Behind the Whistle

Episode 3 focuses on officiating with confidence and getting calls right when they matter most. We talk about being a good partner on the mat, trusting your whistle, and listening when your partner helps you see something you might not be sure about. The episode also breaks down key situations officials struggle with, including stalling with a leg in and correctly awarding takedowns based on real control beyond reaction time. The goal is simple: call what you see, trust your preparation, and score the action that’s earned.

Officiating is hard, and nobody is perfect. In this episode, we walk through 10 practical tips to help wrestling officials build confidence, earn respect, and get better every match. We talk about why mastering the rulebook matters, how strong signals and consistent positioning change everything, and why learning from experienced refs (and getting real feedback) speeds up your growth. We also dig into the tough moments: missing a call, dealing with coaches, correcting mistakes, and staying calm and consistent, especially when stalling and close calls come into play. We wrap with a simple standard that applies to every level: the “Three F’s” — be Friendly, be Fair, and be Firm. IMG_5157 In this episode, you’ll hear about: Rule knowledge, signals, and season-long preparation Learning from veteran referees and seeking critique Getting mat time early (junior high/middle school level) to build experience Handling mistakes with honesty and composure Consistency in stalling and all key scoring situations The “Three F’s” approach to presence and professionalism

Welcome back to Behind the Whistle: Inside the Official’s Mind with Rick Solofsky and Dave Marotta, and this is Season 2, Episode 1. Today, we’re kicking off the new season with a deep dive into the 2025–26 high school wrestling rule changes. These updates come straight from the NFHS, and as always, we’ll break down what’s new, why it matters, and how it’ll impact athletes, coaches, and officials this season. Here’s what’s on the mat for discussion: Rule 1-2-2: The optional procedure for determining the starting weight class has been modified. Rule 4-1-2: Updates to how a school’s name and associated marks appear on uniforms. Rule 4-3-5: Changes around the use of leg sleeves that don’t have built-in pads. Rules 5-11-2c and 5-11-4: Clarifications on how a technical fall is scored. Rules 7-1-5n and 7-3-3: Clarifications on illegal holds and maneuvers. We’ll also touch on referee signal corrections, including: The removal of a signal for the referee’s timeout, A directional change in the “No Control” signal, and A modification to the Near-Fall signal. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what’s changed, how to apply it on the mat, and what to watch for as the new season begins. So let’s get into it — Behind the Whistle, where we don’t just talk about the calls, we get inside the official’s mind.

1. Technical Fall Rule Change Current Rule: A technical fall ends the match when a wrestler gains a 15-point lead. Proposed Change: Discussions may include whether to end the match immediately when the 15-point margin is reached (even during a pinning combination), or allow the pin to be completed before stopping the match. Discussion Points: Pros: Emphasizes skill dominance and quick match resolution, reducing risk of injury and fatigue. Allows more matches in tournaments to proceed efficiently. Cons: Some argue a dominant wrestler should be allowed to finish a pin, which can be a more definitive victory. Can affect statistics and accolades like pins-per-season. Impact: Could lead to shorter matches and shift coaching strategy—more focus on scoring volume and pace. Wrestlers may become more aggressive in scoring early to secure tech falls. 2. The Cylinder Rule Definition: The cylinder rule considers a vertical “cylinder” around the mat area to determine whether action should continue. If both wrestlers are inside this imaginary cylinder—even if part of their bodies are off the mat—the action continues. Discussion Points: Pros: Promotes continuous wrestling and minimizes unnecessary stoppages. Encourages mat awareness and edge control as part of strategy. Cons: Can be difficult for referees to apply consistently. Safety concerns if action continues near the edge of the mat or gym setup. Impact: Coaches will likely drill more edge-of-mat tactics. Officials may need more training for consistency. May increase scoring and dynamic finishes near the boundary. 3. Rear Standing Kick Back (Leaving the Feet) Situation: In rear standing position (defensive wrestler standing while opponent has control), some wrestlers jump or kick back forcefully to escape or reverse, which may include leaving the mat entirely or risking dangerous landings. Proposed Rule Focus: Whether to penalize or limit these kickback moves due to safety concerns. Discussion Points: Pros of Restriction: Reduces risk of injury, especially to the head, neck, or back on mat or hard surfaces. Encourages safer, more controlled escapes and counters. Cons of Restriction: Limits some explosive athletic techniques that can lead to reversals or escapes. May slow down matches or reduce scoring opportunities. Impact: Wrestlers and coaches may have to adjust training to avoid potential penalties. Could lead to more mat returns and less explosive escape attempts. Referees will have more discretion to determine legality and safety in the moment.

“Read The Room” Meaning, if you have two state qualifiers, or even 2 State Place winners, try to stay out of the match as much as possible and let them decide the match … If you have two novice wrestlers, especially in a dual meet, be careful with your early stalling calls “Earned Equity” Be careful, just counting offensive shots only If an opponent counters, the original shot, with a go behind, or a shot, especially if they score a takedown on a counter, that should notify the original shot, when counting shots “Making The Tough Call” You can’t be concerned about what the fans want to see, especially if there is a violation, that causes a match to end early in overtime If you back off themat, early in sudden victory, and the wrestlers were warned for stalling, the match should be over Your obligation to the athletes and the coaches are more important than your obligation to what the fans want to see

When working with a referee you're not familiar with, communication and consistency are key—especially when making stalling calls. Here are some tips to ensure smooth teamwork and fair officiating: 1. Pre-Match Discussion Before the match, take a few minutes to align on: Stalling philosophy – How strict or lenient do you both interpret stalling? Signals & eye contact – Agree on clear signals for when stalling should be called. Roles & responsibilities – Who initiates the call in certain situations (top/bottom/neutral positions)? 2. Stay Connected During the Match Make eye contact frequently to stay on the same page. If one of you sees stalling but the other doesn’t, don’t hesitate to have a quick discussion. Support each other’s calls—avoid contradicting each other in front of coaches or wrestlers. 3. Be Consistent Call stalling the same way throughout the match. If a situation was stalling in the first period, it should still be stalling in the third. Be mindful of the flow of the match—don’t wait too long to make a call when needed. 4. Post-Match Review After the match, take a moment to discuss what went well and what could improve. If you had disagreements, talk them through professionally so you can adjust for future matches.

- Why we have specific times for Injury, Recovery, and Blood. I forgot to add this last week, that the medical personnel at the Federation level does not want the human body to be under stress for more than 8.5 minutes…. Interesting, because we could also have two or three different sets of recovery time. -Why coaches must be penalized a misconduct, for coming to the table, the question judgment. There must be a consequence to someone, because we are giving these athletes a break, with a sport that being in shape is very important. Or questioning judgment penalties, must go to the Head Coach. -Unsportsmanlike conduct, and why each individual has their own unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, chart, and this does not go to the Head Coach. -Use Common Sense when penalizing, either misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct, and why

Wrestling officials have encountered several key situations early this season that warrant discussion. Important topics include the distinction between blood time and recovery time in unnecessary roughness incidents, careful consideration of unsportsmanlike conduct calls in close matches, and proper protocol for uniform malfunctions, particularly when female wrestlers' uniforms need adjustment. Officials should remember not to award neutral position during 30-second tiebreakers. Two rule changes could improve match flow: implementing a two-minute sudden victory period to reduce tiebreaker scenarios, and adopting a modified cylinder rule that considers the entire leg position (knee to foot) for in-bounds calls when the offensive wrestler's leg remains in bounds during action. These adjustments could enhance both officiating consistency and match management.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Wrestling officials have encountered several key situations early this season that warrant discussion. Important topics include the distinction between blood time and recovery time in unnecessary roughness incidents, careful consideration of unsportsmanlike conduct calls in close matches, and proper protocol for uniform malfunctions, particularly when female wrestlers' uniforms need adjustment. Officials should remember not to award neutral position during 30-second tiebreakers.

So, you've decided you want to become a sports official. Rick and I dive into the 40 reasons to love officiating from the book "What to expect in the first 12 month of your officiating". sayyestoofficiating.com 21. Sort out what matters 22. Dedication 23. TeamWork 24. Make a Decision 25. Give Back 26. Perfect 27. Get Over It 28. Gut Check 29. Peer Praise 30. Challenge 31. Life Skills 32. Travel 33. High Standards 34. Stress Management 35. Door Opener 36. Vantage Point 37. Goosebumps 38. It's Not Coaching 39. Beam with Pride 40. Memories

So, you've decided you want to become a sports official. Rick and I dive into the 40 reasons to love officiating from the book "What to expect in the first 12 month of your officiating". sayyestoofficiating.com 1. Camaraderie 2. Boos 3. Reverence for the rules 4. Escape 5. Passion 6. Addiction 7. Fitness 8. Never the same 9. Personalities 10. Adrenaline 11. Community 12. Love of sports 13. Discomfort 14. Movin' on up 15. Others think we're crazy 16. Impartiality 17. Money Talks 18 In the game 19. All five of the senses 20. Focus

Easton, apparently won their dual meet versus Nazereth 27-26 after their 215 pounder won by technical fall, which was the last bout of the dualmeet. Traditionally, Easton and Nazereth are two of the top four teams in the state of Pennsylvania the last 50 years. The Easton 215 pounder mildly, and softly, tossed his headgear towards his teammates on the bench after the bout The official, who stated, he was not aware of the team score at the time, called “unsportsmanlike conduct” for throwing the headgear. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty tied the dual meet 26-26 The first criteria to break a duel meet criteria is first team penalized for an sportsman light conduct penalty by a contestant or a coach Nazereth ended up winning the match, they had no business winning. Bottom line! Officials must always know the entire circumstance and situation in a dual meet situation

-Pre-Season tournament officiating, and two man mechanics -review the shoelace rule and shoe coming off, and when should you allow scoring to continue, and when a Wrestler should not take advantage of the shoe coming off? -Potentially Dangerous versus illegal holds -Cautions, False and when to stay out of the match when it’s not giving either Wrestler an advantage

1-Private school versus public school Good for the sport, or bad for the sport ?

Recruiting New Officials Working with Younger Officials Invite them to assist Allowing officials to cross overstate lines, to support our lack of numbers, because we all have to have clearances anyway We need more effective open door policy to speak to rules committee, during the year, with discrepancies of some of the rules from state to state

1- Review Rule Changes Take-Down, Near Fall, Ultimate Tie Breaker, Stalemate vs Stalling, Holding Near Fall Points and Coming Out of Criteria, and Holding Near Fall Criteria in a Technical Fall situation 2- Pre-Meet, and New Rules, as well Questioning Judgement vs Judgement situation versus Time & Score and consequences 3- Working together as partners, as we will have that opportunity this year on January 29th

In high school wrestling, stalling is a penalty violation that occurs when a wrestler intentionally avoids wrestling action or fails to make genuine attempts to score points. This can include backing away without attacking, staying on the edge of the mat to avoid engagement, maintaining locked hands without working toward a scoring move, or holding a position without attempting to improve it. Referees typically issue warnings before assessing penalty points, though blatant stalling can result in immediate penalties. Good wrestlers maintain an aggressive style and continuously work for advantageous positions to avoid stalling calls, which not only cost points but can swing match momentum to their opponent.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This lecture outlines the key attributes and best practices for wrestling referees, emphasizing the importance of consistency, confidence, rule knowledge, judgment, humility, and fitness. It also covers pre-match preparation, effective communication between officials, and the use of tools like Zebra for managing assignments. The goal is to ensure referees maintain respect and credibility while making accurate and decisive calls to benefit the athletes. ## Takeaways 1. The organization has 450 referees, but only 120 are active. 2. Consistency is crucial for referees to gain respect from coaches, crowds, and wrestlers. 3. Confidence is essential for referees, but it should not be confused with arrogance. 4. Knowledge of the rules is fundamental for referees. 5. Strong judgment is important and can be developed by watching high-quality referees. 6. Humility is valued by coaches and fans over arrogance. 7. Making split-second decisions is a key skill for referees. 8. Good mechanics differentiate a good referee from a great one. 9. Referees should be fit to handle long seasons and tournaments. 10. Referees should keep their calendars up to date and communicate with schools before matches. ## Highlights - ` "If you're a referee that's arrogant, and then you have the same match called by a guy that's humble, humble will always win in the coaches' and fans' hearts." ` - ` "Sign the book and get the hell out of here." ` - ` "As officials, we all do this because we believe in really wanting to get it right for the kids." ` ## Chapters & Topics ### Consistency > Consistency in officiating is crucial for maintaining respect and credibility. * **Keypoints** * Consistency in calls throughout the match is essential. * Inconsistent calls can lead to loss of respect from coaches, crowds, and wrestlers. ### Confidence > Confidence is necessary for referees to perform effectively. * **Keypoints** * Confidence should not be mistaken for arrogance. * Confidence helps in making decisive calls. ### Knowledge of Rules > A thorough understanding of the rules is fundamental for referees. * **Keypoints** * Knowledge of the rule book is essential. * Lack of knowledge can lead to mistakes. ### Judgment > Strong judgment is a key attribute for referees. * **Keypoints** * Judgment can be improved by watching high-quality referees. * Judgment is often inherent but can be developed. ### Humility > Humility is valued over arrogance in referees. * **Keypoints** * Humble referees are preferred by coaches and fans. * Arrogance can undermine a referee's credibility. ### Split-Second Decisions > The ability to make split-second decisions is crucial for referees. * **Keypoints** * Referees do not have the luxury of video replays. * Quick decision-making is essential for maintaining control of the match. ### Mechanics > Good mechanics are essential for effective refereeing. * **Keypoints** * Mechanics help in clearly communicating decisions to spectators. * Developing good mechanics involves observing and learning from experienced referees. ### Fitness > Physical fitness is important for referees to handle long seasons and tournaments. * **Keypoints** * Referees should stay fit to endure long matches and tournaments. * Fitness helps in maintaining focus and performance throughout the season. ### Preparation > Proper preparation is essential for referees before matches. * **Keypoints** * Referees should keep their calendars up to date. * Communication with schools before matches is important. * Knowing the location of the school and having contact information is crucial. ### Pre-Match Preparation > Steps and considerations for referees before a wrestling match. * **Keypoints** * Arrive 45 minutes early. * Identify the person in charge. * Check the mat area for obstructions and proper setup. * Ensure safety by maintaining a 10-foot clearance around the mat. and much more.

KISS “Keep It Simple Stupid” Recruitment and retention is critical to the future of our sport When there is testing needed for an officiating roster, there are common sense ways of expediting the process Test in groups with an open book versus taking a test by yourself in solitary confinement You learn so much more with discussions, versus being concerned about passing the test Questions should be practical versus tricky Questions should be understandable, versus guessing games We have a very diverse rulebook, with thousands and thousands of situations versus most other sports The NCAA could learn something from this podcast High schools that require passing a test in order to officiate, understands these philosophies

Paul’s officiating journey has been both extensive and fulfilling. With 42 years as an OHSAA wrestling official, he has officiated at all levels, from youth leagues to high school competitions. While he no longer officiates at the college level, he has valuable experience from working in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. Throughout his career with OHSAA, Paul has had the privilege of officiating at 30 sectional tournaments, 29 district tournaments, and 20 state tournaments. These experiences have enriched his understanding of the sport and have allowed him to contribute meaningfully to the wrestling community.