Attention Wrestling Coaches: 2009-2010 Wrestling Rule Changes from the National Federation High School Wrestling Rule Book

All coaches must electronically submit a Team Roster to www.psal.org prior to the first scheduled match of the season (league or non-league). No PSAL team is permitted to compete unless an approved team roster is posted on the web.

Following each PSAL league match, coaches are required to complete and submit box scores within twenty-four hours to www.psal.org.

On days of normal school attendance, a student athlete must be present in school in order to participate in any team practice, scrimmage, league or non-league match, meet, contest or tryout.

Each student athlete must have a signed parental consent form on file for each sport before he or she can participate in that sport. This includes tryouts, practices or any competition.

Each student athlete must have a current (within one calendar year) medical certificate on file before participating in any tryouts, practices or competition.

Each student-athlete must comply with all Wrestling Weight Assessment procedures before participating in any level of league or non-league competition. This includes scrimmages against other schools. No student is permitted to wrestle without being officially weight certified.

Only certified Wrestling Assessors, recognized and approved by the PSAL, are permitted to conduct assessments and determine the lowest certified weight of a student- athlete.

Schedules

The Wrestling Season is from November 2, 2009 through February 28, 2010.

Matches must be wrestled on the scheduled dates.

Interscholastic wrestling is limited to twenty-two points, with a maximum of six tournaments per wrestler, exclusive of city, state championships, competition leading to those championships, and other matches necessary to break playoff status. A match equals one point and tournament two points.

Any team conducting home matches at their school sites must submit information regarding the site to the Commissioner no later than November 2, 2009. This should include where the competition will be held (Gym or Cafeteria), dimensions of location and mat dimensions. This information must be in letter form and signed by the Principal.

In the event that a home school site is not used for competition, the home team is responsible to ensure that all required equipment is available, usable, and setup at the site of competition. This would include scales, clocks, team and individual match scoring devices and score sheets.

Changes in Schedule

In preseason, after the schedules are posted on the web, coaches will have a window of opportunity to request adjustments or corrections to dates, times and/or home locations. These requests are made to the PSAL Scheduler, Yolanda Alford, at yalford@schools.nyc.gov and will be honored whenever possible. The closing date will Friday, October 9, 2009 at 3PM.

After the closing date, only emergency requests will be considered. To make emergency requests after the closing date, both the home and visiting head coach must select a new date, and the request must be e-mailed by the home school to the Assignor and Commissioner (LCantor2@schools.nyc.gov).

No change is official until it appears on the school's official website schedule.

Forfeits

Coaches are required to report forfeits directly to the Commissioner within twenty-four hours of the scheduled match. No box score is required to be entered for forfeits.

Four hours of pay will be deducted from teacher/coaches for each forfeit.

Teacher/Coaches

Each teacher/coach will actively supervise student-athletes until the match is completed and the team has left the facility.

Only the head teacher/coach may address the officials in case of a dispute.

The National Federation rules governing bench conduct are in effect.

An authorized PSAL teacher-coach (with current First Aid, AED and CPR Certifications) must be present at every match, scrimmage and practice.

Each teacher-coach must have a copy of the current National Federation Wrestling Rule Book present at every match and/or scrimmage.

Equipment

All wrestling mats must meet National Federation specifications, and have the approval of the Commissioner.

Safety mats should be placed around the wrestling mat

All scales must be certified by the Department of Weights and Measures.

Two visual scoring devices, one for match and one for team score must be available at all matches.

Two time clocks must be available at all matches

Practice/Competition

Each student athlete must have a minimum of eight practices before his or her first scrimmage and thirteen practices before his or her first match.

Each team must have a minimum of ten practices before their first scrimmage and fifteen practices before their first match.

Contestants of the same gender are permitted to weigh-in, shoulder to shoulder. This can occur up to one hour before the time of their dual meet.

Each contestant is permitted two weigh-in trials per match.

Order of weights shall be described in the current Weight Control Plan, unless changes have been mutually agreed upon and the Commissioner has approved it.

Wrestlers are prohibited from wrestling lower than the weight class which they were assessed.

At all PSAL matches the home team is responsible for providing an official timer and scorer.

Officials

Officials will be assigned by the PSAL Assignor.

Ejected Student-Athlete

The minimum penalty imposed upon a student-athlete ejected from a PSAL league contest by an official will be suspension from the next scheduled match.

The official will notify the Coordinator and Commissioner immediately after the contest.

The teacher/coach of the student athlete may appeal to the PSAL within two school days of the suspension.

The PSAL will notify the teacher/coach of the decision prior to the next scheduled league contest.

Ejected Teacher/Coaches

Any teacher/coach who is ejected from a contest must leave the match area. If a certified replacement teacher/coach (Department of Education licensed teacher with current First Aid, AED and CPR certification) is not available, the ejected teacher/coach’s team will forfeit the contest.

Rules and Regulations

The 200-2010 National Federation Wrestling Rule Book, with New York State Modifications will be in effect for all PSAL matches.

Protests

Protests may only be made if a rule is alleged to have been applied incorrectly or not applied at all.

No protest of judgment call may be entered.

The protesting coach must inform both the opposing coach and official of his intent to protest the match. This must be recorded in the official score book, with the time of the protest, and signed by the protesting coach and official.

The protesting coach must ensure that a written statement of protest containing pertinent information, and citing the exact rule, as quoted from the National Federation Wrestling Rule Book, including New York State modifications, is filed with the

PSAL and signed by both the school's Athletic Director and Principal. This letter must be postmarked or faxed and sent to the Wrestling Commissioner within forty-eight hours of the match. The Commissioner will render a decision within two days of receipt.

The protesting coach may appeal the Commissioner's decision by ensuring that the written statement of appeal, containing all pertinent information, is signed by both the school's Athletic Director and Principal. This statement must be postmarked or faxed to the PSAL within two days of the Commissioners decision. The PSAL will render a formal decision within two days of receipt.

The decision of the PSAL is final.