TOM Article

If there is a very controversial or blown call in any sport, it is usually promptly adjusted in the league rule book shortly after that.

That process has been started with the NCAA regarding the questionable clock operator error between Josh Heil and Boo Lewallen in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis lat month.

The clock operation and video review-related issues were significant recommendations. Other minor recommendations were also suggested. These can be found in the official release shown below.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel is scheduled to meet this summer to discuss the recommendations.

Here’s the full release from the NCAA:

The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee recommends rules changes that allow the referee to correct timing errors when that referee has reasonable knowledge of the correction that needs to be made.    

All rule proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss wrestling rules recommendations this summer.

Committee members, who met virtually last week, proposed that competition that occurs when the clock is not running is not subject to the dead time rule. The recommendation also provides parameters for referees to use when determining the amount of time to add or subtract from the score clock.

• If available, the referee will look at the video review monitor and use the view of the integrated timing system or view of the score clock to determine the correct time.

• If video review is not available or the integrated system is not operable or there is no view of the score clock, the referee will consult with the second referee and the timer at the score table to determine the correct amount of time remaining.

• After consulting the second referee and/or the timer, the referee may correct the timing if the referee has reasonable positive knowledge of the correction that needs to be made. If the timing correction results in a scoring change, the referee would make the appropriate scoring correction.

• All timing corrections would have to be made in the period in which they occur.

• Before the match restarts, the referee should notify both teams of any timing changes that are made.

• If the referee can’t determine an accurate time, the score clock would be set to the last known time.

• Referees’ decisions on timing and scoring corrections are final.

NCAA Wrestling Secretary-Rules Editor Chuck Barbee stated, “One of the most important factors for coaches and wrestlers to understand with this proposal is that timing errors will no longer be subject to dead time. This means all wrestling action that occurs from the referee’s starting whistle to their stop whistle is live action, whether the clock is running or not.”

Overtime

The committee recommended changing the first sudden-victory overtime period to two minutes in length. Currently, both the first and second sudden-victory overtime periods are one minute long. With this proposal, the second sudden-victory overtime period would remain at one minute. 

In addition to the time change, the committee also recommended that one of the wrestlers may be declared the winner after the completion of the first of two 30-second tiebreaker periods if either of the wrestlers has at least one second of advantage time.

Other recommendations

• Committee members proposed moving weigh-ins to two hours or sooner before the start time of each day of competition in multiday individual or team advancement tournaments.

• The committee recommended allowing referee video reviews (no coach challenges) for extra matches when those matches are held in conjunction with dual meet competitions.

• The committee recommended allowing a 1-pound weight allowance on the second day of competition for all instances of back-to-back official team competition. The event must be an official team date of competition as per the NCAA bylaws for the 1-pound weight allowance to be used.

• The committee recommended allowing referee video reviews (no coach challenges) for open tournaments. 

• The committee also defined, for the purposes of playing rules, that any event that allowed unattached wrestlers would be considered an open event.

• The committee recommended continued education and training to both coaches and referees on the proper expectations and application of neutral out-of-bounds stalling rules.

• The committee is recommending a one-time exemption to the 1.5% weight loss descent plan for a wrestler that moves up one weight class to compete.  When the exemption is used, the wrestler may weigh-in at the higher weight class, and rather than using the 1.5% weight loss per week rule, the wrestler may compete at the lower weight class after five days elapses.