Director's column: Make way for new rules for fall and winter sports

Kenny Henderson, LHSAA, October 02, 2012 3:19 p.m.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the national organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. One of its main duties is to write playing rules for 17 boys’ and girls’ high school sports. This past year, it made several rule changes for fall and winter sports including football, swimming, wrestling and basketball. These rules went into effect for the 2012-13 season.

In the sport of high school wrestling, wrestlers who are called for a third stalling violation will begin to receive a stiffer penalty—in addition to the two-point penalty charged for a third stalling violation, the opponent will now have his or her choice of position on the next restart.

Also new for wrestling this year are the following rules: 1) Wrestlers “may not wear wristbands, sweatbands or bicep bands during a match.” 2) With regard to an exception to the 30-second tiebreaker: “If the second injury time-out is taken at the conclusion of the first 30-second tiebreaker period and the opponent already has the choice at the beginning of the second 30-second tiebreaker period, the opponent would then have the added choice at the first restart after the beginning of the second 30-second tiebreaker period. 3) If both wrestlers cannot continue a championship match because of disqualification for stalling or having their injury or blood time elapse, the wrestler who is leading on points at the time the match is terminated will continue in the consolation bracket. If the match is tied at the time of termination, neither wrestler will continue.