Threeee!! Florida coaches react to big changes coming to high school wrestling in 24-25

Points earned for a takedown will go from two to three this coming season in high school wrestling. (Photo by Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

BY BRANT PARSONS — The chorus of “twooo” that often rings out from coaches and fans during a wrestling match will have a new tune this season after the NFHS released the new rules coming for high school wrestling.

There were six major changes recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at the start of the month in Indianapolis. Each of the changes were then approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Takedown Scoring

Mirroring the change from the college level last season, takedowns will now be worth three points in a match.

“I love the three point takedown,” Somerset head coach Joe Blasucci said. “We love scoring points.”

The Super 32 preseason event last year gave some coaches their first taste of the three-point takedown.

“I had mixed feelings going into that event, but I ended up liking it,” Zephyrhills Christian coach Tim Maple said.

The points change will likely affect the approach to matches, which

“I think the three-point takedown is fair,” Hagerty coach Scotty Diaz said. “My only fear is that kids will be passive knowing if they take a bad shot and give up a takedown, it’s a deeper hole to dig out of.”

“Higher reward means higher risk.”

Not every coach is on board with the scoring change.

"I hate the three-point takedown," Suncoast coach Dan Tria said. "To me, this discourages learning the skill of mat wrestling. Why bother learning how to turn someone from top position when I can let them up and get three points later?"

One Point of Contact

Possibly the biggest change that will come this season is this one.

Wrestlers will now be inbounds with just one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line instead of the two points of contact that was in use before.

“Without increasing risk, this change eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call,” Elliot Hopkins said in a release from the NFHS. “The change also helps officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more consistently, and it provides wrestlers, coaches and spectators a better understanding of out of bounds.”

Hopkins is the NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee.

“This should have been that way before,” Blasucci said. “The refs will be less involved in determining that situation and one toe or hand is a lot easier to see.”

The new rule should increase scoring chances in matches too.

“I love that rule because it will allow wrestlers to be able secure a takedown or work a turn on the edge of the mat and not worry about two feet or two knees in or out of the cylinder,” Lake Gibson coach Daniel Walker said. “Anything that advocates scoring is good.”

The one common concern on the change revolves around out-of-bounds space available at some tournaments.

"It is tough sometimes with space near the table and bleachers,” Maple said.

Near-Fall Points

Another scoring rule to change this season will come in how points are awarded for near-falls in a match.

The rule reads:

Two points will be awarded when near-fall criteria are held for two seconds, three points for three seconds, four points for four seconds and five points if the defensive wrestler is injured, indicates an injury or bleeding occurs after the four-point near-fall has been earned. These changes will affect other rules including individual match scoring in Rule 9.

"This is definitely a game-changer," North Bay Haven coach Zane Turnipseed said. "Tech falls are going to be a lot more common now that a throw can be a seven-point move."

Coaches also like that skills on top will be rewarded.

“Putting guys on their back is the point of wrestling, be good on top” Diaz said. “Our two best kids last year were good because they could dominate on top.”

10-Foot Circle

The 10-foot circle is now optional on wrestling mats.

With the rule wording being amended to say that wrestlers should “stay in the center of the mat” instead of mentioning the 10-foot-circle in the wording.

Other changes

Referees will have a new time-out signal. It will be both hands/fingers pointing inward to the officials chest.

The was also a change in the technical fall rule that clarifies when the fall has concluded with the near-fall criteria.

"Overall the changes are for the better," Tria said. "Matches will move faster and there’s more on the line with every move in every position."

“The main reason I like these new rules is we will wrestle closer to college rules and the transition will be easier,” Maple said.