There is a multitude of compelling storylines heading into the NCAA season, but nothing seems to be hotter right now than the rule changes proposed by the NCAA. Admittedly, some are fantastic, and others -- while implemented in the spirit of positive change -- will cripple some competitions.
First there are two rules that were implemented in response to the Ian Miller screw-job from last year. Like we'll see in Cary Kolat piece next week on FloWrestling where FILA implemented rule changes post-hosing, the NCAA has followed suit and admitted that the handling of the match (and the involvement of the NCAA suits afterwards) were both regrettable.
The Miller Rules say that all scoring and timing issues can be questioned on the mat without the use of a challenge, and that the issue must resolved on the mat rather than inviting the NCAA administration to assist in the discussions.
There was also an emphasis put on handshakes, which was well overdue. As most fans noticed, in international wrestling there is ZERO tolerance for grumpy behavior and wrestlers are made to not only shake hands and face both sides of the competition hall, but also made to leave the mat via their opponent's corner. This should go some way in eliminating the awkward temper tantrums some wrestlers throw after losing a match. Intensity and aggression are skills, but they don't need to be lifestyle choices.
There were other items (see video), but the major thrust was the out-of-bounds stall calls and guidance on how they might be called for pushing, pulling and backing out of bounds.
There is no amount of written detail that can describe the inanity of what is being asked, but there are two easy takeaways from this change. The first is that the NCAA clearly sees the need and desire to keep the wrestling in the center, and the second is that the NCAA referees need an incredible amount of guidance and rule-based assistance in calling for stalling.
The error with the first thrust is that it stops short of restricting gamesmanship on the edge. The NCAA rarely makes large changes, so this is probably part of a two-year plan to implement a scoring element to out-of-bounds, but for this year there is no doubt that the stalling calls asked by the NCAA will be handed out free of the consistency necessary to make it effective or judicious. The language actually opens the rules up to MORE gamesmanship on the edge. The rule reminds me of the liberty some wrestlers would take in dropping to a knee when their opponent was locking hands from behind. That rule was changed, but that type of one year turnaround can be expected with all the push and pull and step-out interpretations for stalling.
The referees also need to be given a less complicated set of rules. Step-outs in freestyle and Greco-Roman are difficult enough to judge with only a single outcome, the job of deciphering the NCAA step-out rule adds in layers of interpretation that make it unruly. The NCAA referee is currently incapable of making stall calls outside of the one early call and the 15-second-remaining makeup call. There is no reason to believe that referees will begin asserting themselves with these stalling calls.
On a brighter note the Grapple on the Gridiron featuring Iowa vs. Oklahoma State is barreling towards a sellout. So we will now all have the pleasure of listening to 60k+ Hawkeye fans scream "C'mon ref, he's stalling!!" every time the action even flirts with the edge of the mat.
Oh, how wonderful a year it will be.
To your questions …
Q: How would you implement freestyle if we switched? College and high school? Lot of high school coaches are way behind on freestyle. Also, less control = more injuries? I am for the move but think it's a lot harder to do than to say. Possible?
-- @RobbyHitch
Foley: Excellent question. I think that you give it a start date. The little kids can transfer their skills immediately, but to the college kids it's not fair. The best idea is to offer a November 2020 start date and work back from that point. Anyone graduating from high school in 2020 will then know that they should start training for the style. Additionally, you could start training referees on the style and put in place the rule and oversight structure necessary to ensure a fair bout.
Q: How long for David Taylor to adjust to 86?
-- @Eagle_Fan
David Taylor battles Tyler Caldwell in the challenge tournament at the U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)I spoke with Brendan Weafer, a well-respected trainer at Epic Hybrid in NYC and he outlined the typical drawbacks for guys like Taylor when they rapidly build muscle, but still require vast amounts of cardio. The effect is a learning curve for the body.
Weafer explained that like being at elevation the body has trouble supplying the right amount of oxygenated blood and nutrients to the new tissue. The athlete may be in shape, but the muscles become exhausted much faster.
The big advantage for Taylor -- or Dake if he decides to also make the move -- is that what they lack in strength they make up for in speed. Quickness and agility can win close matches, but the issue of endurance will need to be solved well before hoping to make the Olympic team.
Taylor's given himself a year to make the weight and I trust that he has nutritional advisors at the ready. I think that he'll have a stumble early (at least in terms of fitness) but be winning big matches by St. Patrick's Day.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Link: An important article on the impact of football deaths …
This is what happens when you can't funk …
Maybe it's time to start looking at the way we look at ourselves?
But first... let us take (lots and lots and LOTS) of selfies.FULL VIDEO: http://bit.ly/1VqCyv9
Posted by 120 Sports on Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Q: Chances of more weights being added back?
-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: Zero for 2020.
If additions made before the IOC Session in 2017 (when the new host city for 2024 is announced) there will be no chance for additional weights the 2024 Games. After that deadline you are looking at the IOC meeting in 2021 as the hard deadline for the 2028 Games.
Movement can happen before the IOC dates, but you have to read between the lines of sporting politics to understand if/when that might happen. I suggest checking out "Inside the Games" and "Around the Rings" for stories about the Olympic movement and changes on the horizon.
Q: I understand the debate between freestyle vs folkstyle in terms of developing elite wrestlers, but I don't understand the argument switching to freestyle to have more fans. Can't we just do a better job of marketing freestyle without making major changes? Why not have dual meets between elite wrestling clubs? Imagine the matchups between Sunkist Kids vs Nittany Lion WC? Ed Ruth vs. David Taylor, Dustin Kilgore vs. Jake Varner interest anyone? This type of format would usher collegiate fans into freestyle, creating more fans, revenue streams for clubs, and opportunities for non-Olympians to create fan bases. Win for everyone without drastic changes to styles.
-- Josh C.
Foley: The argument for more fans is based mostly in the amount of action seen in a typical freestyle match versus a typical folkstyle match. As Andy Hamilton noted last year, scoring is WAY down on the college level and scoring from the feet has been even more abysmal given the benefits to wrestling on the mat.
I don't think the freestyle folks are hoping to push a new religion of sport onto anyone, as much as trying to help the future outcome at the Olympic level. At the base the argument makes total sense, because training in a thing (given equal season time, etc) is certain to bring about an improved performance. The United States is uniquely suited to bring about the most successful freestyle league in the world by simply adopting the freestyle rules at the NCAA level.
The club teams simply aren't plentiful enough to compete year-round and create the buzz you are mentioning. There are club leagues in Iran and India which are competing this winter, which should be good competition for the Ohio-ROTC, Titan Mercury, NYAC and Sunkist.
As a traditional wrestling enthusiast I'd hate to see American folkstyle disappear completely, but it is worth noting that adaptation to norms is part of folkstyle's history. In that vein there are changes to implement that could compliment freestyle without losing the folkstyle appeal, namely counting points against maneuvers intentionally exposing the back, enforcing an out-of-bounds and moving to two three-minute periods.
Q: Confidence USA qualifies all men's freestyle weight classes for Rio?
-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: If I were asked to bet, I'd tell you that I don't think the men's freestyle will qualify every weight class. There are too many variables at play and with the Cubans not qualifying at several weights and the South American countries wrestling better than ever (with Cuban coaches) there is less chance of qualification at the Pan Ams.
The international qualifiers will be tough, but the three-allocation Mongolian tournament will be the best bet for the Americans since it's unlikely to draw as many wrestlers and has more spots. Also, the top-three allocation means an extra match, which for in-shape Americans can be very beneficial.
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