Differences between High School and College Wrestling Rules

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE RULES
1999-2000

M. Patrick McCormick
NCAA National Wrestling Officiating Coordinator
July 1999

		HIGH SCHOOL	COLLEGE
TOP	DUAL MEET	No similar rule	1.1 The minimum number of matches or bouts that must be contested to count as a dual meet is 7 in Divisions I and II, and 6 in Division III.
TOP	MAT DIMENSIONS	2.1.2 Minimum wrestling area shall be enclosed by a circle of 28 feet diameter. Surrounding and secured to the wrestling area of the mat shall be a safety mat approximately 5 feet wide. Responsibility lies with referee	1.6 Minimum wrestling area shall be enclosed by a circle of 32 feet diameter. Maximum area shall be enclosed by a circle with 42 foot diameter. There shall be a mat area a min. of 5 feet in width that extends entirely around the wrestling area. Responsibility does not lie with ref. but with home institution's game -management personnel.
TOP	MATS	No similar rule.	1.6 10-foot circle eliminated.
TOP	COMPETITION REPRESENTATION	1.2.2 No wrestler shall represent his school in more than 5 matches in any one day.	No similar rule.
TOP	HEAVYWEIGHT CLASS	4.4.2 If 215 pound class not used, contestants must weigh from 188 to 275 pounds.	1.10 and 3.2 Contestants must weigh from 183 to 285 pounds.
TOP	WRESTLER'S UNIFORM	4.1.1 Suitable undergarment to be worn under singlet if no tights are worn. A singlet with stirrups is allowed. Permit American flag with a max size of 2x3 inches.	1.11 No similar rule.
TOP	APPEARANCE	4.2.1 Facial hair is allowed if covered with a legal face mask. Hair covers are allowed for hair longer than that described above.	1.12 No similar rule
TOP	TIME ADVANTAGE	No time advantage used.	2.11 One point for one minute or more time advantage (riding time) than opponent.
TOP	FALL	5.2.6 Two seconds	2.12 One second.
TOP	TECHNICAL FALL	5.2.8 A technical fall occurs when a wrestler has earned and been awarded a 15 point advantage over his opponent. During dual meets the winner's team is awarded 5 points.	2.13 and 5.3b Same except if no near fall is awarded to winning wrestler during the match, then only 4 points are awarded.
TOP	WEIGHT CERTIFICATION AND REPRESENTATION	1.2.5, 1.3.1, and 1.3.2 All state associations required to have a weight-control program, a wrestler who weighs in for one weight class may be shifted to a higher weight, provided it is not more than one weight class above that for which his actual stripped weight qualifies him. After certification, a wrestler may not weigh- in more than one weight class above certification weight without re- certifying at a higher weight, and each wrestler is required to have at least one- half of his weigh-ins during the season at the minimum weight he will wrestle during the state tournament.	3.1 and 1.10 Each school shall have a physician or athletic trainer conduct an initial weight assessment of its student- athletes not competing in a fall sport no sooner than the first day of classes in the fall semester, trimester or quarter. During the initial weight assessment, a wrestler's min. wrestling weight for the season will be determined. Student-athletes competing in a fall sport may have their initial weight assessment conducted during their preseason physical examination. These student-athletes should be re- assessed by a doctor or athletic trainer following their fall sports season. Once a minimum wrestling weight is established, each wrestler has the option of modifying that weight until his permanent weight class is established by December 17. A wrestler may weigh in at the established certified weight and compete at a higher weight classification. Should a wrestler weigh in at a weight class greater than the certified Dec. weight, that classification would become the wrestler's certified weight. A wrestler is permitted to return to the original certified weight only if a vacancy exists in a weight class and upon the granting of an appeal. All wrestlers who appear on institutional eligibility rosters must comply with weight management regulations (e.g., wrestlers who compete in open competition.)
TOP	WEIGHT CLASSES	4.4.1 (13 weight classes) 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 188-275lbs. A 14th weight class at 215 pounds is optional.	3.2 (10 weight classes) 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, and Heavyweight (184- 285 lbs.).
TOP	WRESTLING ORDER OF MATCHES	No similar rule.	3.3 A random draw before a dual meet determines order of matches. Use normal sequence in tournaments (lowest to highest weight class).
TOP	WEIGH-INS	No similar rule. 4.5.3 Maximum of two hours and a minimum of one-half hour before scheduled session start. 4.5.1 Weigh-in shoulder-to-shoulder. A maximum of one hour and a minimum of one-half hour at the dual meet site. 4.5.6 All contestants shall weigh in wearing no more than a suitable undergarment. Not explicitly stated. Two-pound growth allowance may be given January 15. 4.5.4 One pound additional allowance granted each day for all wrestlers. In order to be granted this one-pound additional allowance, a minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required for your opponent(s).	3.4 Weigh-ins shall be conducted in a private, secured area with limited attendance. 3.4 (tournaments) Two hours before scheduled session start on first day; one hour before on subsequent day. Wrestlers must step on each available scale once without leaving weigh-in area. 3.4(dual, tri, quad meets) One hour before first match is scheduled to begin. In dual meets, wrestler is allowed to get on and off scale 3 times in succession. 3.4 Recommended that all contestants weigh in with shorts. At all weigh-ins, wrestler will stand with both feet flat in middle of scale facing away from dial or weight Indicator. Granting weight allowances for a dual meet or tournament is prohibited, nor can a weight allowance be mutually agreed upon.
TOP	DEHYDRATION PRACTICES	4.4.4 Not stated.	3.5 A second violation results in suspen- sion for the remainder of the season.
TOP	PRACTICE ROOM TEMPERATURE	No such rule	3.7 The wrestling practice facility must be kept at a temperature not to exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit at the start of practice.
TOP	CPR AND FIRST AID TRAINING	No such rule.	3.8 All coaches, including volunteers, shall be certified in CPR annually by the date of the first practice. In addition, they must be certified in basic first aid every three years.
TOP	MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS	No such rule.	3.9 A physician or certified athletics trainer shall examine contestants for communicable diseases before all tournaments and meets. Final determination of a participant's ability to compete shall be made by the host site's physician or certified athletics trainer who conducts the medical examination.
TOP	INTENTIONAL DELAY	6.2.1 Any teams intentionally not appearing within 5 minutes of the established starting time shall be penalized one team point. Not appearing within 10 minutes shall forfeit dual meet.	4.4 Same Not explicitly stated.
TOP	LENGTH OF MATCH	6.1.1 Dual meets: three 2-minute periods. 6.1.2 Consolation matches: first period, one minute (or two with state adoption); second and third periods, two minutes. 6.2.2 Wrestlers must report to the scorer's table prior to going on the mat. 6.6.1 Penalties for unnecessary roughness, illegal holds, unsportsmanlike conduct, flagrant misconduct and bleeding time will not be corrected because of bad time wrestled. 6.6.4 and 6.6.5 There is a 48-hour time period to correct the recording and computation of a team's score.	4.6 Dual meets: first period, 3 minutes; second and third periods, 2 minutes. Multiple dual meets and tournament bouts may be less than 7 minutes. 4.7 Wrestle-back matches: seven minutes or less consisting of 3 periods as in a regular match. No such rule. No such rule. 4.13c A clerical error in recording team scoring in a dual meet or tournament that does not necessitate additional wrestling may be corrected when discovered.
TOP	OVERTIMES	6.1.3 Overtime matches shall consist of one two-minute period followed by a 30-second tiebreaker, if necessary.	4.10 Overtime matches shall consist of a sudden-victory period, a maximum of two minutes in length and, if necessary, a 30-second tiebreaker period.
TOP	COACHES CONTROL OF MAT AREA, BADGERING, AND MISCONDUCT	7.5.2 During a match, coaches are restricted to team bench or behind it, except during charged timeout, the end of match, or to approach officials' table under possible misapplication of a rule. Penalize on first offense for unsportsmanlike conduct. Unsportsmanlike conduct carries over to second day. It is misconduct on the part of a coach, when after a conference with the referee, no misapplication has occurred or coach questions judgment. Head coach is penalized. First warn, then deduct one team point, then removal of head coach and deduct one team point. Removal is for the remainder of the day.	4.12, 4.13, 4.14 All personnel, other than actual participating contestants, shall be restricted for dual meets to an area 10 feet from mat and scorer's table; for tournaments, to a restricted zone. These areas may be left only to check time and score, question application of a rule, or move toward mat during charged timeout or at the end of a match. Failure to comply, or if there were no misapplication of a rule, results in two warnings, then a deduction of one team point, then deduction of two team points, and deduction of two team points and removal for subsequent violations. Removal is for duration of event.
TOP	VIDEOTAPING	3.1.8 May not be used for decisions related to the match.	4.23 May be used in tournaments when specific conditions are met.
TOP	STALLING	8.1.2 Stop match when warning or penalizing wrestlers in the offensive position.	6.2 Never stop match when warning or penalizing a wrestler
TOP	UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT	7.4.2 and 8.1.4 Includes repeatedly dropping to one knee to break locked hands, and failure to keep shoulder straps up while on the mat. Carries over to the second day of a multiple event. 7.5.3 Unsportsmanlike conduct will be assessed the head coach if wrestlers report to the mat and are not properly equipped or not ready to wrestle.	6.4 No rule for dropping to one knee, but includes failure to keep uniform straps up while in the wrestling area, i.e. may have them down while on apron of mat. No such rule.
TOP	SPECTATOR SPORTSMANSHIP	No similar rule	6.4 The public address announcer at all dual meets and tournaments should read a spectator sportsmanship statement before competition begins each meet or tournament session.
TOP	TOBACCO USE	7.4.2 and 7.5.3 It is unsportsmanlike conduct for a wrestler, coaches, or other team personnel to use any tobacco products.	6.7c Prohibited during an event and is penalized as flagrant misconduct. For match officials (see8.9), the violation is reported to the event administrator.
TOP	MATCH MISCONDUCT	No such rule.	6.6 For conduct that exceeds unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness. Penalty is disqualification of the wrestler from the match, cessation of wrestling, and deduction of one team point. For referee signal see 8.3c.
TOP	FLAGRANT MISCONDUCT	7.5.5 For coach and nonparticipating personnel, two points are deducted and removal is for the dual meet, remainder of a multiple school event or tournament. 7.4.3 & 8.1.6 For contestant, same as above and no team points can be earned.	6.7 Same except deduct one team point. 6.7 For competing and non-competing wrestlers penalty is same as above and opponent is declared winner.
TOP	POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HOLDS	7.2.2 Any headlock with arm or leg encircled, double wristlock, split scissors, guillotine, chicken wing and toeholds. When defensive wrestler stands supporting all the weight of offensive wrestler, the referee shall stop the match	6.11 Specific holds not listed. Referee does not have to stop match in this situation.
TOP	FIGURE-FOUR SCISSORS	7.1.5 & 7.3.6 The figure-four body scissors around the body or both legs is an illegal hold; around the head from the neutral position, is a technical violation	6.12 It is a technical violation and is not necessary to stop wrestling when penalizing for a figure-four head scissors in a neutral position.
TOP	TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS	7.3.4 Locked or overlapped hands, fingers, or arms around opponent's body or both legs in the advantage position, unless opponent's weight is supported entirely on his feet, or you have lifted your opponent off the mat, or your opponent is meeting near fall criteria.	6.13 Same except the offensive wrestler may continue to keep locked hands after a bodylock or double-leg takedown when a near fall is imminent.
TOP	FLEEING THE WRESTLING AREA	7.3.2 No penalty points awarded for intentionally going out of the wrestling area to prevent a pin where near fall points are earned.	6.16 Penalty Table Note 1 All penalty points will be awarded in addition to points earned. Fleeing the mat as a means of avoiding being scored upon is a technical violation.
TOP	TOWELING	Not explicitly stated.	6.17 Timeout for toweling off perspiration during the match is a technical violation.
TOP	INJURY TIMEOUT		7.1 A contestant who indicates an injury for preventing scoring or being pinned, must be charged with an injury timeout.
TOP	BLEEDING	8.2.6 The accumulative time allowed for bleeding is 5 minutes, which is separate of the wrestler's accumulative minutes of injury time.	7.1 The length of timeout periods for bleeding is left to the discretion of the referee.
TOP	COACHING INJURED CONTESTANT	8.2.1 Penalty is unsportsmanlike conduct against head coach.	7.2 Penalty is unsportsmanlike conduct against coach in violation. Coaches may coach bleeding contestant.
TOP	ILLEGAL HOLDS	7.1.2 Straight-back salto to the head. Headlock without encircling the arm at the elbow or above. Back bow.
TOP	ACCIDENTIAL AND SERIOUS INJURY	8.2.4 If a physician recommends an injured wrestler not continue, even though consciousness is not involved, he shall not be overruled. Unconsciousness - written approval by a physician.	7.3 A contestant who receives a temporary injury to the head, neck, or spinal column that does not render that contestant unconscious, must have a physician's or certified athletic trainer's approval before continuing. Unconscious - approval of physician.
TOP	MATCH TIMEKEEPER	3.4.1 When a visual clock is not available, the match timekeeper shall call out minutes of the match and display with visual cards the number of seconds remaining in the last minute of each period at 15-second intervals.	8.6 Match timekeeper shall call out the minutes of the match and the last minute of each period reported at 45, 30, and 15 seconds time remaining.

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