2009-2010 Wrestling Rules and Procedures
GENERAL INFORMATION:
A. Wrestling will be a state open meet with separate competitions for Class A, Class AA, Class AAA, Class AAAA, and Class AAAAA. For the 2009-2010 season, traditional wrestling teams will compete in Area Tournaments, a State Sectional Tournament (AA, AAA, AAAA and AAAAA) and the State Finals Tournament. NOTE: There will also be separate competitions in Team Dual Wrestling. Information on this competition is found later in this section.
B. The National Federation Wrestling Rules shall be the official rules for Georgia schools with the exception of any special regulations found in this section. A violation of any regulation in the Wrestling Section shall be treated as a violation of eligibility rules.
C. Notification of entry in Wrestling must be filed with the GHSA office no later than April 1 for the next school year. Schools will then be assigned to a geographic area by the GHSA Executive Director, and then will be notified of that assignment.
D. Free Style and Greco Roman wrestling are considered to be the same sport as Folk Style (high school) wrestling and are subject to GHSA rules concerning illegal practices.
E. A school may enter its wrestling team in competition for twenty (20) playing dates. Area Duals, Area Traditional, State Duals and State Traditional Tournaments are not included in the twenty (20) playing dates. NOTE: After December 15, no new wrestling competitions may be scheduled unless approved by the GHSA Executive Director in order to avoid manipulation of weight certification.
1. The maximum number of days for an invitational tournament is two (2) dates.
2. On a day/night preceding a school day, a student may not wrestle more than three (3) matches, including forfeits. On all other occasions, a student may not wrestle more than five (5) matches per day, including forfeits.
3. Contestants must have forty-five (45) minutes rest between matches.
4. Only one day/night preceding a school day per week may be used for varsity wrestling matches, and only one day/night preceding a school day per week may be used for sub-varsity matches.
5. A student may dress or wrestle on only one day/night preceding a school day per week.
6. The starting time for a single dual wrestling match on nights preceding a school day may be no later than 7:00 p.m. When a JV match is included, that match should start at 6:00 p.m. with the varsity match to follow.
7. A wrestler may wrestle in both a varsity and a sub-varsity match on the same day as long as that wrestler does not exceed the maximum number of matches allowed for that day.
8. It is permissible for coaches to use "split squads" during the regular season. However, the use of split squads will count as two (2) of that school's maximum allowed competitions.
F. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication..
1. A school shall not allow its team to engage in any interscholastic exhibition, practice, or scrimmage matches. Any interscholastic practice violation is considered an eligibility violation.
2. A practice shall involve only eligible students in the member school and their approved coaches. Participation by outside individuals constitutes an illegal practice.
3. Wrestling matches in practice must be conducted in adherence to National Federation and GHSA rules, and will involve only eligible team members.
4. Schools having contestants in the State Tournament may provide a teammate of comparable size to practice for the State Tournament.
5. There will be no Spring practice for Wrestling.
G. No school shall enter any wrestling tournament other than the State elimination series unless such tournament has been approved by the GHSA Executive Director in accordance with the process in By-Law 2.64.
H. Weight classifications shall be as follows:
103 lbs. 130 lbs. 152 lbs. 189 lbs.
112 lbs. 135 lbs. 160 lbs. 215 lbs.
119 lbs. 140 lbs. 171 lbs. 285 lbs.
125 lbs. 145 lbs.
1. When there are consecutive days of team competition, there shall be a one (1) pound additional allowance granted each day for all wrestlers (up to a maximum of two (2) pounds for any weight-in). In order to be granted this one (1) pound additional allowance, a minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required for the opponent(s).
2. The GHSA does not approve any practice that endangers the health and safety of wrestlers. Crash dieting, the use of diuretics and other drugs for weight reduction, the use of sweat box, any type of vinyl or plastic sweatsuit or bag, hot showers, whirlpool, or any other type of artificial heat device for weight reduction is prohibited.
3. For school day meets only, teams will weigh-in at their respective schools prior to the start of the school day. An administrator must supervise the weigh-in to be certain all GHSA and National Federation rules are met. Weigh-ins will take place within one hour of the time school begins.
4. In tournament competitions (including regular season, invitationals and the State Championship series), wrestlers will have an option of having their second weigh-in conducted at the conclusion of the first day of competition OR one hour before competitions begin on the second day. NOTE: Any wrestler indicating that he is prepared to weigh-in the first day and does not "make the proper weight" will not be allowed to weigh-in on the second day. The exact times for weigh-ins will be determined at the tournament site.
5. All contestants may engage in legal weight loss activities on site until weigh-ins begin. Once weigh-ins begin, activities that promote weight loss/dehydration are prohibited. Contestants shall not leave the designated weigh-in area unless permission is granted by the school administrator or meet director.
6. For non-school day dual meets (with mutual consent of schools participating), matches may begin as soon as weigh-ins have been completed.
I. Coaching requirements:
1. Only two (2) coaches per school will be allowed at matside for coaching purposes throughout the regular season meets and tournaments, and at Area and State Tournaments.
2. Coaches are required to attend a GHSA Wrestling Rules Clinic. Failure to do so will result in a fine.
J. All varsity wrestling matches shall be held with officially-dressed wrestling officials who are registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials, or with the State Association of another state.
K. Medical assistance shall be available at all wrestling tournaments.
L. Communicable Skin Disorders:
1. The GHSA strongly recommends that wrestling mats be left unrolled during the competitive season, and be disinfected a minimum of three (3) times per week with a medically-approved cleansing solution.
2. In the event an athlete develops a skin disorder or skin lesion that is considered contagious, the school must complete and provide the "Physician's Release for Wrestler to Participate" form. No other form of documentation will be accepted at the site of the competition. The release form is to be presented by the coach at the weigh-in or prior to competition. NOTE: The form and information can be found on the GHSA web site (www.ghsa.net).
M. When a coach is charged with a flagrant misconduct penalty, that individual must go to a location outside the "sight and sound" of the competitive area, and can have no interactions with wrestlers or any other team personnel (removal from premises).
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:
A. For 2009-2010, all GHSA wrestling schools will participate in the mandatory and binding "Weight Management Program."
B. The policies and regulations of the "Weight Management Program" will be provided to each wrestling school in a specially designed handbook.
TEAM DUAL WRESTLING
GENERAL INFORMATION
A. Team Dual Wrestling will be a state open meet with separate competitions for Class AAAAA, Class AAAA, Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A. NOTE: Teams will be seeded after Area Tournaments instead of the use of random bracket placements.
B. National Federation and GHSA rules governing Traditional wrestling are in effect for Team Dual Wrestling.
C. GHSA weight certification policies will apply to Team Dual Wrestling.
D. Athletes may not wrestle at a weight class lower than specified according to the "Weight Descent Plan" of the GHSA Weight Management Program for that week.
E. No wrestler may compete in two (2) weight classes in the same round.
F. Teams may weight-in all eligible and weight class-certified wrestlers.
AREA TOURNAMENTS:
A. A Dual Area Tournament may be held in each classification with all finances to be handled by the Area, including all expenses and distribution of receipts. Area Dual Tournaments will be held on Friday, January 8, 2010 and/or Saturday, January 9, 2010 only. NOTE: A list of Dual Area Tournament sites may be found on the GHSA web site.
B. Officials are to be secured and paid by the Area.
C. In Classes AA, AAA, AAAA, AAAAA, each Area also should determine the third and fourth place teams.
D. The GHSA will receive 5% of the gross gate receipts.
E. No other tournaments may be scheduled on the dates of the Area Dual Tournaments or the State Dual Tournaments.
F. No individual matches may be scheduled on the dates of the Area Dual Tournaments or the State Dual Tournaments unless the match was scheduled by December 15 of that season and the schools have declared they will not participate in the Area or State Dual Tournaments for that season.
STATE TOURNAMENTS:
A. Two (2) teams from each Area (AA, AAA, AAAA & AAAAA) will advance to the double-elimination Team Dual State Championship. Four (4) teams will advance in Class A, since there are only two (2) Areas. The Team Dual State Championships for all classifications will be held at the Centreplex in Macon.
B. The teams advancing to the state tournament must be designated to the GHSA office no later than 8:00 a.m., on Monday, January 11, 2010.
C. The GHSA will assign and pay all officials.
D. Trophies and medals will be provided by the GHSA and will be presented to the State Champion and the Runner-up in each classification.
E. Each school participating in the State Tournament will be allowed free admission for up to twenty-eight (28) team members, plus a maximum of four (4) mat maids/managers.
F. Admission prices are $10.00 per day for Friday and Saturday. A total tournament ticket will be sold for $17.00.
G. In the event the Area or the State Team Dual Tournament ends in a tie, the winner shall be determined using the National Federation tie-breaking system published in the Wrestling Rules Book (rule 9-2-2).
H. The second weigh-in of the State Tournament will be conducted on Friday at the conclusion of the first day of competition. The exact time will be determined at a later date.
TRADITIONAL WRESTLING
AREA TOURNAMENTS:
A. Area tournaments in AA, AAA, AAAA and AAAAA may be held on either Saturday, February 6, 2010, or Friday and Saturday, February 5-6, 2010. Those hosting Area Tournaments are encouraged to hold a one-day tournament whenever possible. NOTE: Class A schools will hold Area/Sectional tournaments on Friday and/or Saturday, February 12-13, 2010.
B. Areas will be divided with consideration to geographic proximity and to the number of schools involved. The top four (4) wrestlers in each weight class from each Area Tournament (AA - AAAAA) will advance to the State Sectional Tournament.
C. In Class A, schools will compete in two (2) Area/Sectional Tournaments with the top four (4) in each weight class from each Area/Sectional Tournament advancing to the State Finals Tournament.
D. A listing of all traditional Area Tournament sites can be found on the GHSA web site.
E. Officials are to be secured by the Area.
F. All finances will be handled by the Area, including all expenses, payment of officials and distribution of receipts.
G. The GHSA will receive 5 percent of the gross gate receipts.
H. Scoring for wrestlers failing to report, failing skin checks, not weighing in or not making weight will follow NFHS guildelines for forfeitures.
STATE SECTIONAL TOURNAMENTS:
A. All State Sectional Tournaments (AA - AAAAA) will be held on Friday and/or Saturday, February 12-13, 2010.
B. Schools in all classifications will be assigned to Sectional sites on an east/west configuration. A listing of all Sectional sites can be found on the GHSA web site.
C. In Classes AA, AAA, AAAA and AAAAA, the top eight (8) wrestlers in each weight class from each Sectional Tournament will advance to the State Finals Tournament. NOTE: The Sectional Tournaments in these classes are qualifying tournaments only, therefore no points and no scoring will be used.
D. Officials (AA - AAAAA) will be assigned and paid by the GHSA.
E. Sectional host sites (AA - AAAAA) will be budgeted $700 to offset any other expenses.
F. All replacements for wrestlers who qualified for the Sectional Tournaments must be made by the Area Director and must be reported to the GHSA office no later than 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.
1. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a vacancy in the bracket.
2. Schools failing to report a wrestler who will not advance are subject to penalties.
G. Admission fees for Sectional Tournaments will be determined by the GHSA.
STATE FINALS TOURNAMENT:
A. The Traditional State Finals Tournament will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 18-20, 2010. Championships in all classifications (A, AA, AAA, AAAA & AAAAA) will be held at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
B. Reports of wrestlers advancing to the State Finals Tournament must be faxed to the State Tournament Director no later than 10:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Specific reporting instructions will be forwarded to each Area Tournament Director.
C. All replacements for wrestlers who qualified for the State Finals Tournament must be made by the Sectional Director, and must be reported to the GHSA office no later than 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, February 18, 2010. Schools failing to report a wrestler who will not advance are subject to penalties.
D. Wrestlers must wrestle in the Area and State Tournaments at the weight certified in accordance with all provisions of the GHSA Wrestling Weight Management Program.
1. All weigh-in scales must be approved for accuracy by an agency or service once each year.
2. Subsequent weigh-ins of the Area and State Tournaments will be conducted upon the conclusion of each day's competition.
3. Specific times for weigh-ins will be communicated prior to each tournament.
E. Admission prices for State Finals Tournament will be $7.00 on Thursday, and $10 per day on Friday and Saturday. A total tournament ticket will be sold for $24.00.
F. Each school participating in the State Finals Tournament will be allowed free admission for all wrestlers who qualify for the tournament and a maximum of two (2) managers, mat maids and/or student trainers. Alternates will not be admitted without charge unless they have been substituted into the tournament in accordance with tournament procedures.
G. Schools having athletes qualfied for the State Finals Tournament must submit to the GHSA office the "Roster of Admissions Form" no later than 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Persons not listed on this form will not be admitted without charge. This form may be found on the GHSA web site.
H. The State Finals Tournament will be scored to six (6) places.
I. Full wrestlebacks (double elimination) will be allowed in all classifications. Crossbracketing shall be used for wrestlebacks.
J. In the event the Traditional State Tournament ends in a tie, the teams will be declared co-champions.
