Beginning with the 2024-25 season, high school wrestlers will be considered inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line. This significant adjustment is one of six major changes affecting almost 30 rules, as recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee during its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All proposed changes have been approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, wrestlers needed two supporting points inside or on the boundary line to be considered inbounds. The new rule aims to eliminate the subjectivity of out-of-bounds calls, making it easier for officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more consistently. Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee, stated, “Without increasing risk, this change eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call. The change also helps officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more consistently, and it provides wrestlers, coaches and spectators a better understanding of out of bounds.”
Latest TN News
This change will be noted under Rule 5-15’s definition of Inbounds, impacting other sections in Rule 5 on Definitions and Rule 6-4-1 on Stopping and Starting the Match.
Another significant change is the revision of points awarded for a Near-Fall. The updated Rule 5-11-3 stipulates that two points will be awarded when near-fall criteria are held for two seconds, three points for three seconds, four points for four seconds, and five points if the defensive wrestler is injured or indicates an injury after earning a four-point near-fall. These changes also affect individual match scoring in Rule 9. Hopkins commented, “The goal in wrestling is to pin the opponent. Changing the near-fall points should motivate wrestlers to work for a fall.”
Additionally, the points awarded for a Takedown will increase from two to three points starting next season. The committee also clarified the Technical Fall rule under Rule 5-11-4a. If a takedown or reversal straight to a near-fall creates a 15-point advantage, the match will continue until the near-fall criteria are no longer met. This ensures the offensive wrestler is not penalized after earning a technical fall.
The 10-Foot Circle at the center of wrestling mats will now be optional. Wrestlers are encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat” instead of within the 10-foot circle. Hopkins noted that the starting lines indicate the mat’s center, and the new mat designs with large mascots or logos offer a refreshing look.
Finally, a new Referee’s Time-Out Signal has been introduced. The signal, used in many other sports, involves both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest.
For a complete listing of the wrestling rules changes, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Wrestling.”
According to the 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, wrestling is the sixth-most popular sport for boys with 259,431 participants in 10,962 schools. It also continues to gain popularity among girls, with 50,016 participants in 6,545 schools nationwide.
Source: Read Original Release
NFHS Approves 2025 Softball Rule Changes
The NFHS has approved new softball rules for the 2025 season allowing electronic one-way communication to catchers, following analysis and member feedback.