The NWCA has been searching for the best way to make some changes to the NCAA wrestling season to incorporate a dual championship for quite some time.

In order to fully examine the research and propose the needed changes, there was a Blue Ribbon Task Force formed. One of the biggest changes included making wrestling a one-semester sport. However, it wasn't the only thing being looked at. The task force came up with a number of bullet points that have gone through many levels of discussion.

Here is the latest list of considerations that have made it through the meetings of the BRTF following the NWCA Coaches Convention.

Playing and Practice Season:

1. One-semester sport.

• ​The BRTF unanimously supported wrestling moving to become a spring semester sport and for the membership to consider this legislatively, with the first day of competition occurring following the fall semester final exams. (Based on the 2017-18 academic calendar five schools are done by Dec. 9. Forty-six more are done by Dec. 16. Twenty-four more are done by Dec. 22. The only school not done by Dec. 22 is Princeton. The thinking is Princeton could apply for a waiver to the rule.) 

2. Move the start of the season from Oct. 10 to Nov. 10. 

• ​The BRTF unanimously supported moving the first official day of practice to Nov. 10.

3. NCAA Dual-Team Championship. 

• ​The BRTF unanimously supported the concept of maintaining the NCAA Individual Championship on the existing weekend and for the establishment of a standalone NCAA dual meet team championship to be concluded on or near April 22. 

4. Establish a summit at which compliance officers and coaches would be able to agree on NCAA-compliant best practices to more consistently implement rules related to National Development Program.

Student Athlete Welfare:

1. The concept of helping with ground transportation for redshirted SA competing in open competition was referred to the NWCA Division I Leadership Group, asking them to develop more precise wording of the plan and bring it back to the BRTF for reconsideration.

2. Develop a recruiting calendar with dead periods around the NCAA Championships and NWCA Convention. (Based on coaches feedback this was drafted and forwarded to the Student Athlete Experience Committee for review.)