Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Wrestling Rules Changes

Michigan Rule Interpretations  Mark Uyl, MHSAA Assistant Director Mark McClenathan, MHSAA Wrestling Rule Interpreter Phil Westheimer, MHSAA Wrestling Rule Interpreter NF Rule Resources-

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations

Remember In Michigan….  The competitor’s uniform must be school issued.  The uniform may only be personalized with the wrestler’s given last name and weight class, only.  The uniform may not be personalized, adorned, or altered in any other way, shape or form.

Female Wrestlers  For female wrestlers to be legal wearing a traditional singlet, a tight fitting, short-sleeved undershirt of a single solid color (unadorned) OR a female style singlet (high cut) must be worn under that style singlet.  A sports bra only worn under the traditional singlet with no tight fitting undershirt as described above would not comply with the requirements of a legal uniform.

Offensive Starting Position Sequence Rule NOTE (NEW)

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Wrestling Points of Emphasis

WRESTLER A1 MUST GO DIRECTLY TO THE MAT AFTER REPORTING TO THE SCORER’S TABLE

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Wrestling Rules Reminders

Rule 4-2-6

Rule

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations MHSAA Updates and Reminders Season

Weigh In Example #1  A meet is scheduled for Thursday but one school has a snow day on Wednesday and cannot practice. If the competing schools are conducting a shoulder-to- shoulder weigh-in, then each team would get one additional pound for Thursday. If the competing schools are conducting a home weigh-in, then the schools must weigh-in either on Wednesday after 3 pm or on Thursday after 7 am. Each team would get the extra pound as the practice the day before the meet was cancelled due to inclement weather as long as proper prior notification took place.

Weigh In Example #2  A meet is scheduled for Thursday but a snow day cancels the meet and it has been rescheduled for Friday. If the competing schools are conducting a shoulder-to- shoulder weigh-in, each team would get one additional pound for Friday. If the competing schools are conducting a home weigh-in, then the schools must weigh-in either on Thursday after 3 pm or on Friday after 7 am. Each team would get the extra pound as the meet was postponed due to inclement weather.

Weigh In Example #3  A bad snowstorm hits and a meet for Tuesday has been pushed back to Wednesday, but schools do not reopen until Thursday (neither team practices on Tuesday or Wednesday). For Thursday’s meet, each school will get one pound for the inclement weather- if multiple days of bad weather cancel practices or meets, the maximum allowance under is one pound, and one pound only.

Rule Reminder  Remember that the use of sweat boxes, saunas, hot showers, whirlpools, rubber/vinyl/plastic-type suits or similar artificial heating devices are prohibited and shall disqualify an individual from competition or practice. The use of diuretics or other methods of quick weight reduction are also prohibited.  Coaches, officials and administrators must report and penalize these types of activities as they have no place in school-sponsored wrestling programs.

Tournament Groupings  Please go the MHSAA website to review all groupings and locations for the MHSAA Team and Individual wrestling tournaments.

Team Districts & Regional Draw  Divisions 1 & 3 will compete on Wednesday, February 18.  Divisions 2 & 4 will compete on Thursday, February 19. Regional Pairings  Lowest District vs. 2 nd Highest District  Highest District vs. 2 nd Lowest District

Team Finals  For the first time, the 2009 Team WR Finals will be seeded.  In each division, the top 4 teams will be seeded by a seeding committee comprised of 12 individuals comprised of wrestling coaches and athletic directors (with wrestling backgrounds).  Once the top four seeds have been identified, the remaining four Team Finalists will be drawn into the bracket.

Team Quarterfinals & Semifinals (March 6-7) Quarterfinals- Friday, March 6  QF 1- Seed #1 vs. Draw #4  QF 2- Seed #4 vs. Draw #1  QF 3- Seed #3 vs. Draw #2  QF 4- Seed #2 vs. Draw #3 Semifinals- Saturday, March 7 QF 1 vs. QF 2 QF 3 vs. QF 4

Seeding Criteria  The committee will assess the credentials of each team. In resolving issues, the following criteria will be used: 1) Head-to-head competition; if tied, the most recent winner prevails. 2) Record against common opponents. 3) A team with an exceptional record vs. acknowledged strong opposition. 4) Majority decision of the seeding committee.

Seeding Process  For a Team Finalist to receive seeding consideration, a school must submit the new TEAM SEASON SUMMARY form (MHSAA website) to the MHSAA by noon on Thursday, Feb. 26, the day following the Team Regional.  The seeding committee members will be sent all paperwork and information by Friday, February 27.  A conference call of the seeding committee will be held on Sunday, March 1 where the pairings will be set (4 seeded teams, 4 drawn teams).

Team Pairings Set  The Team Finals pairings will be posted on the MHSAA website by 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 1.  The Quarterfinal rounds of wrestling will take place on the following Friday, March 6, at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

Seeding Committee  The MHSAA will seek assistance from the MWA for members to serve on this committee. If a coach or AD is on the seeding committee, and their school advances to the Finals, then that person will be eliminated from the committee for that year.  The goal of this new approach is to increase interest and excitement as the Team tournament builds toward the Final round on Saturday, March 7.

Team Finals Schedule  Friday, March 6- Quarterfinals 1:00 PM- Division 3 3:15 PM- Division 1 5:30 PM- Division 4 7:45 PM- Division 2 Saturday, March 7- Semifinals & Finals 9:30 AM- Divisions 1 & 3 11:45 AM- Divisions 2 & 4 Finals- 4:00 PM

Team Finals Hotel Information  Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will be housed at the Mc Camly Plaza Hotel.  Division 4 will be housed at the Holiday Inn- Battle Creek at the intersection of M66 and I- 94.  All teams that qualify for the Team Finals must complete the Team Housing form on the MHSAA website to be assigned housing by the MHSAA.

MRSA Resources  The MHSAA has posted a power point on MRSA, along with information regarding mat cleaning products and techniques. It is on the Wrestling page of the MHSAA website.  The MHSAA has received inquiries on the Sterilaser, which was used on all mats at the Individual Finals last year at the Palace. Information on the Sterilaser is also available in this power point.  The MHSAA has other MRSA information and resources available- contact the office for more information.

Home Weigh-In  The MHSAA Representative Council engaged in a lengthy discussion at the May meeting on the advantages and disadvantages of the home weigh-in versus the onsite shoulder-to shoulder process during regular season competition.  The Council’s concerns will be taken to the Wrestling Committee in January where it will extensively review weigh-in policies and procedures for the regular season.  Please share any input with the MHSAA on this topic prior to January 1.

Coaches- NWCA  The Weight Monitoring Program will be administered once again by the NWCA website ( Login information will be sent to schools in mid- October, along with information regarding the annual nutritional exam.

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations

Midseason Meeting  The annual midseason meeting for wrestling officials will be held on Sunday, January 11 at 11:00 am (note the new starting time). This meeting will be held at the MHSAA office building.

Decision Making Process  The MHSAA Wrestling Committee meets in late January.  Any proposals or discussion items must be submitted to the MHSAA by December 15.  Representative Council takes action upon all committee recommendations at the May Council meeting.  Changes implemented for season.

Out-Of-Season Principles  No mandatory activities  No school transportation  No school uniforms-warmups Including reversible jerseys with school name/nickname and in school colors  No school general funds

Summer Competition Limits  15 days with students from their school district Grades 7-12 if teams involve more than the following number of players: Soccer & Lacrosse – 7 Basketball, Ice Hockey, Volleyball – 3

Out-Of-Season During School Year  Three-Player Rule From Monday of week of Aug. 15 to last day of school year for that school School coaches are prohibited from coaching at one time more than three students of grades 7-12 from their district Applies to all levels and both genders (i.e. Varsity boys coach limited to 3 players from sub- varsity girls team outside of girls season)

When – Pre-Season Down Time  Fall Sports - Aug. 1 to first practice  Winter - 14 days prior to first practice  Spring - March 1 to first practice

What – Pre-Season Down Time  Non Sport Specific Conditioning OK  Three-player rule skill work OK  No open gyms, camps, clinics

What – Summer Dead Period Zero Player Rule - NO planned coach contact NO coach contact with students in sports grades (anywhere) NO camps, clinics, sport activities at school facilities

When – Summer Dead Period  7 days selected by each school  Same 7 days for all sports  Do you know when your school’s 2009 Summer Dead Period is?

Sportsmanship – Official’s Feedback  Officials will go online to provide sportsmanship feedback on each school they work  Feedback is to be left only once – regardless of the number of games worked involving that school  Designed to be an internal tool for schools to identify positive and negative sportsmanship trends

Sportsmanship – Official’s Feedback  Feedback to be provided on: Student-Athletes Coaching Staff Home Game Management Officials will select Greatly or Exceeded Expectations, Met Expectations, Below or Well Below Expectations Spectator-specific issues If YES, officials will be prompted to complete an Officials Report Form

Sportsmanship – Official’s Feedback  Summaries will not be made public by the MHSAA  MHSAA will continue to send letters praising schools with no negative Officials Reports and encouraging schools with more than three such reports

Sports Conflicts With Testing Dates ACT – SAT – Michigan Merit Avoid conflicts with MHSAA tournaments – notify students athletes well in advance so they may schedule earlier Dates listed in May and Aug./Sept. Bulletin, MHSAA Handbook and on MHSAA.COM

Officials Online Examinations  Optional 30-question rules/mechanics exam  Results will be provided to assignment committees