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Discussion Topic: Referees Corner
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on November 3, 2022
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nice action photo of Jim too, Nov issue Am Wr News
Referee’s Corner with Jim Behrens
I asked Jim to write a bit about what is likely the most controversial part of our sport, stalling. Jim has been a top Ohio high school ref for many years. And I discovered from reading his comments on forums- serious forums- that he possesses superior knowledge of the rule book, debate etiquette, and ability to explain in clear terms. Jim is fair and candid and importantly can write well.
These are all Jim’s words “I want to stress that what I write are my opinions coming from 40 years on the mat as an official. Even with that many years, I hope I am still learning and evolving so that I can do a better job for the athletes on the mat.
It Seems Quite Simple?
On the surface, the definition of stalling in the Rule Book seems quite simple to understand and should be fairly easy to enforce. Stalling is important enough that the Rules Committee has it in two places in the Rule Book, 5-24 and 7-6.
By definition each wrestler is required to make an honest attempt to stay in the 10 foot circle and wrestle aggressively, regardless of position or time or score of the match. Action is to be maintained throughout the match, by the contestants
wrestling aggressively whether in the top, bottom or neutral position and both wrestlers are equally responsible for initiating action.
It is the responsibility of contestants, coaches and referees to avoid the use of stalling tactics or allowing the use thereof. This shall be demonstrated by those responsible by strict enforcement by referees. Now, a lot of what I write is directed toward the officials but I think we can all learn something.
When you are working an event, do you call stalling:
Not enough?
Just the right amount?
Too much?
When you are watching a match, is there an official who you think has it right about 98% of the time? Do you emulate him?
One of the phrases I think is good is that an official must be able to determine when a wrestler cannot execute or chooses to not execute. One is a stalemate and one is a stall.
Stalling is rarely based on one specific move or action. Rather is an accumulation of actions or in-actions that lead to a call. It could be blocking, slow lineups, going OOB's, straggling back to the center of the mat, or a host of other things.
At the start of a match, you blow the whistle. Are you looking for stalling? Probably not but, did one wrestler head straight out of the 10 foot circle without making contact? Is he stalling? I just realized that might be something we do in Ohio but is not included in the NFHS Rules. Be very sure of what your state requires.
As the match progresses you are analyzing every situation. Are you always looking for stalling? I would bet not but there is always something that triggers us to start looking at what we are seeing in a slightly different light. I know some guys count shot attempts. The common standard seems to be if wrestler A gets off three legitimate shots to zero for wrestler B, there will be a stall call coming. However, A might be shooting so often that B is simply reacting to, and defending, the attempts. We need to know the difference. Fyi, I am not a shot counter so I have zero experience with this, I am just going off what I hear from others.
Later in the match, as the wrestlers get tired, what are you looking for? Are both content to "coast"? Is the wrestler who is winning just covering the fact that he is tired and is doing nothing to improve? Has the losing wrestler accepted his "fate" and is willing to take the loss?
If the match is 10-2, do you look at it differently than if it is 3-2? After all, at 10-2 the chances of a comeback via points is not likely but the ultimate goal is to pin the opponent. If a stall call is made that allows the losing wrestler an opportunity for a reversal or takedown that could lead to a pin, should he not have that opportunity? However, if that losing wrestler is demonstrating nothing to you to show he is trying to win, does that factor into your thinking?
Ref, He’s Stalling!
Several times per year I will have a one point match and I hear the coach of the losing wrestler calling for me to call stalling on the opponent. Well, if the losing wrestler appears to be trying to score and the winning wrestler is "coasting", the call might be deserved. However, if the losing wrestler is doing nothing to warrant a call, should I penalize the winning wrestler because the coach is asking for it? It is not my desire to actually decide the winner of a match.
Do you have a trick or a mechanism for remembering that you have called stalling and on whom? There is very little worse than not remembering that you called a stalling warning on wrestler A in the first period. Now you call stalling in period 3, forgetting the warning, and it either ties the match or awards the win to the other wrestler. I am assuming the calls were legitimate stalling calls but it makes things look like you have no idea what is going on out there. This is even more the case if the match got to the point of a 2 point stall call being made.
Whatever works for you to keep track of the calls is fine but ALWAYS know where you are in the penalty chart. Another fyi, I use wristbands and roll the cuff of the offending wrestler so I know who I have made a call on. Remember when you must stop the match for a stalling call. You do not want to get into a bad time situation when wrestling should have been stopped and wasn't.
Never stop the match when the call is on the defensive wrestler unless somehow the defensive wrestler gets a fourth (two point) stalling call. The match would be stopped and the other wrestler would be given his choice of position. I have never had this happen. In the neutral position we would stop the match only when the two point stall call is made (like above). Always stop the match on the offensive wrestler unless the defensive wrestler is on their feet (In other words they have come to their feet from the down position) regardless of the position of the offensive wrestler.
And You Want to Help Me Count?
A couple of extra notes that I think are important. There are two situations where I can bet that I will hear a coach help me count to 5 because he thinks I can't count that high. One is when the wrestlers get to their feet (one is in control) and the rules say that the offensive wrestler must "attempt" to bring the opponent back to the mat. What is an "attempt"? It is whatever I, as the official, think it is. The offended coach will start his count looking for a stalling call. The trouble is two fold. With each attempt, the time allowance starts again. Second, and more importantly, the rules do not state that 5 seconds is the allowance at all.
The second point, and where 5 seconds is mentioned, is when the offensive man has the opponents heel trapped to the defensive man's butt. Read Rule 5-24-4b very carefully and it says "for more than 5 seconds". Now, is that 5.1 seconds or 6 seconds? One thing for sure, it is not the 5 seconds that many think it is.
As an official ALWAYS have a reason for the call you make. If the coach goes to the table, you can cite very specific reasons for the call being made and he suffers the consequences. My final word is a phrase that I heard long ago and I think it applies here. To not decide is to decide. IOW, whether you call stalling or you don't, it has a very real effect on the outcome of a match. One wrestler or the other suffers if we don't call what we see. (contact Jim at jim.behrens@gmail.com)
Super 32 Building The Tradition
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Discussion Topic: Referees Corner
Rob Wagner added to this discussion on November 3, 2022
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Thanks for sharing this piece I enjoyed the read.
I really enjoy having Bob & Jim contributing to this forum. It's a different perspective rather than hearing from us angry fans or amateur coaches!
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Discussion Topic: Referees Corner
Dan Strope added to this discussion on November 6, 2022
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Quote from Bob Preusse's post:
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"nice action photo of Jim too, Nov issue Am Wr News
The second point, and where 5 seconds is mentioned, is when the offensive man has the opponents heel trapped to the defensive man's butt. Read Rule 5-24-4b very carefully and it says "for more than 5 seconds". Now, is that 5.1 seconds or 6 seconds? One thing for sure, it is not the 5 seconds that many think it is.
"
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What is often missed in the application of Rule 5-24-4b is that it specifically states "...the buttocks while the defensive wrestler is broken down on the mat....."
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