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    Y2CJ41

    By Y2CJ41

    Y2CJ41

    By Y2CJ41 •

    THREEEEE Big Rule Changes Coming to High School Wrestling

    Big changes are coming to high school wrestling this season. Over the past ten years the collegiate folkstyle rules have become almost a different sport with out of bound stalling, what determines out of bounds, and this past year the three point takedown. While many were clamoring for the college out of bounds rules with only one supporting point determining being in bounds it was repeatedly shot down by the NFHS due to mat and gym size concerns.

     

    This year though, the NFHS has decided that it is time to implement the one supporting point criteria for high school wrestling. While making the wrestling area a little bigger this rule will make it easier for referees to focus on the action instead of checking for the proper amount of supporting points of the wrestlers.

     

    On top of that change the NFHS has approved the popular three-point takedown. This year at the NCAA level they went to a three-point takedown. Many people were cautious, but also excited about that big change. After the NCAA season concluded many felt that the three-point takedown was a huge success.

     

    If these two big changes aren’t enough for you, the NFHS has also aligned with the NCAA level with adding a four-point nearfall. After four seconds on your back the offensive wrestler will now be awarded four points instead of taking five seconds to earn only three points. This was implemented in the NCAA since 2015 and last year they updated the rule to allow two points for two seconds, three points for three seconds, and four points for four seconds or more. The NFHS will follow the NCAA and implement all three scenarios for nearfall.

     

    Other rule changes include a clarification of the Technical Fall criteria and not requiring a 10-foot circle on the wrestling mat.

     

    Here is the NFHS article on the changes
    https://www.nfhs.org/articles/participants-now-inbounds-with-one-point-of-contact-in-high-school-wrestling/

    NFHS Article.pdf

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    SunDevils
    5 hours ago, Galagore said:

     

    Not sure I agree with the conclusion, but certainly logic that can be followed.


    I don't agree with the conclusion either. But for the poster earlier, who liked the takedown and reversal being 2 points I think that is the most reasonable argument for it. 

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    Silence Dogood
    12 hours ago, SunDevils said:

     

    First, just stating, I like the rule changes. Fully in support of all of them. Nor do I care if the reversal is weighted as heavily as a takedown.

     

    Just providing conversation. I could see the argument for degree of difficulty. Reversals are far less likely than takedowns. Which results in a higher degree of difficulty to execute, meaning (if logic follows) it should be weighted equally or more. 

    Escapes are also less likely than takedowns...

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    maligned

    One small devil's advocate counterpoint to the idea that a tech is now too easy:

     

    Making techs and majors easier moves team scoring closer to representing actual difficulty of earning each type of win.

     

    Pins have always been rightfully worth more team points than a tech. However, tech falls have always been much better indicators of the superior wrestler. Upsets by tech don't exist. Rematch victories by someone who previously got teched are very, very rare. However, pins can happen in a variety of circumstances and are not always earned by the season-long best wrestler. 

     

    What we saw in college was that tech falls were way up, but that a rematch could be a good match despite the first match having been a tech. This was not the case before. 

     

    Related...close duals will now have points more accurately assigned to the deserving team. Before, a team could have 3 dominant wins totalling only 9 or 10 team points, while their opponent had 3 close wins but also got 9 points. Now, those dominant wins can rightfully be 12 or 13 points compared to the 9 for the close wins.

    Edited by maligned
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    MatTime

    I am torn as the three points at the high school level may not change the wrestling so much. Defensive wrestlers are still going to wait and try to capitalize on the active wrestler taking the risks to score three points. 

     

    It will hopefully change the wrestling in the long term to focus on shooting. It will definitely create more separation between top tier wrestlers and those that are middling. Will not be able to wrestle defensively and expect to win against the top kids in the state. Maybe it pushes the middle kids to open up. Will be interesting to watch. 

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    AC Computer
    7 hours ago, maligned said:

    Pins have always been rightfully worth more team points than a tech.

    There was a couple of years in the 80's when a tech scored 6 team points just like a pin. That was when there was also a Superior decision for a difference of 12 or more points. So, decisions counted 3, majors counted 4 and superiors counted 5. They had to make a tech worth more than a superior, but they didn't want to increase the points for a pin.

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