After several years of grappling with finding a fairer way to break ties in matches, the NCAA Wrestling Committee is satisfied that overtime procedures introduced last season are doing the job.

The committee, meeting April 14-17 in Indianapolis, reviewed rules survey results indicating that more than 80 percent of coaches approve of the procedures, which were adopted at last year's annual rules meeting and used in regular-season competition and at all three division championships.

In the procedure, at the end of a tied regulation match, a one-minute sudden-victory period is wrestled with both contestants in the neutral position. If no winner is determined at the end of the sudden-victory period, two 30-second tiebreakers are wrestled, with the choice of position awarded to the wrestler who scored the first offensive points (excluding escapes or penalty points) in the regulation match.

If the match remains tied, a second one-minute, sudden-victory round is wrestled, followed by two more 30-second tiebreaker periods. Only after completion of those periods is the criterion of time advantage used to determine a winner.

The committee sought to break ties in a fair manner that also encourages offensive wrestling.

Committee members also noted that implementation of the new rule occurred relatively smoothly, with Secretary-Rules Editor Bob Bubb fielding telephone calls from officials seeking to understand the new rule, and wrestling fans quickly adjusting to the change as they saw the procedures implemented at tournaments early in the season.

One of the committee's few remaining concerns is a failure to use the procedures during a limited number of tournaments involving NCAA member wrestling programs but sponsored by nonmember organizations. The committee will take steps to ensure that organizers of those events learn about and comply with all NCAA rules next season.

Takedown rule

The Wrestling Committee, which serves as both a rules committee and the governing body for the three division championships, took other rules actions during the meeting, including further modification of the takedown rule involving action near the out-of-bounds area.

The committee voted to allow wrestling to continue during an attempted takedown if any part of a foot of either wrestler remains in bounds, and also extended that opportunity to escapes and reversals.

The actions are part of the committee's continuing effort to eliminate undue stoppages of action and create more excitement, by essentially expanding the mat surface.

Committee members also approved several minor alterations of rules for the 2005 NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations, and also agreed to add language discouraging videotaping of one institution's student-athlete by any representative of another institution "or anyone acting on its behalf."

The committee also:

Noted that the officiating improvement program presentation typically scheduled in conjunction with the annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) convention will feature only a discussion of championships issues and no rules discussions, because the NWCA is holding its meetings earlier than usual this year, in conjunction with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials May 21-23 in Indianapolis. The committee again will produce a rules video that will be provided to member institutions and also will be available for viewing on the NCAA Web site beginning in mid-September.

Requested a review by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports of the wrestling rules requirement that a dermatologist be present during medical checks before tournaments and meets.

Agreed to standardize food and beverage service for competitors at all division championships sites after weigh-ins.

Approved revisions in the referee evaluation form to provide additional rating options.

Other highlights

NCAA Wrestling Committee
April 14-17/Indianapolis

The Wrestling Committee also took the following division-specific actions:

Division I

Participated in a teleconference with ESPN representatives to discuss future coverage of the Division I Wrestling Championships. The committee noted that the March 20 ESPN2 telecast of the 2004 championships was the highest-rated and most-watched NCAA wrestling telecast in history (see March 29 issue of The NCAA News).

Reviewed and updated bid specifications for potential hosts of the Division I championships in anticipation of soliciting bids beginning in July to host the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 championships. Information about the bid process can be obtained from Randy L. Buhr, NCAA assistant director of championships, at 317/917-6222.

Agreed to explore moving the informal social for student-athletes and coaches between sessions five and six of the championships to the team hotel, to encourage attendance.

Reviewed the "wild-card" policy for selection of wrestlers from conference and regional qualifying tournaments for the championships, and recommended clarifications of the policy to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet for inclusion in the 2005 Division I Wrestling Championships Handbook.

Reaffirmed the intent to continue making championships tickets available for purchase by schools whose teams finished in the top 50 in the previous year. Detailed information about the policy will be provided to institutional ticket managers and athletics personnel (directors of athletics and head wrestling coaches) at institutions sponsoring wrestling as a sport.

Submitted site recommendations for the 2005 East and West regionals to the Championships/Competition Cabinet.

Recommended an increase in the protest fee from $50 to $100.

Division II

Agreed to use the same championships pairing formula in 2005 that has been used previously, noting that Group C will be removed from the 2005 prechampionships drawing because that group was selected first at the 2004 championships. The drawing for the 2005 championships will be February 28.

Forwarded a recommendation to the Division II Championships Committee to increase the protest fee from $25 to $50.

Recommended a slight adjustment to the Championships Committee in regional alignment, due primarily to institutional decisions to drop or add sponsorship of wrestling.

Recommended sites to the Championships Committee for the championships' four regionals in 2005 and 2006 and for the 2006 finals.

Division III

* Agreed to expand the informal social for student-athletes between sessions three and four of the Division III championships from one to 1 1/2 hours, beginning at 1 p.m.

Reviewed conference allocation of qualifiers and forwarded a global recommendation for consideration by the Division III Championships Committee.

Approved a requirement that qualifying tournaments submit a minimum of three alternates for the national championships, in rank order.

Recommended sites to the Championships Committee for the 2005 Great Lakes and Midwest regionals and the 2006 finals.

Reviewed the date formula for scheduling regionals and agreed to recommend revisions designed to provide more preparation time for host institutions at finals sites.