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Wrestling Rules Interpretations - 2026-27
Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.
Davis Whitfield, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2026
SITUATION 1: Can a female wrestler compete with lower than 19% body fat? RULING: Yes, a medical release signed by an appropriate health-care professional will be required to compete. (1-5-2)
SITUATION 2: Can a male wrestler compete with a body fat lower than 7%? RULING: Yes, a medical release signed by an appropriate health-care professional will be required to compete. (1-5-2)
SITUATION 3: Can a wrestler wear a video camera during the match? RULING: No, wrestlers are not allowed to wear a video camera during competition. (4-3-7)
SITUATION 4: Can a wrestler wear an audio device designed to communicate with the coach? RULING: No, audio devices including microphones are not allowed during competition. (4-3-7)
SITUATION 5: Can a wrestler wear a medical appliance/device designed for the hearing-impaired during competition? RULING: Yes, medical devices/ appliances are not considered wearable technology. (4-3-7 NOTE 1)
SITUATION 6: During a dual meet are wrestlers allowed to weigh-in by team? RULING: Yes, wrestlers can weigh-in shoulder to shoulder or by team. (4-5-1)
SITUATION 7: Do byes count as a match toward a wrestler’s daily or two-day match limitation? RULING: No, byes do not count as a match. (5-3-2)
SITUATION 8: Do byes count toward a wrestler’s match record? RULING: No, byes do not count as a match and will not count toward a wrestler’s match record. (5-3-2)
SITUATION 9: Can a wrestler in the advantage position hold the heel to buttocks of the defensive wrestler who has been broken down for more than five seconds? RULING: No, the referee is required to use a visual and verbal count to indicate that this infraction occurs for more than five seconds. (5- 24-4b)
SITUATION 10: Can a wrestler who is bleeding from an unsportsmanlike action use recovery time? RULING: Yes, a wrestler who is bleeding from an unsportsmanlike action is entitled to two minutes of recovery time. (5-28-3)
SITUATION 11: Is a bleeding wrestler on recovery time using their cumulative five minutes of blood time? RULING: No, the bleeding wrestler is entitled to their two minutes of recovery time if the bleeding is a result of an illegal hold/maneuver, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct during the match or the result of a false start. The bleeding wrestler shall not have any time deducted from the wrestler’s cumulative blood time. (5-28-3)
SITUATION 12: When wrestling is stopped for going out of bounds in the neutral position, is the referee required to use one of four calls? RULING: Yes, the referee will signal either pushing out, pulling out, backing out or wrestling action. (7-6-3g)
SITUATION 13: Can a wrestler who is bleeding because of a false start from the neutral position use recovery time? RULING: Yes, the wrestler can use recovery time. (8-2-7)
SITUATION 14: In a dual meet, are team captains(s) required to meet with the referee for the disk toss? RULING: Yes, this will determine who has choice of position at the start of the second period and who will report to the scorer’s table first at each weight class. (1-2-3)
SITUATION 15: During tournament competition how many personnel are allowed in the restricted zone? RULING: Two team personnel will be permitted on the chairs at the edge of the mat. (2-2-2)
SITUATION 16: Any hold or maneuver that puts pressure around the throat and/or carotid artery is consider which type of infraction? RULING: This action is an illegal hold. (7-1-5v)
SITUATION 17: What is considered a charged timeout. RULING: Injury time, blood time, recovery time, referee timeout, Head/Neck/Cervical Column. (5-28)
SITUATION 18: During competition, when is a coach(s) allowed to move toward the mat? RULING: A coach(s) can only move toward the mat during a charged timeout or at the end of the match. (7-5-2)
SITUATION 19: When does a coach’s misconduct occur? RULING: When a coach questions the referee’s judgment or the misapplication of a rule and the referee does not change the call. (6-6-6)
SITUATION 20: Can a wrestler default a match? RULING: Yes, a wrestler can default a match to the opponent prior to the conclusion of wrestling. (6-4-4)