Issues Regarding 2013-2014 Rules Pat McCormick NCAA National Coordinator of Wrestling Officials February 13, 2014 Welcome to this year’s edition of points of emphasis for NCAA wrestling referees. In the brief time we have together, I am going to discuss about two dozen topics that will give you the sense of the most significant rule changes for 2013-14 and some insight as to the rationale for those changes. These slides are presented in the order in which the change first appears in the book, not necessarily in the order of importance or frequency in competition. On behalf of the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee, I urge you to not only participate in this presentation but also to review all the changes listed in the front of the rule book as major and editorial changes or common practice updates. In addition, let me call your attention to the points of emphasis, committee report and codes of conduct that are often overlooked but are valuable foundations for rules and their changes. And speaking of Points of Emphasis, that’s the first place I want to start.

Rule 1.9, WR-13 Game-Management Responsibility Photographers using still or motion devices, excluding official video review equipment, shall not be permitted within 5 feet of the edge of the wrestling mat.

Rule 1.12.4, WR-13 Use of Tape or Decals on Headgear The use of tape or decals on headgear is prohibited. Clean, fresh* athletic tape is permissible on the headgear if used for medical purposes only. Taping cross straps is not allowed. * Wrestler is to re-tape for each match he/she wrestles.

Rule 3.21.3d, WR-32 Mat-Side Video Review New Added Interpretation that is not covered in rule book: When the official equipment malfunctions, referees are not to use any equipment (for instance a stop watch, a different camera, or a different video monitor) to correct any problems arising with timing or scoring during a match. The ruling on the mat stands.

Rule 5.9, WR-56 Stalling When a referee recognizes stalling, the first violation will be a warning, the second violation will result in 1 point, the third violation is 1 point, the fourth violation is 1 point and the fifth violation will result in a disqualification. Recall that on page WR-62 there were a number of mistakes: Note A should read: Any combination of four penalties, excluding cautions, warnings, stalling or fleeing, false starts, and assuming incorrect starting positions, accumulated during a match (including overtime) will result in disqualification. Example of cumulative Infractions: do not include stalling or fleeing as examples. In superscript 3, stalling and fleeing penalties follow the sequence in first bullet above and are separate from Note A.

Rule 5.9.2.3, WR-57 Stalling Remember, a wrestler shall be called for stalling if kicking out from a lower leg hold when this action results in the defending wrestler going out of the wrestling area. A point shall be awarded only if a prior stall warning was called on that wrestler.