2010-11 VHSL WRESTLING RULES CLINIC

1. 2010-11 VHSL WRESTLING RULES CLINIC Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

2. Purpose Review important VHSL policies and information Explain this year’s rule changes Answer any questions you might have

3. Clinic Attendance Each school that sponsors wrestling must be represented by a wrestling coach Officials must attend each year to be eligible for varsity and post-season consideration Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

4. Penalties for Non-Attendance Coach Letter to principal $50 fine Head coach must take NFHS wrestling rules exam Official No clinic – no varsity. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

5. Clinic Make-up Coaches or officials who are unable, due to extreme or unusual circumstances, to attend one of the VHSL Rules Clinics, MAY be given an opportunity to meet the clinic requirement by viewing the PowerPoint presentation online. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

6. Clinic Make-up Request Procedure The request for an official must come from his/her officials association commissioner. The request for a coach must come from his/her Principal/AD. Requests must be in writing (email is OK). Past clinic attendance and present circumstances along with any additional pertinent information will be considered in the decision to grant or deny the request. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

7. Rules Clinic Make-up Requirements If the request is granted The coach/official must pay a $25 administrative fee to VHSL in order to receive credit for attendance. The requesting school/association must verify that the official/coach did in fact view the presentation. The coach must take the online exam. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

8. Rules Clinic Make-up Requirements Requests may only be approved by the VHSL office. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

9. Web Info 2010-11 Wrestling Rules Changes Points of Emphasis Appropriate Dress for Weigh-ins VHSL Rules Clinic Power Point Equipment, Facilities and Uniform Changes 2010 VHSL Championships Schedule Weight Control Program Additional resources Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

10. IMPORTANT DATES MPR = Minimum Practice Requirement = number of daily practice sessions required prior to first legal contest. For competition cheer, the requirement applies to each individual. For all other sports, the requirement is a TEAM requirement.

11. VHSL Wrestling Championships Quarter Finals – February 18-19, 2011 A/AA – Salem Civic Center AAA – James W. Robinson Secondary (Fairfax) Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

12. Practices • No practice prior to November 15, 2010 • No contest prior to December 1, 2010 Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

13. Pre-Season Conditioning • Must be open to entire student body • May include weight training and/or running • Cannot be sport-specific • No wrestling equipment • No wrestling instruction Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

14. Contest Limits Regular season contests 12 team contests Individual wrestlers limited to 60 mat appearances Individual wrestlers limited to 5 matches per day Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

15. Scrimmages & Jamborees Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

16. Rules Exam Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

17. EXAM REQUIREMENT All wrestling officials must take and pass the exam to be eligible to work VHSL contests. Minimum score of 70 for regular season eligibility Minimum score of 80 for post season eligibility Coaches who miss the rules clinic must take the exam Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

18. ONLINE EXAM Exam will be taken online -- exams.nfhs.org VHSL will provide a link to the NFHS site from each sport’s landing page of the VHSL web site. There is also an on-line PowerPoint that details how to register and take the exam. Look under “Resources” in your sport’s area. NO PAPER COPIES OF THE EXAM WILL BE ISSUED. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

19. TESTING DATES Exam opens on October 25, 2010 Exams completed by Nov. 21, 2010 – no fee Officials have 4 weeks to complete the exam requirement This provides our staff with time to process results from the NFHS and send information to commissioners in time to make any necessary adjustments to assignments Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

20. LATE FEES Exams completed after Nov. 21, but before Nov. 29 - $50.00 fee must be paid to VHSL before credit will be given Exams completed after Nov. 28 but before Dec. 6 - $75.00 fee must be paid to VHSL before credit will be given After Dec. 5 - $100.00 – payment must be received before credit will be given Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

21. EXAM CLOSES Exam will close on Jan. 9, 2011 Officials cannot be assigned to VHSL contests until they have completed the exam requirement. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

22. VHSL ID REQUIRED Officials must have a VHSL ID to take the exam Officials should have only ONE VHSL ID, regardless of the number of sports you officiate. If you do not have a VHSL ID, contact your association commissioner. Registration fees must be paid prior to receiving a VHSL ID. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

23. EXAM LAYOUT 100 True/False questions Order of the questions is random No two tests will be alike If you need to re-take the exam (because you failed on your first attempt), the questions will appear in a different order. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

24. RE-TESTING Officials who score less than 80 may take the exam a second time No additional attempts will be permitted Do NOT attempt the exam until you are prepared to take it. Officials who score 80 or higher on their first attempt are not permitted a second try. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

25. SPORTSMANSHIP Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

26. VHSL PROGRAMS ARE EDUCATION-BASED

27. SPORTSMANSHIP ISTHE #1 PRIORITYOF EDUCATION-BASED ATHLETICS

28. The sole purpose of VHSL and other “education-based” athletics and activities programs is to provide students with unique opportunities to learn skills that will make them better people. Sportsmanship

29. Player Ejections Total – 447 (363 last yr.) 29 wrestlers ejected! Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

30. Coach Ejections Total # of coaches ejected = 61 (38 last yr) 0 WR coaches ejected Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

31. Sportsmanship • There is NEVER a valid reason for behaving in a manner that results in ejection. • Wrestlers and coaches who are ejected let their teams down.

32. Coach’s Role • Always remember you are a TEACHER, and that you are teaching much more than wrestling. • Always model appropriate behavior – coaches can sometimes have more of an impact on students than any other person. • Sportsmanship starts at the top. Let players and parents know what you expect.

33. Coach’s Role • Keep the proper perspective • It’s a game/match, not a war.

34. Official’s Role Officials – you are the “protectors of the game.” NEVER engage a spectator – not before, not during, not after a meet NEVER “bait” a coach or participant ALWAYS behave in a professional manner You are always an official, whether you are in the grocery store or a spectator at your child’s game – behave like one. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

35. Official’s Role ALWAYS show respect for wrestlers, coaches and administrators. If you have “an attitude” about a coach or team, don’t do their matches. If a question is asked in a respectful manner, it deserves an answer. What you permit, you promote. The match is about the student athletes. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

36. What can your school do? Adopt the VHSL Sportsmanship Guidelines for State Events for all of your games. The guidelines are on the VHSL website. Recognize and highlight good sportsmanship when it happens. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

37. Questions about Sportsmanship All questions regarding VHSL regulations should be directed to VHSL office – not to contest officials or commissioners. Match officials do not determine the number of games a player will miss if he/she is ejected. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

38. Reporting Sportsmanship Problems ALL ejections must be reported to VHSL office Sportsmanship “incidents” (things that happen before or after a match) must be reported to the VHSL office Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

39. It’s All About RESPECT Good sportsmanship is nothing more than having and showing respect for competitors, coaches, officials, each other, and the sport itself! Wrestle with honor! Player behavior mirrors that of his/her coach. It starts at the top. Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens

40. OFFICIAL CALL is the EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER of officials gear at VHSL-sponsored rules clinics OFFICIAL CALL is the only vendor permitted at VHSL-sponsored clinics. Other vendors may arrange with associations to sell at regular association meetings.

41. Respect the Game! Virginia High School League Building Better Citizens