The NCAA Men’s Wrestling Rules Committee at its meeting this week proposed modifications to the matside video review process for the 2025-26 season.
The committee recommended allowing third-party reviewers to be able to consult with the referee about pertinent information on a coach’s video review challenge.
Currently, third-party reviewers look at the sequence being challenged without any consultation with the mat referee.
Additionally, committee members recommended allowing coaches to retain their video challenge if there is obstruction in any part of the video sequence that is being challenged.
Coaches also would retain their challenge if the action that is being questioned is not in the frame of the video.
Currently, in these scenarios, coaches would lose their challenge if the video isn’t determined to show indisputable evidence that the original call should be overturned.
Before becoming official, all recommended rules changes must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss men’s wrestling rules recommendations June 10.
“The committee feels that it is important to get calls right,” said Deral Brown, Men’s Wrestling Rules Committee chair and head coach at Newberry. “Context in making these decisions is critical. We believe coaches should retain their challenge if the entirety of the sequence is unable to be assessed.”
Another proposal made by the committee is if the video review system fails during a dual meet or at a mat in a tournament, video review would not be used for the remainder of that match. If the system cannot be corrected before the conclusion of the match in which the video review system failed, it would be suspended from use for the remainder of the event.
Mandatory mouthpiece proposal
Committee members recommended making mouthguards required for competition, beginning next season.
“There is unequivocal science and research available to support the positive benefits of wearing a mouthguard. After thorough discussion, the committee concluded that the mouthguard recommendation is in the best interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes,” Brown said.
Other rules recommendations
- Eliminating the interlocking fingers penalty because it is virtually impossible for referees to determine who created the violation.
- Making the wearing of ear protection optional for wrestlers.
- No longer requiring the referee to say “set” from all three starting positions.
- Stopping the riding time when the offensive wrestler is going to be called for stalling.
- Establishing a protocol for schools to request a review of flagrant misconduct penalties. The school would have up to 48 hours to make the request to its conference. After reviewing the video, the conference could send it to be reviewed by a panel that would include the NCAA men’s wrestling secretary-rules editor, the NCAA national coordinator of men’s wrestling officials and an independent third party.
- Penalizing wrestlers for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing, tossing, spiking or sliding any piece of equipment before, during or after the match.
Allowing the offensive wrestler to leave both feet and use one or both legs to return their opponent to the mat when the defensive wrestler is standing (broomstick position). The double knee kickback, however, still would be illegal.
