In addition, the new rules grant medical professionals the authority to remove participants from the wrestling area to perform a concussion evaluation. Panel members have asked that these medical evaluations be tracked in order to determine how often this rule is applied and the time it takes to perform an adequate evaluation.
During the evaluation, the match will be suspended until medical personnel announce their decision. The referee, the coaches of both wrestlers, and the non-injured wrestler are required to remain on the mat during the evaluation.
A concussion evaluation timeout will not count as an injury timeout or recovery timeout. The coach of the wrestler being evaluated may not offer any coaching.
In a separate rules change, injured wrestlers will not be permitted to be coached during all other non-bleeding injury timeouts.
In the case of a severe or traumatic situation, medical personnel may request that the wrestler's coach assist in calming the injured wrestler. However, coaches are required to remove themselves from the situation during any assessment period related to the injury or concussion evaluation.
Both rules changes were initially issued as interpretations during the 2015-16 wrestling season by the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee, based on recommendations made at the NCAA Sport Science Institute Wrestling Summit in July 2015. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the rule changes in a conference call Wednesday.
"Both of these new rules proposals are about providing medical personnel dedicated and uninterrupted time with the injured athlete so they can make a more accurate health and safety decision in an already limited timeframe," Chuck Barbee, NCAA Wrestling Secretary-Rules Editor, told InterMat in April.
"These rules recommendations are a good indicator of the committee's commitment to continuing to explore and advance new rules that positively impact the student-athlete's health and safety," said Barbee, former head wrestling coach at West Point.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now