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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Fred Feeney added to this discussion on February 17, 2008
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Stalling…the most interesting call in wrestling. I will tell you that unless you have a thorough knowledge of what stalling really is and how to recognize it, and until you are on that mat, in a situation where someone is stalling, or might be stalling, in a big match, you have no idea what the referee is thinking.
I truly believe calling stalling in a college match or a high level high school match is a art form. Most fans don't have a true grasp of the intricacies of the college or high school stall call and what all goes into it.
It’s all about getting it right…every time, every match. Each side is yelling, the fans are yelling, this is happening, that is occurring...a thousand things at one time. I am going to try and explain stalling and how to get the call you need or want. It’s simple.
Stalling calls, be it a high level high school or a college match, are very unique situations. The score does matter, who has shot and who hasn't matters...who is pushing..who is shoving...who is working the edge..who is circling back in...who is defending a lead..who is blocking off...who is tying up..who is riding...who is content with the score...my goodness...there is a lot to consider. In every match, depending on which corner you are in, or what side of the gym you are sitting, you will see different things and want different things based on what you know...or don’t know.
Do you know how to force a call? I don’t mean screaming from the chair or stands “what’s the bottom guy doing…or get him off the hips…or he’s backing either. It’s very simple.
Want a stall call? Shoot..move forward..work harder than the other kid...make it so apparent that the other kid is stalling that it becomes a easy call to make because it stands out. The formula is simple: Create Action. I don’t mean circling, that isn’t a move, Or pushing someone out of bounds. Or burying your head and blocking off. Or sitting on the hips with both legs in an “working” a half. The opposite of Creating Action is… NO ACTION. Better known as…stalling. It really is a simple formula.
Force me NOT to make the call versus not doing anything and making it easy for me to make the call.
Let’s look at several common situation where stalling takes place.
First period – First minute
99.99% of the time you will not see a stall call in the first minute in the neutral position because the wrestlers are setting things up. One kid may be a lot more aggressive than the other and if he shoots and reshoots and reshoots, there will either be a lot of TD’s or counter wrestling, and counter wrestling is not stalling, unless that wrestler is content to be defensive and not offensive.
First period – Second minute (1:30 in college)
Now is when a referee is really starting to look at who is taking all shots or creating the action. Is the one that is getting shot on backing up? Blocking off? Using the edge as protection? If neither is shooting, or creating action, the referee will usually pick one at 1:15-1:30. Timing is crucial. No other action, he will hit the other at 1:45 or so. Each has a warning. Period ends.
First period with a TD
A TD is what we want. A TD should lead to working towards a fall. A TD most times indicates one is more aggressive than the other. There is an old adage…..The most aggressor kid should win. Doesn’t always happen but generally it is true. Another old adage…did the right kid win? What’s that mean? It means did the kid that took the chances, who was the aggressor, and who worked harder should win the match. How that plays into stalling? It’s simple.
Green shot and got a TD. In college, he gets 1 point if he has 1 minute more riding time than his opponent at the end of the match. So, I will usually let him get his 1 min, as long as he isn’t just not moving at all. Give me something and you will get your minute in. Then, you will usually see me hit a stalemate. Which is me saying…”ok…you have your minute…now work towards the fall.” He gets...some "credit" for that TD. When fans or coaches start yelling about what the top guy is doing...well..he is riding the kid he just took down!
In high school, there is no riding time, so with that taken into consideration; the top kid has to work a move that will lead to attempting to turn for NF or a fall. Attempt is the key word. The top kid doesn’t have to turn if he can’t, but he must attempt. How do you attempt? Get off the hips! Create angles! Create angles is the key…I do not know of any way the top kid can turn a kid without creating an angle. It’s really simple.
Second period
Top man must work towards a fall, bottom man must work for an escape or reversal. Simple.
What are we looking for? Top man must work for a fall by getting off the hips and attempting to turn. Easier said than done at times of course. As I am referring, I am asking myself constantly, who is working hard? Who is working harder than the other? Is the top man working to turn or happy to ride? Bottom man head on the mat? Question…is there a move, other than a Granby maybe that requires the head to be on the mat? Don’t think so. When I hear coaches tell their kid…”you have to move”, or “build a base”, or best one is “you can’t just lay there”. These are the same things I want to say!!! On the other hand, I am always shocked when I do hit that same kid, whether or not the coach has been verbal, when the coach wants to argue why I hit his kid. Look at what he is doing….is that what you teach? Is that how he will win this match?
Third Period
Depending on the type of match, stalling may never be a factor. With no score in the 1st period, and a quick escape and no more score in the 2nd…you will probably have a escape and possible OT match.
With no stalling calls prior…how’s it happen in the 3rd? Another old adage…”if you don’t call stalling in the first two periods. Don’t call it in the third.” I don’t agree with that. With riding time, the top guy will want to pad and protect…can’t do that. In high school, the top kid will not want the bottom kid to escape this tying the match..imagine that! Penalties are really about stopping cheating. By hanging on and not wrestling, the top guy is “cheating” and that’s why we have to call stalling. Imagine this…that any wrestler could apply a bear hug and simply hold on tight for two minutes and win…is that fair? Of course not…that is what stalling is however...a form of bear hugging, but not just quite as obvious. It’s simple.
Defending a lead
Red has 5, green 4. With a minute to go, and one warning, I will be looking strong at Red and seeing if he is blocking, pushing, riding, circling, or anything else to attempt to defend his lead and win the match. I guarantee that I will never let a kid win a match by defending his lead and not working to score. I will recognize the stall technique and tie the match up to take it to OT.
Tied Match
I have been referring matches for almost 20 years. I will be the first to admit that in my early years, I called stalling a lot more strictly with NO consideration of the score or time left in the match. That cost some kids wins, and championships. For that, I am sorry. That doesn’t mean at all that if a kid is stalling with 10 seconds to go that I wont or shouldn’t make that touch stall call. I have and will. If you are backing out, fleeing and just flat out stop wrestling…you will lose. Also..when that kids mom yells, “Hey ref…my kid is stalling! That doesn’t happen too often however.
Overtime
In the 1st 1 minute overtime….you need to score a TD to win. Simple. If one already has a stall call, he has to be alert to another. I guarantee the other coaches will know it and will say “He has a stall call..push him”
To get a stall call in OT, it must be OBVIOUS, or better put…it is such a simple call when it occurs..because it is so OBVIOUS. Depending on the time, you get a 1 point led with less than 30 left...you really have to be running backwards or fleeing to get that second call. If you haven't been warned yet....you might get that warning call...but rarely...would there be a second in less than 30 sec.
Other OT Periods
Be it high school , the first call in the ultimate tiebreaker will always be a stalemate. That’s the rule. If the same kid does the same thing again, tie up to the ankle, hanging on to a leg, deep waist and ankle etc…depending on the time, you are subject to a stall call to lose. I will tell you that time is a factor when spacing out calls.
The First Warning Call
Imagine this, your kid is winning 11-3. Third period, 1:30 left. The referee hits your kid who is on top. You say, “How is that even possible?” Easy…it’s only a warning! More political than anything else to be honest.
It's not in the rule book...but the aggressor should win the match. Doesn't always happen..because of sloppy throws etc, but overall...the kid that truly is the aggressor should win the match. If a kid is wining by 5-6-7 points, he truly has been the aggressor....can he still be hit with a warning if he slows down...might....but I doubt it goes any further than that.
How To Get a Stall Call – Simplified
Neutral – Move forward, shoot, work towards the middle, shoot again and again. Make the referee see that only your kid is working. Make it easy for the referee to make the call. Give him a reason to make the call. I have had kids lose a match because they were down a point and the other kid had a warning, but the kid losing did NOTHING to force the call. Force the referee not by screaming for a call, but by coaching your kid to be more aggressive…it will pay dividends.
Top
Your kid is on top….he is down by one or two and needs a turn. The bottom kid never ever has to give up position, but he must open up and work to get out. The problem for the bottom kid is by working to get out, he might get turned….simple uh? Bottom guy can’t lock up. Can’t bury his head, and ball up. So force the referee to make the call by getting off the hips, show the referee that even with no pressure, the bottom is doing nothing. Simple!
The other thing is if you can’t turn them..kick them and work for the stall call by being more aggressive and forcing the call as I speak to above. Simple
Bottom
Your kid needs to get out. Top kid is hanging on for dear life to win by one. How do you get this call? Work! Work harder than the top kid to show that he isn’t countering your kids move but rather just hanging on.
Ever really tried to get out with a kid on top of you with legs in cranking on your shoulder? It is tough and I understand that. Biggest indication that a stall call is coming is when the bottom man has his head down and clamps up.
Make it so apparent, that even a blind referee can see it. Simple
Keys to Getting the Stall Call
1.Be more aggressive than the other kid
2.Stay in bounds
3.Work towards the middle
4.Create Angles
Things You May Not Know
• Circling is not a move
• A knee tap is not a shot
• Going from the middle of the mat backwards to the edge is not “setting up a move”
• This is not Greco – Head down, butt out is blocking
• A collar tie is not a shot or is it “working”
• Double legs in and stretching is not turning
• Head on the mat is …sleeping
Each wrestler has the responsibility to make an honest effort to make sure that action is maintained throughout the entire match by wrestling aggressively, whether in the neutral, offensive, or defensive position. Each wrester must continually try and improve their position.
Stalling, in its purest sense, is an extremely easy call…depending on where you are seated. On the other hand, it exists in the minds and eyes of a certain segment of onlookers while it perplexes others watching the same match. How can that be? Multiple factors distinguish between actions used to initiate wrestling versus action used to avoid wrestling. The capability and capacity to distinguish those elements that lead to stalling comes with time and experience.
I love officiating. I love the intensity. Until you do it, you will never know the
exhilaration of what it is like calling a NCAA D1 match or a high level high school match. When I walk onto a mat, I know there aren't very many that can do what I am about to do, at the level I do it. Everyone makes mistakes....I strive with every atom in my body not to make even one in any given match.
D1 college wrestlers down to 7th grade middle school wrestlers work their butts off to step onto that mat and compete. I and every other referee owes them the highest level of expertise we can muster..to be in the proper position at all times, know the rules, know the criteria, and practice perfect mechanics. Coaches work just as hard to get their kids ready to step onto that mat. They expect perfection. It truly is…that simple.
Perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
About the author, Frederick Feeney: Fred, a long time Ohio wrestling official, is a certified OHSAA instructor and is a member of the Central Ohio Wrestling Officials Association, the Collegiate Wrestling Officials Association and the National Wrestling Officials Association. Fred has been named the “Official of the Year” multiple times in both CDWCA and the CWOA. Fred is also is a moderator on a popular national wrestling discussion forum. Fred's in-depth experience encompasses both scholastic and collegiate levels, having culminated with numerous assignments at the OHSAA State Tournament, the NWCA National Duals and both the NCAA Division II and III finals. Fred and his wife reside in Dublin, Ohio.
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Last edited by Fred Feeney on February 21, 2008; edited 1 time in total
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Maggie Lamantia added to this discussion on February 17, 2008
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wow.
that certainly is a lot to take in. :0)
we should have a copy of that on the walls of all wrestling arena/gyms and hand them out to those skeptical fans who have their fists in the air trying to tell the ref that "
That's a stalling call!!"
when the wrestlers are dancing.
personally, I think refs should wear earplugs. =)
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Cliff Cahill added to this discussion on February 17, 2008
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nice job Fred as it gives details with examples - indeed an art. Circle is to get an angle and/or part of a setup. Knee tap is a set up. The Russians use these kind of faint moves once or twice even before kicking it into gear with the real move. So, indeed an art to make the stalling call. The most dynamic stalling call I ever saw was Rooney calling one in a Div II State Finals in overtime to determine the winner. I not sure he has ever worked so hard in his life as he did in that match. I think each side knew all of these faints to work the ref instead of winning the match. Finally he had enough and made the call walked off the mat sweating and out of breath.
why Fred? Why? Why put everyone through all of this. The fans, the parents, the coaches, the wrestlers, the refs, and all the rest do not need this heart ache. Just stop it Fred. If "they" will not outlaw this misery based rule then the ref association start enforcing stalemate just before the stalling and simply start them over in the same position.
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Ken Ramsey Sr. added to this discussion on February 17, 2008
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Fred:
You are correct, "Stalling is simple", but I still believe most officials do not call the stalling when it happens. When they do call it they are not consistent in calling it the same way at all times. Stalling is clearly defined in the rules and should be called the same way in every match. Many times the officials are persuaded by the coaches verbal pressure or the reputations of the wrestlers and are timid in making a call clearly stated in the rules. This starts to become apparent in high levels of competition in HS and quickly escalates in college and especially at the post college freestyle/greco competitions.
By the rules every official should call stalling the same, but anyone, who has seen competitions at these levels, knows that it is not true. Certain coaches have the ability to not get the calls just by their presence in the corner. This causes the biggest detriment to the growth of our sport. A great example would be the excitement that Colt has injected into the Buckeye fans this year. It would be best for wrestling if everyone wrestled like Colt, but since they do not, the rules clearly state that the officials should make sure there is action in the match. There is far more talk about the stalling of great wrestlers this year, than of the all out styles of Colt and Brent Metcalf.
I do understand the politics of not getting a return call for matches, when an official calls stalling as he should and upsets the coaches. Wrestlers train 2-5 hours daily to compete in a 6 or 7 minute match, yet within the first 30-45 seconds they look like they have been wrestling for an hour. The fans see this and unless they are die hard wrestling fans, they rarely return again.
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Ethan Moore added to this discussion on February 17, 2008
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Here is a question about HS stalling in Ohio.
Officials commonly call stalling too quickly on the top position in Ohio. This is my belief, do you agree?
Here is the long term effect of this interpretation of stalling. Ohio HS wrestlers are often forced to cut people and wrestle almost exclusively on their feet because they are dinged for stalling so quickly on top. This leads to many of the Ohio HS graduates having problems early on in college where mat wrestling is much more relevant and the ability to ride is a positive.
If you look at recent Ohio wrestlers who excelled as true freshman, namely Palmer and DS, both were dominant in the top position.
I also believe that this is where many of the PA wrestlers have an advantage in college, and I believe Mr. Bedelyon is a great example of this, as he has seen instant success at the D1 level because he is a legit stud on top.
Anyway, I would like to see Ohio officals make a point to allow kids to ride. For one, it is one of the three positions in the sport and dominance in this position should not be marginilized. In addition, it would help OH wrestlers as they move to the next level.
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Cliff Cahill added to this discussion on February 18, 2008
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how can it be so simple and rules so simple with constant discussion
The discussions, as Ethan so will points out, is all about some personal bias. In most cases I would imagine a bias related to their personal wrestling style. One says riding is showing dominance. It is also very boring on average. Then you get into the top position showing control by riding or is he to be working for a turn. The Okie people play edge of rule as they get to outside with their ride which has no change in turning anyone and is but a con of the rules. Then you get those who want excitement for the fans which a take them down let them up surely fits that bill. And the ability to take a man down is surely a form of dominance. Throw in the pinners who are always working for pin but bottom person fights it and is called for stalling because he will not submit to the position required to pin.
No no the stall call is not simple. I do not think the rules are simple as they most be interupted with all these various bias. And really is it not the stall is simple form of whinning. You can always let the guy up and start over if he is laying there. You can always get out of a tie and start over if he is putting head in chest. You can circle in if he is trying to get out of bounds.
There would should not be these forever discussions, yelling during match as a whinner, and those playing at edge of rules simply frustrates the entire process. Simply get rid of the whole stalling call - tear it out of the rule book and all will continue in much better fashion for the sport.
Fred's discussion and all the different personal positions of what is stalling and the different way various refs make the call clearly states the call is not simple in reality.
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Discussion Topic: How to Understand Stalling – It’s Simple!
Chris Vachio added to this discussion on February 18, 2008
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Keys to Getting the Stall Call
I got a cheap win using this sort of thing in a match. I call it cheap because both I and the other guy were one stalling call away from a DQ. The ref was being very generous with the stalling calls. I legitimately deserved to get a warning and one point, the other guy deserved about the same. No way either of us should have been one away from the DQ. I was up by 1 at the end of regulation and got hit with my 3rd stalling call...while trying to finish a single leg. Anyway, I took 5 straight shots late in OT and the ref made the last call to DQ my opponent.
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