To:                  Athletic Directors, Wrestling Coaches, and Officials

 

From:              Dr. Jim Tenopir, Executive Director

                        Bob Colgate, Assistant Director

 

Subject:           NFHS Wrestling Rules Interpretation

 

Date:               January 17, 2002

 

 

This memorandum is in reference to a wrestling rules interpretation the NSAA just received from the NFHS.  The rules interpretation deals with a situation where a competitor in a wrestling tournament wishes to default a match, but still be able to compete in the consolation bracket and possibly place if this is their first loss.

 

The NFHS interpretation of Rule 5-3-3 is that the competitor wishing to default a match must appear on the mat, ready to wrestle.  Following the handshake and after the referee has blown the whistle to begin the match, the defaulting competitor may indicate to the referee that he/she no longer wishes to compete.  The referee would then stop the match and confirm with the competitor that a default should be awarded.  After confirmation, the referee would have the two competitors shake hands and then award the match to the opponent.  The competitor who defaulted the match would then drop to the consolation side of the bracket or be placed as determined by the result (i.e., second, fourth, or sixth place depending at what point the default occurred).

 

Prior to these events happening, the coach of the wrestler who is defaulting the match shall inform the tournament director, opposing wrestling coach and wrestler, as well as the referee, as to what is to transpire.

 

If the wrestler does not appear on the mat and ready to wrestle as by rule, then they shall forfeit the match.  NFHS Rule 10-2-5 states that “A forfeit shall eliminate a contestant from further competition in a tournament, except when the forfeit is because of an injury or illness which occurred during the tournament.”