As most know, FloWrestling likes to experiment with new and creative things to mix things up and challenge the often stale, often imperfect aspects of our sport.
In the first two years we employed unlimited overtime at Who's #1 which produced the two longest high school matches on record in Boston-Russell and Fix-Suriano.
While many fans (including myself) were glued to the action for twenty or thirty minutes, some questioned the appeal of its length and safety.
My personal opinion was that it was wrestling-at-its-best, and that it was the true way to determine a winner. But prior to the 2015 Who's #1 Press Conference, I addressed the wrestlers and the coaches to open the dialogue on a new set of overtime rules.
The objective is thus:
1) To determine a true winner
Far too often the rideouts are 'gamed'. Drop to a leg, get a stalemate, etc. Wrestlers have figured out how game rideouts which doesn't, according to many, determine the best wrestler. We came here to see Who's #1, not to see who wins on a circumstance.
2) To remove the onus of the official to call stalling
Whether it's neutral or top-and-bottom, referees don't want to call stalling. Additional time on your feet helps the wrestlers settle it, and the push-out encourages engagement and action.
3) To keep the length of the match manageable
Wrestling, as a spectator sport, has to be engaging. We don't want fans zoning out as a match goes on for twenty or thirty minutes. We also don't want their to be any sort of health concerns to the athletes.
So this is what we came up with as a group, and what will be employed for overtime at this year's Who's #1.
Regulation - traditional six-minute match under NFHS rules with the exception that college out-of-bounds will be interpreted.
Overtime 1 - same rules as regulation in a 3:00 sudden victory period.
Overtime 2 - another 3:00 sudden victory period wherein the first pushout is a caution, and the second pushout is a point that ends the match.
Overtime 3 - rideouts according to NFHS rules. Each wrestlers gets choice of top or bottom for a :30 period. The wrestler that scored first in the bout gets choice first. If score is 0-0, it's a coin flip.
Ultimate Tiebreaker - If the match is still tied after Overtime 3, the wrestler with the first point scored well have choice, just like NFHS rules.
It was our collective opinion that these rather minor tweaks were ideal in achieving our objectives and the best grounds to determine a winner.
We hope you enjoy the action, and we thank Jody Strittmatter, Chad Erikson, and Scott Green as well as all the wrestlers for what we think are awesome rules.
In the first two years we employed unlimited overtime at Who's #1 which produced the two longest high school matches on record in Boston-Russell and Fix-Suriano.
While many fans (including myself) were glued to the action for twenty or thirty minutes, some questioned the appeal of its length and safety.
My personal opinion was that it was wrestling-at-its-best, and that it was the true way to determine a winner. But prior to the 2015 Who's #1 Press Conference, I addressed the wrestlers and the coaches to open the dialogue on a new set of overtime rules.
The objective is thus:
1) To determine a true winner
Far too often the rideouts are 'gamed'. Drop to a leg, get a stalemate, etc. Wrestlers have figured out how game rideouts which doesn't, according to many, determine the best wrestler. We came here to see Who's #1, not to see who wins on a circumstance.
2) To remove the onus of the official to call stalling
Whether it's neutral or top-and-bottom, referees don't want to call stalling. Additional time on your feet helps the wrestlers settle it, and the push-out encourages engagement and action.
3) To keep the length of the match manageable
Wrestling, as a spectator sport, has to be engaging. We don't want fans zoning out as a match goes on for twenty or thirty minutes. We also don't want their to be any sort of health concerns to the athletes.
So this is what we came up with as a group, and what will be employed for overtime at this year's Who's #1.
Regulation - traditional six-minute match under NFHS rules with the exception that college out-of-bounds will be interpreted.
Overtime 1 - same rules as regulation in a 3:00 sudden victory period.
Overtime 2 - another 3:00 sudden victory period wherein the first pushout is a caution, and the second pushout is a point that ends the match.
Overtime 3 - rideouts according to NFHS rules. Each wrestlers gets choice of top or bottom for a :30 period. The wrestler that scored first in the bout gets choice first. If score is 0-0, it's a coin flip.
Ultimate Tiebreaker - If the match is still tied after Overtime 3, the wrestler with the first point scored well have choice, just like NFHS rules.
It was our collective opinion that these rather minor tweaks were ideal in achieving our objectives and the best grounds to determine a winner.
We hope you enjoy the action, and we thank Jody Strittmatter, Chad Erikson, and Scott Green as well as all the wrestlers for what we think are awesome rules.