Meeting Notes 5/18/2020
NCWCA Meeting – 5/18/20
Present: Billy Baker, Heang Uy, Jamie Belk, Mark Harris, Mike Carey, Eddie Clark, Chase Holleman, David Perry, Ben Watson - Coaches Association, Ed Duncan and Elizabeth Carpenter – NCUSAW, Tra Waters – NCHSAA
Tra explained the details of two proposals submitted by the Coaches Association Board. Both proposals were approved by the NCHSAA Board in their spring meeting:
1. Teams not qualifying for the dual playoffs are allowed one multi-team event on the Friday or Saturday after dual team brackets are posted.
2. The higher seed will host during rounds 1+2 of the dual playoffs. Criteria for determining higher seed was outlined by Tra. Geography will determine host sites for rounds 3 + 4 with dual finals to be held in Greensboro on Feb. 6, 2021.
Tra explained in detail two rule major changes passed by the NFHS this spring that will be in effect for the 2020-21 season:
1. Hair length is no longer regulated. Wrestlers may, but are not required to wear, a hair covering attached to the ear guard. Pulling hair was also added to the list of illegal holds.
2. All contestants, male and female, will weigh in together wearing a uniform (singlet or two-piece). You must weigh in wearing the singlet you will compete in. Skin checks will be done by trainers. Trainers will will not ask wrestlers to remove straps or look under the straps while conducting skin checks. There is no weight allowance for the uniform.
Other NFHS rule changes for 2020-21 include: Technical violation if wrestling shoe comes off during a match, fleeing the mat cannot be called if a takedown is awarded, match stoppage and restart for 4th penalty, officials may now award point(s) for imminent scoring when opponent calls injury time during a scoring hold.
Ed updated everyone about the Girls Invitational tournament scheduled for Feb. 6, 2021. Host site will be either Rocky Mount or Asheville. Attempts to locate to Greensboro have been unsuccessful to date.
Tra shared participation #’s for 2019-2020. Boys participation increased 6% to over 10,000 wrestlers in NC. Over 350 girls marked a 60% increase in one year for NC, most likely due to the women’s invitational tourney.
We discussed options for girls weight classes. The range of weight classes will likely be from 10 to 14 and discussion included pros and cons along the range of 10-14. Tra will be making a determination for girls weights for 2020-2021 and asked for feedback from the Board. Tennessee could be used as a model as they have been a leader in girls wrestling and currently use 11 weight classes.
There was also discussion about the future of the girls wrestling championship tournament in NC. Currently we have an invitational but will require a specified number of teams to be sanctioned as an official NCHSAA championship event. To qualify as a “team” schools will need a separate eligibility sheet for their girls team and about 8 girls (depends on how many girls needed to win a dual team match) to qualify as a team.
Finally, Tra talked about the current dead period remaining in effect through at least June 1 due to Covid 19. The NCHSAA will follow directives from state government about resuming workouts, etc.