight class above his certified weight class, then they will have to “recertify” if the want to go back to their 135# (minimum weight class).  By going up two weight classes over the initial certified weight class, they have voided that initial certification weigh-in and weight class.  They would have to participate in a second regularly schedule school team competition weigh-in BEFORE the certification date (January 12, 2008) and pass a hydration assessment at that weigh-in, in order to be able to recertify for the 135# weight class.  In addition, the wrestler must have a minimum of ½ of his total school team competition weigh-in’s (not including the regional competition weigh-in) at the 135# weight class in order to be eligible for the 135# class at the regional competition.

December 17, 2007
I did not post any interpretations or clarifications on Monday, Dec. 10.  On that date we posted the regional wrestling assignments.  I have made contact with a potential host site for the one remaining regional which we had not located a host site for by the 10th.  Once a host site for that group of teams is identified, we will post that on our regional wrestling home site page.

The results of coaches and officials on-line submission of answers to the NFHS Part I wrestling examination were also sent to the schools and to the coaches the week of Dec. 3rd.  Officials can also now check on their own officials page and find out if they “passed” or “failed” the Part I examination.  Failure means the official did not score 90% or more on the exam.  This does not prevent the official from officiating during the regular season – it only means that they could not be assigned to work any KSHSAA regional wrestling or state wrestling tournament.

Application of NFHS rule 4-2-5 – tooth and mouth protector for wrestlers wearing braces or special orthodontic devices.

I recently visited with one of our wrestling coaches as to how this rule would be applied and about some concerns he had about these protectors coming out during competition.  I contacted the NFHS with some questions and concerns and would like to provide them to you. 

SITUATION 1: During the match, Wrestler A (who is wearing a tooth and mouth protector because he has orthodontic devices) loses the protector and it comes out of his mouth a) with both wrestlers in neutral; b) just after Wrestler B has secured a leg and is moving toward a takedown; or c) while Wrestler B has Wrestler A in a near-fall situation.  Should the official stop the match as soon as the mouth protector comes out?  RULING: In applying the rule, officials should apply the same logic and mechanics as they would for other items of equipment (such as headgear) that come off during competition.  In a) since no take-down was in progress, the official should stop the match when the mouth protector comes out.  In b) and c) the official should delay stopping the match until the situation has ended or the takedown has been secured (assuming it was not a takedown directly to Wrestler A’s back).  COMMENT:  The official would not charge this to the wrestler’s injury time – it is to be treated just as if the head gear came off during wrestling.  Since the mouth protector would need to be replaced and should be cleaned for health and sanitary reasons, before the wrestler put it in their mouth, the official may have to have allow some time for the wrestler to get the protector rinsed.

Concern was expressed by the coach that a wrestler might use the dislodging of the mouth protector in an effort to recover from lack of conditioning or as a “stalling” tactic.  From information provided by the NFHS, the wrestling rules committee did discuss this possibility when they were considering this rule change (4-2-5).  During the discussion of this possibility, the committee felt that if the official performed their duties appropriately (i.e., warning and/or penalizing the wrestler for stalling if in the judgment of the official they were using this as a delaying tactic) then this should not be a problem.

Changes to the NFHS wrestling rules book that were discovered after printing of the books:

Corrections to Rule Book: (Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions.); Page 25, Rule 5-16-3 (Reversal):. . . In awarding a reversal at the edge of the mat, control must be established while the supporting points of either wrestler. . .; Page 27, Rule 5-22-1 (Random Draw): . . . Random draw is the random selection of one of the 14 weight classes to determine the order of weight classes for the dual meet. A random draw for championship final matches for an individual tournament, regular season and/or state high school championship series, may be used for competition.. . .; Page 57, Offensive Starting Position (New 5-20-6): This rule change now allows the offensive wrestler another choice from the offensive starting position after the period has startedduring the match. . . .

Corrections to Case Book and Manual: Page 4, Offensive Starting Position (New 5-20-6): This rule change now allows the offensive wrestler another choice from the offensive starting position after the period has startedduring the match. . . .; Pages 22-23, 5.11.4 SITUATION C: . . . RULING: . . . COMMENT: In this situation, Wrestler A has won the match, but ifthe flagrant misconduct took place after the match was terminated and was called on Wrestler A, A wouldisbe disqualified and there would be no winner of the match.

For a few years, a publication entitled the “Preseason Guide” has been used by the KSHSAA to provide information to area supervisors for the sport of wrestling.  Some of those area supervisors use items from that guide for dissemination to officials during the area supervisor’s meetings.  Here are some corrections for that publication.

December 3, 2007
This week two questions arose re: wrestling items that I would draw your attention to.  One concerns item 2.B.1 (page 18 of the 2007-2008 KSHSAA wrestling manual) – Order of Competition.  The other concerns application of NFHS rules and how they apply to coaches/contestants who are penalized for misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct during a match/tournament.

2.B.1 – Order of Competition
NFHS rule 1-1-2 provides that “competition in dual meets shall be conducted by random draw of weight classes.  A random draw for championship final matches for an individual tournament, regular season and/or state high school championship series, may be used for competition.”  The rule goes on to provide that “the random draw shall take place immediately following the conclusion of the weigh-ins.”   When the NFHS first provided for the use of a random draw to set the order of competition for duals and regular season tournaments, the KSHSAA Executive Board recognized a conflict in how weigh-ins in Kansas were conducted and the way the NFHS rules require weigh-ins and rule 1-1-2 provisions.  NFHS rules require all competitions to be done at site in a very defined process/schedule.  However, in Kansas since school teams are permitted the option of home-site weigh-ins the day of competition, there arises a challenge with the implementation of 1-1-2 and the KSHSAA home site weigh-in option.  The KSHSAA Executive Board saw the potential benefit of having the order of competition changed for competition.   BUT the board also recognized that because of our weigh-in option, having this done following the weigh-ins (as required by NFHS rule) because of the Kansas weigh-in option, not all coaches would be present, a problem would arise.  In addition, the KSHSAA Executive Board was concerned that if parents were not informed of a change in the order of competition, they might miss their child’s competition under any different order of competition.  Therefore, the KSHSAA approved the policy as stated in 2.B.1 which permits the host school to set the order of competition for duals or tournaments but this must be done a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled competition.  This would permit the host school to inform the schools participating in the event so the schools could inform the parents.  Our process is not in compliance with the provisions of 1-1-2 because we don’t comply with the NFHS weigh-in process. 

The next question that arises is “What is the process used by the host school to select the starting weight?”  Our current policy as provided in 2.B.1 does not answer that question.  Beginning on December 3, 2007, it is the policy of the KSHSAA that the selection of the starting weight (if other than with the competition beginning at 103#) will be on the basis of a random draw conducted under the direction of the host schools administration (Principal, Athletic Director/Activities Director) but not by the host school’s coach.

Application of NFHS rules re: misconduct and/or unsportsmanlike actions leading to removal of the offender
The question has arisen regarding the application of NFHS rules on the removal  of a coach or a contestant from competitions under the penalty sanctions for Coach Misconduct, Unsportsmanlike Conduct for Contestants, Coaches and other team personnel or Flagrant misconduct by contestants, coaches or other personnel.  Please note that the following interpretation does NOT change provisions of NFHS rule 7-4-2 (unsportsmanlike conduct by a contestant during a match). 

The question that arose is this – “During a dual team tournament, a coach was penalized and removed from the premises for unsportsmanlike conduct during a match occurring during the first dual competition of the tournament.  Is the coach removed from just that dual or is he removed from the entire day’s competitions?” 

After a lengthy review of the rules by the NFHS staff the following clarification was given – IF the competition is set up as a “tournament” as opposed to a dual, double-dual or triple-dual, then the contestant or coach removed under the provisions of NFHS rule 7-4-2, 7-5-3 or 8-1-4, is to be removed from the premises for the duration of that tournament.  IF the competition is set up as dual, double-dual or triple-dual, then the contestant or coach removed under the provisions of NFHS rule 7-4-2, 7-5-3 or 8-1-4 will be removed from the premises during the duration of that competition/event. 

Example:  if the competition is a triple-dual (for example) and the coach or the contestants actions were in violation of 7-4-2, 7-5-3 or 8-1-4 and they were removed from the first dual (for example), they could return for the second dual.  HOWEVER, if the competition was a dual-team tournament, where teams were placed into pools and wrestled against the other team within their pool to decide the pairings for a final competition either by wrestlers individually or teams against other wrestlers or teams from the other pool(s), then any coach or contestant removed under the provisions of NFHS rules 7-4-2, 7-5-3 or 8-1-4 would be removed for the duration of the event (meaning all remaining competitions or rounds). 

November 26, 2007

KSHSAA forms –
This year in response to requests from coaches and some school administrators, requesting that we combine into fewer forms some of the forms previously used for wrestling, a single form will be used to record alpha weigh-in weight, certification weigh-in weight and hydration assessments at the alpha and certification weigh-ins.  This new combined form is found on page 35 of the 2007 KSHSAA wrestling manual (and is also found on the wrestling page of our web site).  The new form (which will be used for both the alpha weigh-in and the certification weigh-in and the hydration assessments taken prior to those weigh-ins) is referred to as the “KSHSAA Wrestling: Hydration and Certified Weight Form”.

It is necessary to make one change in the form found in the KSHSAA wrestling manual.  On the heading for the 8th column (left to right), it currently has “Alpha Weight”.  That should be labeled as the “Certified Weight”.  In that column you would record the stripped weight of the wrestler when they certify.  The revised form on our web site, has that correction.

WHEN SHOULD THE FORM BE SENT TO THE KSHSAA?
One of the reasons for combining the two forms into one was to simplify record keeping – both for the school and for our office staff that tracks the wrestler’s information for each school.  Since the form now is also the one used when the wrestler establishes their certified weight, it is not necessary to fax or send us the form until after the certification deadline of January 12, 2008.  The form may be faxed in earlier than that date, but it is required that it be faxed after the certification date.  Information re: this form and its use can be found on page 19 under section 2.E.2 of the 2007-08 KSHSAA wrestling manual.

RULE INTERPRETATIONS:
Situation:  Wrestler A takes a second injury time-out at the conclusion of the first period.  Wrestler B is now given the choice of position at the start of both the second and third periods (8-2-1).  During the second period, Wrestler B takes their second injury time-out.  Who has choice on the restart and does Wrestler B still get choice at the start of the third period?  Ruling:  On the restart in the second period after Wrestler B has taken a second injury time-out, Wrestler A would how have choice of top, bottom or neutral on the restart only.  Also, Wrestler B would no longer have automatic choice at the start of the third period because he has taken his second injury time-out.  Wrestler B could still have the option at the start of the third period IF it was their choice because of the rotation determined by the pre-meet choice or by virtue of the coin flip if during a tournament.  Comment:  If the second wrestler, during the course of the match, takes a second injury time-out, the choices in place for this wrestler based on their opponent having taken their second injury time-out prior to that time-out should be disregarded.  New choice(s) should be issued to the opponent based on the second injury time-out procedure.  (1-2-6, 8-2-1)

Situation:  A match is still tied at the conclusion of the one-minute sudden victory period in overtime.  The referee penalizes Wrestler A for unsportsmanlike conduct:  (a) prior to the start of the first 30-second tiebreaker; (b) in between the conclusion of the first 30-second tiebreaker and the start of the second 30-second tiebreaker; or (c) after the conclusion of the second 30-second tiebreaker, but prior to the start of the ultimate tiebreaker.  Ruling:  In (a) or (c), award the appropriate penalty points to Wrestler B and the match is over.  In (b), award the appropriate penalty points to Wrestler B and continue with the second 30-second tiebreaker. (5-31-2; 6-7-1; 8-1-3; penalty chart)

November 19, 2007

During the 2007 Wrestling rules meetings, coaches were asked to complete a three question survey.  Question 1 was in regards to the adoption and the use of during tournament competition a “restricted zone” as permitted in NFHS wrestling rule 2-2-2.  Question 2 and 3 were in regards to the use of a random draw as permitted in NFHS wrestling rule 1-1-2 to select the first weight class to be contested in the championship finals in the KSHSAA championship series (i.e., the regional and state tournament).  Following the last KSHSAA wrestling rules meeting, the responses from the coaches attending the rules meetings were tabulated.  Those results are as follows:

Question 1 – adoption of a restricted zone – 73 coaches supported the adoption, 82 coaches opposed adoption and 28 coaches had no position on the question.
Question 2 – selection of the championship finals at the regional tournament based on a draw – 69 support, 90 opposed and 34 no position.
Question 3 – selection of the championship finals at the state tournament based on a draw – 67 support, 82 opposed and 35 no position.

During the KSHSAA Executive Board meeting on November 14 I reported on the survey and the survey results.  The KSHSAA Executive Board is the body responsible for establishing policies and procedures (such as these items) for wrestling competitions.  Based on the results of the surveys, the KSHSAA Executive Board took no action on any of the three items.  Since the Board did NOT approve or adopt any of these items, they will not be effect during the KSHSAA State tournament series (i.e., the regional and the state). 

NFHS rule 2-2-2 does permit the adoption of a “restricted zone” during the regular season for any regular season tournaments.  The use of a restricted zone would be at the discretion of the sponsoring/host school for the tournament.

NFHS rule 1-1-2 provides that competition for meets during the regular season shall be set by a random draw.  The KSHSAA Executive Board (see point 2.B.1 in the 2007-08 KSHSAA Wrestling manual, page 18) has determined that the order of competition for dual meets and tournaments during the regular season will be established a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled start of the competition.  Schools may set the starting weight class for competition by a random draw (once the starting weight class is identified, then the weight classes would follow in weight order) for regular season.  If the school does not use a random draw to set the starting weight class for competition, then the order will be the traditional one (103#, 112#, etc.).   I would encourage all KSHSAA member schools to use rule 1-1-2 to select a starting weight class for regular season competitions.  Use of this during the regular season may lead to more support by coaches to use the same process for the state tournament series.

MRSA in Sports Participation
Posted on the NFHS web site (www.nfhs.org) is information and links to additional information concerning MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal aureus).  Additional information is also found in the Fall, 2007 NFHS Coaches Quarterly publication.  Recent outbreaks of MRSA has occurred and prompted the development of new guidelines and suggestions from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee as to what schools can do to prevent or minimize the risks associated with MRSA.  First and foremost among the suggested measures is for wrestlers to use simple hygienic measures (showering after each and every practice, washing workout-practice gear each day or wearing clean gear every day, proper cleaning and disinfecting DAILY any equipment that comes into contact with the athletes in the practice room and mats and closely monitoring the skin condition of athletes on a daily basis to catch any skin conditions in the earliest of stages). 

MRSA is a form of the Staphylococcal aureus bacterium that has developed resistance to certain antibiotics.  Originally only found in hospitals and nursing homes, it is now found in community settings.  It is an aggressive bacterium that can spread quickly and usually appears as a boil or abscess.  It can invade deeper tissues and can cause significant damage to skin and muscles.  In some cases it has spread to the lungs of infected persons and can result in severe pneumonia.

November 12, 2007

This will be the first in several weekly updates with interpretations or clarifications to KSHSAA or NFHS rules as they apply to wrestling.  These updates will be posted Monday’s during the season – check this site for the weekly updates.

NFHS rule 5-20-6 – Offensive wrestler’s choice of neutral
The NFHS has clarified a situation re: the right of the offensive wrestler to choose neutral at the start of a period.  (You may want to periodically check the NFHS web site (www.nfhs.org/sports/wrestling) for additional interpretations.  The situation occurs at the start of a period and concerns the options available to the offensive wrestler.  SITUATION:  At the start of the second period, Wrestler A has choice and chooses the down position.  Wrestler B then signals to the referee that he wants to start from a neutral position.  Can Wrestler B choose this option at the start of a period when his opponent has the first choice?  RULING:  Yes, Wrestler B may elect to start from neutral, even though his opponent had choice to start the period and elected to start down.  Upon being notified by Wrestler B that he wants to start in neutral in this situation, the official would signal/award Wrestler A one point (award is indicated on the bout sheet as an escape point).  The official would inform Wrestler A that he is awarded an escape and one point and would then indicate that wrestlers would be in the neutral position to start that period.  If Wrestler B had elected to start in the neutral position (instead of the down position) at the start of the period, then that’s the position they would start from for the period but no points would have been awarded to A for B choosing that option.  COMMENT:  Officials and coaches should keep in mind this new option (of electing to start in neutral instead of the offensive position) would be given to the “offensive” wrestler on any re-start of the match or at the start of a period, if their opponent elected to start in the “defensive” position.

NFHS rule 8-1-3 – Penalty administration
The question sometimes arises “can a wrestler be penalized more than once during a pinning situation?” NFHS rule 8-1-3 provides that “penalties and warnings are cumulative throughout the match.  Each infraction has its specific penalty….”  SITUATION:  During the second period, Wrestler A has Wrestler B in a pinning situation.  Wrestler B puts an illegal headlock on Wrestler A.  The official, not wanting to take Wrestler B out of his pinning situation, signals an illegal hold by B and tells B to break the illegal hold.  B does release the illegal head lock.  The official does not however, indicate that a point is awarded to Wrestler A – this would be a delayed call (awarding of the point(s) by the referee) until the situation has ended.  In the same pinning situation Wrestler B again puts on an illegal headlock a second time.  The official at that point decides to stop the match based on his judgment that Wrestler A would not be able to improve his position.  The official then awards Wrestler A the near fall points earned and indicates that two penalty points will be awarded to Wrestler A for the two separate illegal holds.  RULING:  Correct procedure.  Wrestler B applied two illegal holds and should be penalized for both of them.

KSHSAA Wrestling Hydration and Certified Weight Form – page 35 of the KSHSAA Wrestling Manual – Correction