NFHSAA New Rules for 24-25 Season. Big Changes!
Quote from McCook on April 25, 2024, 9:44 amWe just got this email from the SDHSAA to review it so we know what is coming next season.
NEWS RELEASE
Participants Now Inbounds with One Point of Contact
in High School Wrestling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elliot Hopkins
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 24, 2024) — Beginning with the 2024-25 season, high school wrestlers will be inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line.
This fundamental change to high school wrestling was one of six major changes impacting almost 30 rules recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, high school wrestlers were considered to be inbounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler were inside or on the boundary line. The two supporting points could be two supporting points of one wrestler or one supporting point of each wrestler inside or on the boundary line.
“Without increasing risk, this change eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The change also helps officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more
consistently, and it provides wrestlers, coaches and spectators a better understanding of out of bounds.”
While the One Point of Contact change will be noted under the definition of Inbounds in Rule 5-15, it also impacts a number of other sections in Rule 5 on Definitions, as well as Rule 6-4-1 on Stopping and Starting the Match.
In addition to the One Point of Contact change, points awarded for a Near-Fall have been revised in high school wrestling. Overall, the changes simplify the points awarded based on how long the wrestler is held in near-fall criteria. The change in Rule 5-11-3 is as follows:
Two points will be awarded when near-fall criteria are held for two seconds, three points for three seconds, four points for four seconds and five points if the defensive wrestler is injured, indicates an injury or bleeding occurs after the four-point near-fall has been earned. These changes will affect other rules including individual match scoring in Rule 9.
“The goal in wrestling is to pin the opponent,” Hopkins said. “Changing the near-fall points should motivate wrestlers to work for a fall.”
In another change in scoring rules, opportunities to earn more points will also be available when executing a Takedown. Beginning next season, wrestlers will be awarded three match points instead of two when securing a takedown.
The committee also approved a change regarding the Technical Fall. Rule 5-11-4a now states that “if a takedown or reversal, straight to a near-fall criteria creates a 15-point advantage, the match shall continue until the near-fall criteria is no longer met. Conclusion of the near-fall criteria is immediate.” The change clarifies when the technical fall has concluded in relation to the near-fall criteria being met. Hopkins said the offensive wrestler cannot be penalized appropriately after the technical fall has been earned.
In another change, the 10-Foot Circle at the center of wrestling mats is now optional. Wrestlers now will be encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat” instead of “within the 10-foot circle.”
“The committee determined that the starting lines of a mat indicate the center of the mat and the 10-foot circle is no longer needed,” Hopkins said. “With the new mat designs that
have a large mascot or logos, it gives a refreshing look to the mats. Wrestlers and officials know where the center of the mat is located without the 10-foot circle.”
Finally, the committee approved a new Referee’s Time-Out Signal. The signal, which is used in many other sports, is both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest.
A complete listing of the wrestling rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Wrestling.”
According to the 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, wrestling is the sixth-most popular sport for boys with 259,431 participants in 10,962 schools. It also continues to gain popularity among girls with 50,016 participants in 6,545 schools nationwide.
###
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.8 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900
Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
Chris Boone, 317-972-6900
Assistant Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
Nate Perry, 317-972-6900
Coordinator of Media Relations
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
We just got this email from the SDHSAA to review it so we know what is coming next season.
NEWS RELEASE
Participants Now Inbounds with One Point of Contact
in High School Wrestling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elliot Hopkins
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 24, 2024) — Beginning with the 2024-25 season, high school wrestlers will be inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line.
This fundamental change to high school wrestling was one of six major changes impacting almost 30 rules recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, high school wrestlers were considered to be inbounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler were inside or on the boundary line. The two supporting points could be two supporting points of one wrestler or one supporting point of each wrestler inside or on the boundary line.
“Without increasing risk, this change eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The change also helps officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more
consistently, and it provides wrestlers, coaches and spectators a better understanding of out of bounds.”
While the One Point of Contact change will be noted under the definition of Inbounds in Rule 5-15, it also impacts a number of other sections in Rule 5 on Definitions, as well as Rule 6-4-1 on Stopping and Starting the Match.
In addition to the One Point of Contact change, points awarded for a Near-Fall have been revised in high school wrestling. Overall, the changes simplify the points awarded based on how long the wrestler is held in near-fall criteria. The change in Rule 5-11-3 is as follows:
Two points will be awarded when near-fall criteria are held for two seconds, three points for three seconds, four points for four seconds and five points if the defensive wrestler is injured, indicates an injury or bleeding occurs after the four-point near-fall has been earned. These changes will affect other rules including individual match scoring in Rule 9.
“The goal in wrestling is to pin the opponent,” Hopkins said. “Changing the near-fall points should motivate wrestlers to work for a fall.”
In another change in scoring rules, opportunities to earn more points will also be available when executing a Takedown. Beginning next season, wrestlers will be awarded three match points instead of two when securing a takedown.
The committee also approved a change regarding the Technical Fall. Rule 5-11-4a now states that “if a takedown or reversal, straight to a near-fall criteria creates a 15-point advantage, the match shall continue until the near-fall criteria is no longer met. Conclusion of the near-fall criteria is immediate.” The change clarifies when the technical fall has concluded in relation to the near-fall criteria being met. Hopkins said the offensive wrestler cannot be penalized appropriately after the technical fall has been earned.
In another change, the 10-Foot Circle at the center of wrestling mats is now optional. Wrestlers now will be encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat” instead of “within the 10-foot circle.”
“The committee determined that the starting lines of a mat indicate the center of the mat and the 10-foot circle is no longer needed,” Hopkins said. “With the new mat designs that
have a large mascot or logos, it gives a refreshing look to the mats. Wrestlers and officials know where the center of the mat is located without the 10-foot circle.”
Finally, the committee approved a new Referee’s Time-Out Signal. The signal, which is used in many other sports, is both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest.
A complete listing of the wrestling rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at http://www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Wrestling.”
According to the 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, wrestling is the sixth-most popular sport for boys with 259,431 participants in 10,962 schools. It also continues to gain popularity among girls with 50,016 participants in 6,545 schools nationwide.
###
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.8 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at http://www.nfhs.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900
Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
Chris Boone, 317-972-6900
Assistant Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
Nate Perry, 317-972-6900
Coordinator of Media Relations
National Federation of State High School Associations [email protected]
Quote from interesting on April 25, 2024, 2:32 pmCan someone confirm that SD HS will be adopting these next year?
Can someone confirm that SD HS will be adopting these next year?
Quote from interesting on April 25, 2024, 3:34 pmQuote from interesting on April 25, 2024, 2:32 pmCan someone confirm that SD HS will be adopting these next year?
Never mind I just re-read the first part! That is great news!
Quote from interesting on April 25, 2024, 2:32 pmCan someone confirm that SD HS will be adopting these next year?
Never mind I just re-read the first part! That is great news!
Quote from chalk on April 25, 2024, 3:36 pmIMO...
That will be up to the SDHSAA if they want to deviate from any of them. They don't like to deviate, unless a good share of the member schools feel strongly about it and since the advisory has already met, this will likely be discussed at a future upcoming summer or fall meeting. They could kick it back to advisory for feedback or just discuss it and make the recommendation to stay in compliance with NFHS. Only deviating might require member school voting. The only one I could see that might need more discussion is the gym sizes for one point of contact in bounds. Some wrestler could have their hand on the stage floor in the gym and the other wrestler have his ankle with 1 point of contact in as an example. Stretching/defending vs. fleeing for the wood floor/table will become the judgement call.
IMO...
That will be up to the SDHSAA if they want to deviate from any of them. They don't like to deviate, unless a good share of the member schools feel strongly about it and since the advisory has already met, this will likely be discussed at a future upcoming summer or fall meeting. They could kick it back to advisory for feedback or just discuss it and make the recommendation to stay in compliance with NFHS. Only deviating might require member school voting. The only one I could see that might need more discussion is the gym sizes for one point of contact in bounds. Some wrestler could have their hand on the stage floor in the gym and the other wrestler have his ankle with 1 point of contact in as an example. Stretching/defending vs. fleeing for the wood floor/table will become the judgement call.
Quote from MadInvite on May 1, 2024, 10:59 amThe instant a body part touches the floor, table, chair, etc..., wrestlers are considered off the mat and out of bounds. SD will not deviate, because the SDHSAA wants to get rid of all deviations so we can put someone on the rules committee. If we deviate, then we can't get someone on. The major area we deviate is tournament weigh-ins. NFHS says 2 hours on-site weigh-ins, where we deviate and can weigh-in at home during the regular season for tournaments of 5 teams or more.
The instant a body part touches the floor, table, chair, etc..., wrestlers are considered off the mat and out of bounds. SD will not deviate, because the SDHSAA wants to get rid of all deviations so we can put someone on the rules committee. If we deviate, then we can't get someone on. The major area we deviate is tournament weigh-ins. NFHS says 2 hours on-site weigh-ins, where we deviate and can weigh-in at home during the regular season for tournaments of 5 teams or more.
Quote from Fat125 on May 6, 2024, 11:01 amIsn't it also a deviation to allow middle schoolers to wrestle in high school tournaments? I know a lot of states don't allow this.
Isn't it also a deviation to allow middle schoolers to wrestle in high school tournaments? I know a lot of states don't allow this.
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