Officials and False Starts

• ksig489

  I also dislike it when officials feel the need to stand in between the wrestlers as they start on their feet and take away any possibility of a whistle shot. Some stand back and others will literally push themselves in between the wrestlers to start them.
• Fab1b

  

  Officials should be in between them on the neutral start, to reduce false start ankle shots causing injuries!! Wrestlers must be stationary at the start until the whistle blows.
  
  I can tell you this regarding the cautions for top and bottom; at the start of the year there were tons of cautions here in Florida but by mid season it had really died down. Throughout Districts, Regions, and States this past weekend wasn't an issue.
• Bitterrunner-up

  Do false start ankle shots cause more injuries then other types of shots? Is there data on that?
• Fab1b

  

  I don't know but that is why refs are encouraged to be in close at the neutral start. That is from a former member of the NFHS Board.
• Bitterrunner-up

  Fab1b wrote: I don't know but that is why refs are encouraged to be in close at the neutral start. That is from a former member of the NFHS Board.

  Well, then it must be right.
• ksig489

  Being close is one thing...literally standing between them is another. Late in a match a kid may need to take that shot on the whistle and may not be able to due to the ref being in the way. Ive seen officials who didnt always stand in between, all of a sudden get right in therte with 6 second left in a 1 point match and just take away any chance for a kid to get a quick shot off.
• Fab1b

  

  Bitterrunner-up wrote:

  Fab1b wrote: I don't know but that is why refs are encouraged to be in close at the neutral start. That is from a former member of the NFHS Board.

  Well, then it must be right.

  Not saying its right or I agree with it, just doing as the official is instructed to do. I am not physically between them, my arm is between them while my body is just behind the parallel line.
• falcon81

  

  When that whistle blows that Ref better be out of the way completely. Anything more than an arm is impeding the match and the wrestlers.
• Con_Alma

  I agree. I'm not sure I would hold back asking a ref not to do this if I saw this in a match or tell my wrestling to ignore the refs position and shoot anyway once the whistle blew.
• WGBplayer

  I know the one thing I've done that I believe that is working and I've maybe called one false start all year is after I set the bottom I'm in real close and tell the top man he may get on and at that time I remind both wrestlers that I'll also ask the top man if he's set. Seemed to have worked pretty good for me this year.
• Con_Alma

  That's great. I remember at the beginning of the year hearing a lot of officials doing something similar.
• Fab1b

  

  Con_Alma wrote: I agree. I'm not sure I would hold back asking a ref not to do this if I saw this in a match or tell my wrestling to ignore the refs position and shoot anyway once the whistle blew.

  I don't blame you if the ref is in the way tell your wrestler not to move but to shoot, just like in all sports the official is in the field of play and if they get in the way they may get knocked around!!
• Con_Alma

  I would ask first if I thought it was going to be an issue. Unfortunately there are times when you don't have that chance.
  
  I mean, contrary to some refs belief, I like officials. They love this sport like I do and are people too...or are they??? Lol.
• Fab1b

  

  I love the sport and would love to coach personally but don't have the time I could dedicate to that so officiating keeps me involved in the sport. Sports needs good officials just like it needs good coaches!
• Con_Alma

  ...and how.
  
  I think there would be some benefit in actually requiring coaches to get their license and officiate for a year before becoming a coach.
• Fab1b

  

  Are you asking how it keeps me involved in the sport???
• Con_Alma

  No. I was responding to this.
  

  Fab1b wrote: ...Sports needs good officials just like it needs good coaches!

  I responded with the shortened version of the old saying, "Boy, and how"...meaning I couldn't agree more.
• Fab1b

  

  gotcha my bad
• refjimbob

  Dad4Sports wrote:

  falcon81 wrote: My twins had 6 cautions in their sectional finals between them . I hate the inconsistency of how the refs put the kids in position and how long HS refs wait to blow the whistle. It seems to be a game of gotcha with the new rules. JMO.

  Agree.....the problem I have is just in the inconsistentcy of how the new rule has been applied. Huge difference in the "mechanics" from ref to ref.....no wonder the kids are still having trouble with it.

• refjimbob

  Can You clarify by what you mean on the "huge difference in the '"mechanics"'. I want to know so I can change up if I have to.