NFHS Rule Changes(New weight classes)

[Y2CJ41]

NFHS announced their annual rule changes

 

Starting in 2023 states will have the option of 3 different sets of weight classes with 12, 13 or 14 weights. 
12 Weight Classes – 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285

13 Weight Classes – 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285

14 Weight Classes – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285

 

The other big change is allowing six matches in one day for an athlete, but only for a state series event.

 

https://www.nfhs.org/articles/separate-weight-classes-for-girls-choice-of-weight-classes-established-in-high-school-wrestling/

[ENoblewrestling]

Women's options

12 Weight Classes – 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.

13 Weight Classes – 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235.

14 Weight Classes – 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235.

 

[base]

Any insight as to what Indiana will choose to use?  Will we (hopefully) stick with 14?

 

My first impression is that once you drop a weight, it is likely that it will never be added back - but I hope I am wrong on that

[TeamGarcia]

The other big change is allowing six matches in one day foran athlete, but only for a state series event. 
 

Could this be a gateway to Wrestle backs at Semi State ? 

[Y2CJ41]

2 hours ago, base said:

Any insight as to what Indiana will choose to use?  Will we (hopefully) stick with 14?

 

My first impression is that once you drop a weight, it is likely that it will never be added back - but I hope I am wrong on that

Last year there were grumblings that the NFHS was going to go to 13 weights. The IHSWCA sent out a survey and it overwelmingly supported 14 weights. On top of that the IHSAA aka Robert Faulkens fully supports 14 weights. I would think we will keep it at 14 when the time comes.

 

On the second note, yes I agree completely. That is my fear of dropping a weight class as it will be increasingly more difficult to add it back.

[gonzoron]

On 4/20/2021 at 1:13 PM, Y2CJ41 said:

NFHS announced their annual rule changes

 

Starting in 2023 states will have the option of 3 different sets of weight classes with 12, 13 or 14 weights. 
12 Weight Classes – 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285

13 Weight Classes – 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285

14 Weight Classes – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285

 

The other big change is allowing six matches in one day for an athlete, but only for a state series event.

 

https://www.nfhs.org/articles/separate-weight-classes-for-girls-choice-of-weight-classes-established-in-high-school-wrestling/

Evidently the NFHS is comprised of guys weighing under 200 lbs.

[MUSKEEWRESTLER]

I still believe there needs to be a weight class between 215 and 285.  Maybe 248 - 250

[ENoblewrestling]

18 hours ago, MUSKEEWRESTLING said:

I still believe there needs to be a weight class between 215 and 285.  Maybe 248 - 250

Our football coach makes the same argument.  I thought it was crazy when he first said it, but I now dont know that there isn't some validity.  We want football to push kids into wrestling, but as of right now there are only two varsity options for alot of linemen  (220 and 285).  I have had a lot of kids who are in that 230-245 range that wrestling becomes pretty tough for.  Unless you are a pretty solid athelete wrestling 285 when you weigh 245 is a pretty big challenge.  I think we would see more football kids coming out if that extra option was added for them.

[bbulldog152]

Last I saw the numbers on a national level 285 was one of the higher weights forfeited. My question would be, would adding a weight class between 215(with the new weight classes) and 285 increase the forfeits at 285? I know my school (2a) has only had 3 wrestlers over 215 in the last 10 years I've been coaching each only wrestling 1 year... one was a senior my first year. A lot of that is the school. Even the football team struggles to get players over 220. I would only be in favor of adding a weight between if that meant having 15 weight classes which doesn't seem like the NFHS is in favor of doing. I wouldn't want to add a weight class when there's isn't a lot of wresters and take it away from a weight class where there is a lot. For the record I would be ok with 15 weight class and adding a bigger weight but I don't think that is going to happen until there is a huge participation increase. 

[CoachLionheart]

I think if you push 195 to 200 and 285 to 300 and add 250 in the middle it might get more football kids out.   I know in the past we have had some kids that weighed around 300 and did not want to lose weight for football.  Just a thought.

[casualwrestlingfan]

On 4/26/2021 at 1:55 PM, CoachLionheart said:

I think if you push 195 to 200 and 285 to 300 and add 250 in the middle it might get more football kids out.   I know in the past we have had some kids that weighed around 300 and did not want to lose weight for football.  Just a thought.

Yes and you can have 15 weights and an easier first tie breaker 8 over 7. Could also create a different team dual tournament where only teams with 8+ are considered and have a tournament like football does, As for normal dual meet you could have 2 intermissions to get fans and student body more involved similar to hockey.

[Y2CJ41]

12 hours ago, casualwrestlingfan said:

Yes and you can have 15 weights and an easier first tie breaker 8 over 7. Could also create a different team dual tournament where only teams with 8+ are considered and have a tournament like football does, As for normal dual meet you could have 2 intermissions to get fans and student body more involved similar to hockey.

I definitely like the idea of adding weights more than taking them away. However, with the amount of forfeits we have it would be a hard sell.

 

The whole tie-breaker reasoning is like a fingernail on a chalkboard. Ties really don't happen that much and shouldn't be included in a reason to get to an odd number of weights.

[bbulldog152]

5 hours ago, Y2CJ41 said:

I definitely like the idea of adding weights more than taking them away. However, with the amount of forfeits we have it would be a hard sell.

 

The whole tie-breaker reasoning is like a fingernail on a chalkboard. Ties really don't happen that much and shouldn't be included in a reason to get to an odd number of weights.

Not to mention using an odd number to prevent ties could cause a drop to13 weight classes instead of an increase to 15. 

[Y2CJ41]

1 minute ago, bbulldog152 said:

Not to mention using an odd number to prevent ties could cause a drop to13 weight classes instead of an increase to 15. 

Unfortunately that is much more likely than adding weights.

[AJ]

Will the coaches be polled ? ADs?

 

Or will the IHSAA make the decision??

 

Once a state chooses an option, are they stuck with that option for good or can they change between options?

 

 

[Tenser310]

Coming from a 1A school cutting down the number of weight classes would really just mean to small schools that 1 less forfeit for MOST not ALL so calm down already......   Its Hard to get that 106 weight class filled. Having someone bump up from 190 and get bigger not a big deal....  but having a kid go from 113 down to 106..... This is the complaint we hear at our school as to why someone will not wrestle. They don't want to cut weight. Bumping that class 1 or 2 lbs in my opinion not going to make a difference really.... Don't really know a great fix but in my opinion cutting to 13 weight classes for our small school mean 1 less kid to try to PULL in and keep in an already CHALLENGING situation trying to keep 14 different size kids in the program...  Just my opinion from being in a small school...  I  know most other schools larger will jump all over me about it but we be in 2 different worlds..  Same Sport but 2 different worlds.

[Y2CJ41]

14 minutes ago, Tenser310 said:

Coming from a 1A school cutting down the number of weight classes would really just mean to small schools that 1 less forfeit for MOST not ALL so calm down already......   Its Hard to get that 106 weight class filled. Having someone bump up from 190 and get bigger not a big deal....  but having a kid go from 113 down to 106..... This is the complaint we hear at our school as to why someone will not wrestle. They don't want to cut weight. Bumping that class 1 or 2 lbs in my opinion not going to make a difference really.... Don't really know a great fix but in my opinion cutting to 13 weight classes for our small school mean 1 less kid to try to PULL in and keep in an already CHALLENGING situation trying to keep 14 different size kids in the program...  Just my opinion from being in a small school...  I  know most other schools larger will jump all over me about it but we be in 2 different worlds..  Same Sport but 2 different worlds.

The thing is the 106lbs weight class is there in every weight class option from the NFHS, so you'll still have that issue of finding a smaller guy.