Wrestling Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 2, 2009 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


Gary Pigott, FHSAA, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The following committee members were present: David Laxton, Suwannee High School (Live Oak), Lawrence Yudin, Sandalwood High School (Jacksonville), Vic Lorenzano, Liberty High School (Kissimmee), Russ Schenk, River Ridge High School (New Port Richey), Tommy Montero, Robinson High School (Tampa), Marc Allison, Dunedin High School, Dan Jacob, Coral Springs High School, Moises Rivera, Miami Sunset High School, Michael Weems, FACA, Timber Creek High School (Orlando), and Don Smith, Officials Advisory Committee, Palm Beach County Wrestling Officials (West Palm Beach).

1. Mr. Pigott welcomed the committee members to the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building. Committee members completed expense vouchers.

2. Each committee member introduced himself.

3. Mr. Pigott gave the committee an overview of the purpose and procedures for the meeting.

4. Michael Weems, Timber Creek High School, was selected chairperson (Motion: Lorenzano; Second: Yudin) 9-0 vote.

5. The minutes from the 2008 wrestling advisory committee meeting were reviewed. The following items for reviewed for a second reading and action.
2008 Recommendation #1: Encourage the tournament organizers to use 12 mats instead of 10 to host the tournament so it could be held in two days rather than three days. Increased expenses and missed time from school are significant concerns. Unanimous 8-0 vote (Motion: Pettineo, Second: Montero). The 2009 Finals were held in twol days in reply to this request. See 2009 Finals feedback for more details.

2008 Recommendation #2: Encourage the FHSAA staff to not extend the current contract beyond the 2011 season without making the FHSAA Wrestling Finals available for proposals to host. Kissimmee and Boca Raton have possible facilities to host the tournament in a two-day/12 mats format. Unanimous 8-0 vote (Motion: Pettineo, Second: Laxton). Committee confirmed this position to see what other venues may be available in the future.

2008 Recommendation #3: Home team management is responsible for providing a bottle of disinfectant to disinfect wrestling shoes prior to stepping on the wrestling mat.
Unanimous 8-0 vote (Motion: Cozart; Second: Pettineo). 9-0 vote (Motion: Allison; Second: Schenk)

2007 Recommendation #2: Establish a dual team wrestling tournament. The FHSAA staff will determine logistical details. Unanimous 8-0 vote (Motion: Pettineo, Second: Cozart). A dual meet task force was selected to determine the specifics of administering this event. The following committee members volunteered to serve on the task force: (one person from each region and official); 9-0 vote (Motion: Allison; Second: Montero). Section 1 David Laxton, Section 2 Mike Weems, Section 3 Marc Allison, Section 4 Dan Jacob, Official Don Smith, Section 2 Russ Schenk. 9-0 vote (Motion: Allison; Second: Montero). NFHS survey information about dual meet tournaments from other states was shared with the committee members.

6. The 2009 FHSAA Wrestling Finals were reviewed and discussed. The following items were suggested to the FHSAA Wrestling Tournament Committee.
a. Using 12 mats is the preferred consensus of the committee to assist with tournament time schedule and allow for injured wrestlers (a mat down for a period of time). Change sequence of rounds at the state wrestling tournament to: 1st round championship; 2nd round championship; 1st round consolation; 2nd round consolation; Allows wrestlers who will be competing in the morning semi-finals additional rest.
b. Saturday a.m. weigh-in at 8 a.m. and wrestle at 10 a.m.: wrestle a round of wrestle backs before semifinals are scheduled. Will allow time for wrestlers in the winner’s bracket, officials to work a few matches and crowd to arrive for the “best wrestling”.
c. Mat breakdown should not occur while matches are still being wrestled (takes away from those matches).
d. Use video boards to update spectators, coaches and wrestlers the top 10 team scores after each round of wrestling.
e. Permit coaches already on the arena floor for wrestling to take pictures of the awards stands.
f. During weigh-ins, chairs should be available in the holding area so coaches are forced to sit on the floor.
g. Officials: Use FHSAA officials (table workers) to conduct weigh-ins on the 2nd day to allow more rest for mat officials.

2009 Recommendation #1 (12 mats and place 8 wrestlers): If 12 wresting mats are used, place 8 wrestlers. All wrestlers would still be in the tournament on day 2, which would afford more parents/fans the opportunity to watch their son/friend wrestle. By placing top eight, more wrestlers are being rewarded for qualifying for state. (Motion: Jacob; Second: Lorenzano; vote 7-0 with 2 abstentions)

7. National Federation Rules: 2009 Questionnaire was provided as FYI. All committee members receive the opportunity to provide feedback through the NFHS electronic rules questionnaire.

8. New Business
NFHS Rule 1-2-2: Mr. Yudin discussed the NFHS 5-match limit rule even though they might not have wrestled 5 matches in one day due to forfeits. Wrestler cannot participate in more the 5 matches that he/she actually wrestled (Motion: Allison; Second: Rivera) 9-0 vote. This will require a NFHS wrestling rules change and Mr. Pigott will forward the NFHS form to Mr. Yudin for completion.

2009 Recommendation #2 (NWCA Pre-match Weigh-in Form): NWCA online system provides a pre-match weigh in form. Form is easier and more applicable than the Alpha Master form for both coaches and officials. Recommendation to permit form to be used on optional basis for a year the 2009-10 season. 9-0 vote (Motion: Allison; Second: Jacob).

2009 Recommendation #3 (Physician Stamp on WR2 Form): Committee discussed Physician Stamp. Physician stamp is not required on skin condition form only signature is required. Will address concerns with forgery and fraudulent forms. Required physician stamp on form will confirm validity that WR2 form is authentic. Suggested to have medical physician on-site for district and regional tournaments. Physician was secured at FHSAA Wrestling Finals as per new NFHS rule allows to address skin conditions. 9-0 vote (Motion: Schenk; Second: Yudin).
Wrestling Regulation 202.1: Mr. Rivera discussed the wrestling regulation that requires a minimum of four contests to participate in the state series. Defining what is considered participation is a question in wrestling. Basketball just needs to be on roster whereas wrestling needs to actually wrestle. Cannot just be about weigh- ins as participation. Weigh-in is fine but a result needs to be recorded for it to count as participation. Committee took no action to change the current regulation.

2009 Recommendation #4 (Injury Time Rule/NFHS rule change): NFHS rule change to injury time submitted by Coach Jacob. Too many wrestlers are using the near fall situation because wrestler will call injury time when on back just to get off their back. Recommendation: Since the safety of all wrestlers is important any wrestler taking injury time while in near-fall criteria should be immediately pinned. This allows the “injured” wrestler to get the assistance that he or she truly needs. 7-2 vote (Motion: Schenk; Second: Jacob). NFHS form will be forward to Mr. Schenk for completion of rules change.

Clothing Weight Allowance: Recommendation in addition to the 1lb. variance weight allowance a half pound clothing allowance also. No action was taken on this item. Current 1 lb. allowance is sufficient.

2009 Recommendation #5 (Sanction policy to permit combination of dual team tournament and IBT tournaments): Recommend sanctioning format permit dual team /IBT bracket with option to have both pool play tournament that combines with a bracket on the 2nd day of tournament. Allow tournament formats to include pool format with IBT format bracket that falls within the current time requirements and matches per day NFHS rules. 9-0 vote (Motion: Lorenzano; Second: Montero).

2009 Recommendation #6 (Cost of Officials for Tournaments, dual meet or IBT’s): Set a standard fee for all wrestling tournaments. 8-1 vote (Motion: Lorenzano; Second: Rivera). Don’t pay officials for forfeits (matches not wrestled). Pay officials at a rate of $3.93/match (current dual meet rate/match). Count number of matches that official did and then you pay him by match. Recommendation to create a pre-match fee based on FHSAA minimum on matches contested in IBT or dual meet brackets.

9. Sportsmanship update. Mr. Thornton discussed reports of sportsmanship which consisted of fan conduct and coaches conduct with officials. Assistant Coaches are not responding to adversity very well. Spectators approaching officials is becoming an issue. Need stronger leadership from administrators and tournament hosts. Incidents of biting seem to have lessened this season.

10. Open agenda
a. Boys wrestling girls: The committee reviewed an e-mail from Calvary Christian H.S. (Clearwater) with concerns of a boy wrestling against a girl. The committee believes this is a school decision or wrestler’s personal decision. No change necessary to address this situation.
b. NFHS rule 4-2-3 (skin condition): The committee reviewed an e-mail from a wrestling parent, Shay Dains, with concerns about the new NFHS skin condition form rules. The consensus of the committee is that the new NFHS rules are appropriate to address this situation.
c. Mr. Rivera submitted a GMAC proposal for a NFHS rule 4-2-1 to address hair covers. Mr. Pigott will forward a NFHS rules change form to Mr. Rivera and Wilbert Johnson.
d. Mr. Pigott reminded the committee that revised classifications and districts would be available on the FHSAA website very soon.

11. Adjournment: The committee was adjourned at 2:30 pm.