Good information to strengthen your officiating skills with some solid mechanic techniques
outlined below.

1. Both wrestlers must place one foot on their respective starting line and the other foot on
   or behind the line or the line extended. Don’t start unless both wrestlers have a foot on
   the line. Point to the line to ensure this. Eliminate unnecessary Cautions.
2. Hands and/or forehead cannot touch the opponent.
3. Both wrestlers must be stationary until the whistle sounds (no rolling starts).
4. It is not recommended for the Official to shake the hands of the wrestlers unless they initiate shaking hands with you.

1. The Official should step in between the wrestlers with outstretched arms between the red
   and green starting lines. Make sure this position does not interfere with the wrestlers,
   however.
2. The Official should be stationary and facing the scorer’s table. Point at and make eye
   contact with the timekeeper.
3. Make sure you have visual acknowledgment from the timekeeper prior to blowing the
   whistle.
4. Verbally “set” the wrestlers.
5. Sound your whistle loud and sharp while simultaneously making a visual arm motion to
   start the match (Signal #1.
6. Move out quickly to a proper calling distance (10-15 feet) and adjust your position
   according to where the action goes. Glance up momentarily to ensure that the clock has
   properly started. Always keep both wrestlers in your line of sight as you back out.
7. It is recommended that the whistle remain in the front of the Official’s mouth unless
   giving verbal commands to the wrestlers – not on side of the mouth.

1. Situate yourself so that you are far enough away from the wrestling to observe the action
   and not interfere with sudden changes in position. Move in closer when identifying
   Potentially Dangerous and/or potentially Illegal maneuvers.
2. A range of 10-15 feet is suggested. Find your comfortable space. A wider range allows
   for a greater perspective.
3. Know how various Takedowns finish so you can position yourself to stay out of the way
   and to observe control as it is established.
4. Continuously work to improve your position and situate yourself between both wrestlers
   as they face each other to ensure you can move to either side in scoring situations and
   to see the hand fighting.
5. Anticipate position. Understand where action should go next.
6. Do not chase the action; stop and let the action come back to you. Oftentimes moving
   counter to the wrestlers’ rotation is more effective.
7. Change levels and be mobile in order to be in proper position to observe Potentially
   Dangerous and/or Illegal maneuvers; bend knees – drop hips.
8. It is important to loudly verbalize the award of Takedown points. Move in and lower your
   level. This allows the scoring wrestler to release the locked hands. Verbalize who is in
   control.
9. Award points in a confident manner using approved hand signals. Arm should be
   extended overhead while rotating the points (Signal #22).
10. Eye contact should be maintained strictly on the wrestlers. Trust the table team to do
    their job correctly and keep your focus on the wrestlers.

1. Beat the wrestlers to the boundary line. The Official should be in position to observe the location of each wrestler. Position yourself so that you can view the action and the boundary line to see when the wrestlers go out of bounds. Maintain proper distance and keep moving. The Second Official should be in a position to see if either wrestler touches off the mat surface.
2. Be patient; do not overly anticipate an Out of Bounds situation occurring. Control your
   whistle until you are sure a situation finishes Out of Bounds.
3. Call Out of Bounds by the letter of the rule and be consistent from call to call. Use proper hand mechanics with simultaneous whistle (Signal #10). No stop sign is necessary.
4. Always keep safety in mind. You may have to sound a premature whistle when safety is a concern. For example, if walls, bleachers, chairs, tables, platforms, etc. are nearby.
5. When possible, award the earned points before sounding your whistle. Award points in the proper sequence as they occurred.
6. The Official may verbally request that both wrestlers “work center” but keep comments short and refrain from “coaching.”

1. Continuously work to maintain the best possible position to observe control or non-control.
2. Be patient. Let the action unfold and remain calm.
3. Take a deep breath and take a couple steps back. Officials tend to move in closer when the action picks up. Follow the action and work to anticipate where it’s going.
4. Remember, there is Reaction Time in all situations.
5. It’s better to be a half second late versus a half second early when awarding points in all situations.
6. When control is gained, loudly verbalize the awarded points.
7. Likewise, verbalize no control with proper mechanics if scramble remains Neutral. Show the No Control signal (Signal #9) every 8-10 seconds. Avoid holding the No Control signal for prolonged periods of time. Being verbal is critical. 
8. In many scramble situations it is obvious that control has not been established. However, when control is close to being established, then that is when the No Control signal should be used. The goal is to not over-utilize the No Control signal.
9. Circle in the opposite direction to catch up to the action.

1. Start of the Referee’s Position
   1. The hand movement should be the same as the Neutral start of the match.
2. As with other hand signals, the hand motion is also for the table, coaches, and fans.
3. Verbally “set” each wrestler, pause, and then blow the whistle loud and clear!
4. If your matches have an inordinate number of false starts, it is possible the Official is
   causing the problem.
5. Be stationary and alternate positions on the mat to avoid rolling starts.

1. You should be at an angle (right or left of center) to the wrestlers. If the wrestlers are at 12 o’clock, the Official should be at 10 or 2 o’clock.
2. Although altering sides may help, the Official should be aware of the tendencies of the wrestlers throughout the match and set up accordingly.
3. You should stand. This gives the Official the ability to see the placement of the Offensive wrestler’s head on the mid-line, the palm on the navel, the palm on the elbow, and the back foot. (Official may lower level to view the palm.)
4. Do not be out on the edge of the circle; that is too far away. Stay in between the 10-foot circle and the Out of Bounds line.
5. After the Defensive wrestler gets in position and is “set,” the Official should get into ready position. Next, the Official will direct the Offensive wrestler to “cover.” Once legal and stationary, the Official will verbally “set” the Offensive wrestler and then start the match with a simultaneous hand signal and whistle.
6. Remember to pause for at least one second before sounding the whistle.

1. After the start and throughout the mat wrestling, the Official wants to be primarily at the head and hands of the wrestlers, suggested 8-12 feet from the wrestlers.
2. As the Offensive wrestler breaks his opponent down and applies bars, wings, power halves or comes closer to Nearfalls, the Official may move closer in position to stop  Potentially Dangerous holds or look for Nearfalls and Falls. Please look for Trapped arm  and Chin Whip situations.
3. Vary distance from wrestlers depending on the situation. The Official should be in position to block or stop Potentially Dangerous situations BEFORE they become Illegal. Being verbal here is critical to allow the wrestlers to adjust and prevent holds from becoming Illegal or Potentially Dangerous.

1. As the Defensive wrestler makes it to their feet, the Official should come to the head and hands of the wrestlers but be ready to change directions quickly.
2. The Official should pay particular attention to hand control to determine if the Offensive wrestler can attempt to return the Defensive wrestler. Repeatedly dropping to one knee or one hand to break locked hands is unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. Indicate who is in control with proper hand mechanics. Be verbal with “Improve.”
4. The Offensive wrestler has the responsibility to attempt to return the Defensive wrestler to the mat, as per NFHS rules. There is no 5 second rule in the book. If they are making no legitimate attempt, then they shall be called for Stalling. Do not stop the match when making the Stalling call in this situation.
5. If the Official feels that the Offensive wrestler is incapable of attempting to return the Defensive. wrestler and/or neither wrestler can improve, then a Stalemate is warranted.
6. If the Offensive wrestler is attempting to return the opponent to the mat, then there is no Stalling – the key being a legitimate attempt.
7. In a rear standing position, the Official must anticipate the Offensive wrestler’s
   movement in order to maintain best possible position to see all scoring situations.

1. The Official should position themselves on the edge in order to view the heads/hands of
   the wrestlers while also maintaining a good view of the boundary line to see if or when
   they go out of bounds. Maintain enough space to see the whole situation.
2. The Official should continue to move and improve position to view best angle.
3. If Officials need to change positions on the edge, then switch to the outside of the wrestlers with SO on the outside. Do not switch on the inside on the mat.
4. Note: if there is no significant action taking place on the edge, then you may restart the wrestlers back in the center.

1. Directly from the Feet
   1. Follow the flow of the action. When the back of the Defensive wrestler is exposed – beyond Reaction Time – work to be down on the mat in the best vantage position to view both shoulders/scapulae. It may not be toward the head and shoulders.
   2. In many cases the Official may have to cut off the mat and, therefore, should take the best angle possible to maintain proper position when the action goes from feet to back.
   3. Continuously improving your position while on your feet should help to eliminate having to chase the action when it moves quickly in another direction. In some instances, it is more beneficial to move counter to the wrestling action and let it come to you.
   4. Your first Nearfall count does not start until the Defensive wrestler is in Nearfall criteria beyond Reaction Time.
   5. A verbal and visual count should be used whenever possible.
   6. Do not place or reach a hand under the scapulae or shoulders of the Defensive wrestler.
   7. The Official should continue to move to view best angle to see the Nearfall or Fall.
   8. Look underneath, while also looking at action happening around the face and hands.
2. From the Mat
   1. As Defensive wrestler is getting put into Nearfall criteria, start lowering your body. Get in a ready position to see when the Nearfall criteria is met. Official should stay in a mobile position while maintaining distance because the direction of the action may change often.
   2. Your first Nearfall count does not start until the Defensive wrestler is in Nearfall criteriabeyond Reaction Time.
   3. Once criteria have been met, give a clear, precise verbal and visual count: “thousand one, thousand two, thousand three, thousand four, thousand five.” Visual count should be with arm up and out at a 45-degree angle with fingers tight together.
   4. Verbal count is critical for both wrestlers, while the visual signal is important for the coaches, fans and table.
   5. The Official should be down on the mat when the Nearfall happens and understand when a Nearfall is still the same situation so as not to award the Nearfall points prematurely.
3. Do Not Make Up Hand Signals
   1. DO NOT make a hand gesture with fingers and thumb showing how close the back is to the mat.
   2. DO NOT make a hand signal with a hand straight up and down symbolizing a 90-degree angle.
   3. DO NOT wave a hand back and forth to indicate that a wrestler moved in and out of Nearfall. DO NOT shake your head yes or no to indicate if wrestler is in and out of Nearfall criteria.

 On boundary situations, be in position to see when the action goes Out of Bounds. If the wrestlers go out and the LO does not see it, then SO may yell “Out.” If the wrestlers touch off the mat surface, then SO may yell “Out” so everyone knows why.