These minutes are presented in thematic order, not sequential order. Topics that were discussed during several segments of the meeting have been consolidated for clarity. In general the presenters for these remarks are not specifically identified. The summary is based on formal remarks plus following discussion.

Presenters

Nacho Perez Opening Remarks

Last year there was a 24% increase in mat officials at state events, a good increase in participation. This gives us more people on each mat, allowing more time for training and evaluation. This also results in an increase in our stipend costs. The budget allocation for mat officials went up 33% last year to respond to this increase in participation.

Eric de la Rosa (SCVWA) is a recipient of the national USWOA Scholarship Award for the Cadet/Junior Nationals in Fargo this year. Joe Zamilpa (CVWA) was the recipient of the Joe Mount Award for most outstanding official in California.

Duane Morgan - Opening Remarks

California is the national leader in wrestling, and plans to stay that way. It is important to get officials registered early in the season to reduce the paperwork burden at state championships. Sending local USWOA registrations directly to the national office will reduce state paperwork and speed up the registration process. Risk management requires that no one must be allowed to work as a referee unless they are currently registered. It is wise for the Associations to pick up the cost of these registrations as needed to ensure compliance with this guideline.

Upgrades

Thirty-one California officials received upgrades last year.

M1E (1 upgrade)

Scott McAdam CONGRATULATIONS!!!

M1 (5 upgrades)

George Cesena, Steve Cook, Cory Salmon, Duane Morgan, Ashley Sherman. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

M1C (4 upgrades)

Rene Flores, Dennis Reed, Hank Tillman, Joe Zamilpa. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

M2 (24 upgrades)

Jason Adams, Lorenzo Butanda, Jesse Contreras, Ron Fenney, Fidel Garcia, Ricky Gonzalez, William Griffin, James Holt, Catherine King, Alicia Klein, James Leon, Chris Lopez, Eddie Luna, Adam Mendoza, Tate Miller, Travis Nichols, Frank Nunez, Jason Owenby, Jose Quevedo, Patrick Redmon, Rick Saunders, Kyle Thorpe, Conan Williams, Ruben Ybarra. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The evaluation process relies heavily on the written evaluation sheets that are completed at state tournaments. It's important that we generate as many written evaluations as possible to ensure that deserving officials will not be forgotten at upgrade time. Last year the changes in the paperwork process due to the Mentoring Program resulted in a 300% increase in evaluations over the prior year. At state tournament there is also a form that the senior officials can use to make direct recommendations based on their working experience during the season. These increases in documentation were due to last year's decision to add a fourth official at each state event to focus on Mentoring and Evaluation.

The Kids National Championships gives an additional major tournament for California this year. National USWOA rules are that an M2 can work a national tournament in their state with the permission of their state.

For senior officials seeking upgrades it is essential to work the national events and meet key officials from other states. The upgrade process at the senior level is very political but you can be successful at it if you get out there and work. This is something that we must do ourselves by actively seeking out opportunities to work outside the state and participate on committees and projects outside our normal routine. Key people need to be able to put a face to a name. Ask “where do you need help” and add value to the process where it is needed. If you want to move up, don't follow the crowd and just work the popular events. Go where officials are needed.

Category distribution of officials

California has 384 registered mat officials, more than any other state. However we are very bottom-heavy, with 84% of our officials at the M3 level. The distribution of officials by category shows that we need more senior officials to provide supervision and training at events.

Process for doing registrations of officials

Last season we had 384 registered USWOA officials. Procedures for renewing registrations vary by Association. In the past Diane Evans had all USWOA registrations sent to her for consolidation before she would send them to the USWOA national office. This year we will change this process to shift the responsibility for this task directly to USWOA, which will save work for the state office. It would be good to get people registered earlier in the season to help with the documentation process needed to ensure officials are good to go for working events.

Mentor Program

The Mentor Program was introduced last season as a way to increase the amount of evaluation data available to support upgrade recommendations within the state. The quantity and quality of evaluation data, which was generated, was key to the large number of upgrades, which were achieved last year. The immediate goal of the Mentor Program is to increase the number of highly qualified M2 officials who are well prepared to go for their M1C. The Mentor Program directly addresses the problem that we are bottom-heavy with M3 officials. Detailed procedures have been developed to proceduralize the program. All the necessary forms and documentation can be downloaded from the state web site.

Mat Clinics

The mat clinic calendar was distributed. Any Association that wants a clinician can request one from the state.

Mini-Grants

These funds will partially-support you for one event per year to help you achieve an upgrade. The deadline this year is 15 March for Evanston and Las Vegas and 30 April for Pocatello and Fargo. You must submit the application form by these dates.

Web Site Content

We want to add additional materials regarding mat officials to the state web site. Suggested new content includes:

• More information on how new officials can move up would be good, such as recommended tournaments for M3s and for M2s. Listing the national and regional events that are criteria for upgrades should be listed. We should also have a recommended list of tips to make things happen in a successful order, such as doing a regional event before you go to Fargo.
• The Mat Clinic cheat sheet.
• The criteria for the Joe Mount award.

Event safety and security

More Associations are moving to floor control systems that are similar to the state policy that requires Copper-level coaching certification to be on the floor. The effect of the Copper certification program push at the state level has been good for officials because some degree of certification is needed to get on the floor to coach.

The bottom line on mat safety, is that if you don't like the looks of a move, blow the whistle. Let the coach scream, but protect the wrestlers from potentially dangerous situations.

Officials who also coach

Coaching and officiating are different skills. The coach's job is to be a subjective advocate for one wrestler. The official's job is to be an objective evaluator of both wrestlers. Officials who also coach often have problems maintaining objectivity with other officials. Officials who coach should meet the existing state requirement for Copper certification as a condition to get on the floor as a coach even if they are a licensed official. Under no circumstances should an official who is coaching yell at or insult another official. Officials must be supportive and helpful with one another even if a wrong call is made. Use the wrong call as an opportunity to educate the official after the match is over. Many times at the local level people don't understand the rules well, and are surprised when correct procedures are followed. Don't browbeat people under these circumstances, use it as an opportunity to teach them. In the long run you must build a supportive relationship with new officials in order to help them learn over time.

In closing, our Director emphatically stated that he WILL NOT tolerate officials badgering officials. It's simple. Zero tolerance. It ain't going to happen.

Dress Code and Protocol

Dress for officials is all white. Try to get your local officials to dress correctly. Having proper dress will get more respect from coaches, athletes, and crowd. Consider not supplying paper towels at the table as a way to force the coaches to solve the problem. When officials are coaching they must wear a jacket to cover up their whites.

Correct dress for wrestlers should also be encouraged because it does not prepare them for higher levels where they have culture shock when the rules are enforced. A tournament should not look like a workout room. The uniform must be at least 60% red or blue, with the opposite color not on the same uniform. The singlet for freestyle is mid-thigh. Greco can use knee-length or full, but not freestyle. Greco must be one piece, not layers. Watch out for the tall socks up to the kneepads. A real handkerchief should be required. Paper towels as part of the uniform is disrespectful of the sport. Wrestlers should hold the handkerchief in their hands until told to put it away.

Don't criticize calls at matside. The new officials are making the calls as they understand them. Encourage them to call what they see, and don't punish them for making bad calls. Use bad calls as an opportunity for learning. If your team overrules your call don't show emotion.

Enforce the rule that only the Chairman talks to coaches. Wrestlers must talk to no one; correct call is caution plus one plus choice for speaking on the mat. Use the rules to keep control of your mat. Use fleeing calls to keep them on the mat.

When presenting the wrestlers at the end, let the winner walk forward; the loser must stumble backward.

Don't showboat; that makes you the attraction, not the wrestler. The best compliment after a match is that no one remembers that you were there.

As officials remember that our job is to showcase the athletes, not ourselves. We still need to be in control, and the best way to do that is to know the rules thoroughly.

When a coach approaches the Chair, the referee should stand in a neutral position at the center of the mat with a poker face while the coach confers with the Chairman. A good neutral is hand behind the back or hands in the front folded, but not crossed arms or other negative body language. When conferencing be respectful of the coach. Often they have good points and are right, so make them feel they have been listened to. Tell them why you disagree with them: “We didn't feel it was 2 because he did not achieve the danger position.” Use the language in the book to formally refer to criteria. To close a subject, try: “Coach, did you want to discuss anything else?” This politely signals that you are finished with your ruling.

Get the conferences over quickly. As chair you change nothing. The standard questions are “What did you see?Éd; “Why are you giving 3?Éd; Help them to determine if their interpretation is correct. When conferencing the Chairman does not need to just use “What did you see?Éd; You can ask directly “did you see danger in that position?Éd; This makes it clear what you are trying to zero in on and makes the conference go more quickly. Give them an idea of what you are looking for. Always have the referee show the result of a conference when it concludes by visual signals.

When holding up points don't draw attention to yourself. Maintain good posture in all three positions on the officiating team. When signaling, remember that observers in the stands are depending on you to clearly show calls. Hold the hand up and rotate it clearly. The awarding of points is a chance to show respect for the effort and for the sport, so do it with dignity and respect.

Be sure to change levels to observe for danger or a fall. If you change levels to observe danger, it may look better for you to rise back to your feet to signal the points.

When changing directions, don't cross your feet. Stop, rotate, and step forward in the new direction.

Mat positioning. You should not be sliding around on your belly looking for a fall. You can see it better being back a few feet with a level change. You should be able to see it without going to your belly. The farther away you are the more peripheral vision you have. When in doubt, move farther away. The only exception is with little kids where you need to able to protect them. Work the short side of the mat, and work the perimeter. Maintain line of sight between the athletes, not behind one or another. In freestyle par terre stay on the head; in Greco move to a diagonal so you can observe for legs. Always move to where they are going to land.

If you find yourself standing still, there is a problem of some sort.

To help new officials learn 3-man mechanics always try to set up one mat at your locals which will use these procedures. Since the referee should work mainly with the judge, if you have to have your back to someone as a referee have your back to the Chairman.

With new officials, stick to the basics, which is Chapter Six of the rules defining how actions are scored. This is where your language should come from. Use the proper vocabulary. Don't say “use itÉd;, since this is coaching. The correct verbal is “action, attack, center, etc.Éd; Maintain emphasis on action, creating attack, and offense. As soon as they leave the center of the mat, just use “centerÉd; as a general command and one of them will comply, resulting in the other one having his back to the zone. This sets up your “zone blue” call cleanly to follow. At the FILA level pointing, a vertical motion to show lack of a break to danger, and the hand to stomach to indicate a gut are all discouraged because they want no unnecessary gestures. At lower level tournaments these gestures can be helpful to spectators, however, and can be used with discretion.

Emphasize the definition of “danger” as a key concept. E.g., hitting an elbow while belly down after a hand-to-hand gut is not “dangerÉd; since the back angle was not concurrent with the elbow being down. It's not three points if he is coming from his feet.

The penalty for illegal moves is simply the loss of advantage (blow the whistle) unless the act was intentional brutality. Failure to use a front headlock should be “actionÉd; followed by blowing the whistle to remove the advantage.

The referee should be the generous one, offering points when possible. The judge is the conscience of the team, typically offering the alternate call, especially if the action happens right in front of the Chairman where you want to throw the call back to that side of the mat. You can also white paddle it to give the Chairman the chance to call a conference. The Chairman should be careful not to give body language that suggests what he wants from the others.

The philosophy of control is different in the international styles and in US folkstyle. In US folkstyle we wait for torso control, but internationally the point only requires feet to three points of contact on the ground with the other man behind; torso control is not required. As soon as there are three points down you have a point, even if you just have one ankle. In international wrestling either athlete can score at any time.

The five-point throw depends on high amplitude, not the angle which you take someone over. You can have a head and arm with 5 points.

In par terre start, if the bottom man leaps out he can be construed as fleeing the hold. If it is well-executed, however, it may be a positive escape point. Since the escape is in now, it is more difficult to penalize the motion associated with a typical escape because now they have the right to get away. From a coaching point of view this escape behavior is encouraged because it may be the best way to avoid being turned with a gut wrench. At the highest level the trend is to let the wrestler who wants to jump out to do so and let the action continue. Alternative is if they jump blow the whistle and make them restart, but the tendency is to just let them wrestle.

In Greco you are expected to establish your position with your own legs to execute a throw. This is not a leg fault. If there is incidental legs, did it have an impact on the action? If not, don't call it as a leg foul.

Bout sheet marking

Cross out the loser. Leave the winner uncircled (that is the procedure at national level).

If there was a fall, don't add up the points since this may confuse the pairer. Make sure the time is marked for the fall. Only write in the total score if the win was by decision.

Be sure to write in the time the bout ended since this is critical to the half-hour rest period, which is mandatory.

There is no longer a plus sign between the 3 and the 1 if there is an additional point given for five seconds of danger exposure. Put points down in a straight line with no extra dashes or marks.

In overtime, indicate the total amount of time spent in that match, just like recording a fall.

Procedure for asking “What is your name?” should be used.

Be sure to sign your own name and indicate the mat, since the pairing people may need to review it with you later.

Learn your classification points (chapter 7 in the rulebook).

A disqualification for brutality requires agreement of all three officials, and all three should sign the bout sheet and show the time. This action results in a disqualification from the tournament and it is automatically reviewed by the protest committee, so you must have documented the decision carefully.

If someone does not show up at the mat, the times of the three calls should be written on the bout sheet as documentation. When you go to the announcer that is the first call, not the second call. With kids we always try to make sure the kids have a coach and will shuffle bouts to allow time for this. This is not done at the cadet level and higher; we don't wait for cadets and juniors. If your coach is an official on another mat, be sure to tell the team so an accommodation can be made for a working official. When checking the kid in, ask if his coach is present.

At nationals protect yourself and your state athletes by not officiating matches involving your own state.

2000 Rule Changes

FILA rule of no fluids during the break is enforced unless it is modified on a tournament-by-tournament basis. The referee should watch for this in the corners.

The five-point fall was discontinued due to problems with scoring.

Men and women now have the same time periods.

The option to continue after a 10-point margin is still available but is not encouraged.

Last year the clinch was added to freestyle. Any action from a clinch is considered offensive action, so any fault is considered a caution and 2 plus choice; anything you are doing to prevent your opponent from taking a legal hold is the safe as a defensive illegal counter. To get the caution and 2 plus choice be sure to give the “attentionÉd; verbal.

No score in one minute was added last year. If no score the athlete who won the toss loses a point. Blow the whistle and resume neutral.

Any score arising from action from a clinch is valid, even if it is a defensive 2 for posting the aggressor on his back. Once the lock is broken if there is an immediate score either way you continue the action. If there is no immediate score whoever broke the lock gets a caution and 1 plus choice.

If the hands remain locked but slip over the head and remain clasped, who caused this to happen? It was the guy who put his butt out and head down. This is caution and 1 plus choice.

In the clinch, pushing the opponent out of bounds is scored as a flee, caution and 1 plus choice. If they wrestle out of bounds you bring them back and reverse the clinch order, and a new minute clock starts.

Action ending out of bounds resumes par terre in whatever position you would have given had the action ended in bounds. E.g., slip ending out of bounds resumes par terre with the man who slipped down.

2001 Rule Changes

The following changes went into effect on January 1, 2001. They are subject to modifications as situations arise that require interpretation.

An auto-touche due to bad technique may give 2 points to the offensive man and 2 to the defensive man. They want the 2 point call to demand good technique; they want to see the bridge, so call the auto-touche if both shoulders go flat.

2 points for gut plus 1 for 5 seconds in danger can be followed by another 2 point gut wrench. This would be scored 2 - 1 - 2. This repetition of the gut so long as a score of a different type intervenes has not changed from last year.

The clinch now uses the 1-meter circle. This makes it hard for them to move their legs back and butt out (a defensive position), forcing them to remain erect in an aggressive throwing stance. This gives us an easy way to call a point if the circle is violated, ending the long stalling due to defensive torso positions. Failure to keep at least one leg within the circle is caution plus 2 plus choice. This penalty applies against whichever wrestler steps out of the circle. Some flexibility is allowed for the 130 kg class due to their size. Set up the caution with an “attentionÉd; verbal.

If a wrestler breaks hands to attempt action he will be given the opportunity to complete the action. The break will be allowed to continue as long as the attempt is a legitimate effort. If a score is secured, no penalty is assessed and the score is recorded. However, if the attempt is unsuccessful, wrestler is penalized a caution plus 1 for his opponent and choice of position.

If the wrestler switches to another maneuver, the referee will blow the whistle and penalize accordingly.

Minutes taken by Les Morgan (BAWA)

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