Last week, the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee recommended a rules change that would allow medical personnel an unlimited and unimpeded amount of time for concussion evaluation of wrestlers, beginning in the 2016-17 season.
In addition, the committee also recommended that medical staff be given the ability to remove participants from the wrestling mat or sidelines to perform a concussion evaluation when the situation is not clear-cut.
During the evaluation, the match will be suspended until a decision is rendered by the medical professional. The referee, the coaches of both participants and the non-injured wrestler would be required to remain on the mat during the evaluation.
A concussion evaluation timeout will not count as an injury timeout or recovery timeout. Coaching of the wrestler being evaluated would not be permitted.
In a separate recommendation from the rules committee, an injured wrestler would not be permitted to be coached during all other non-bleeding injury timeouts.
In the case of a potentially severe or traumatic situation, medical personnel may request the wrestler's coach to assist in calming the injured wrestler. However, coaches would be required to step away from the situation during any assessment period related to the injury or concussion evaluation.
"Both of these new rules proposals are about providing medical personnel dedicated and uninterrupted time with the injured athlete so they can make a more accurate health and safety decision in an already limited timeframe," said NCAA Wrestling Secretary-Rules Editor Chuck Barbee.
"These rules recommendations are a good indicator of the committee's commitment to continuing to explore and advance new rules that positively impact the student-athlete's health and safety, said Barbee, former head coach of the Army wrestling program at West Point.
Last fall, in an interview with InterMat to discuss new rules for NCAA wrestling for the 2015-16 season -- including then-new protocols for handling potential concussions sustained during a match -- Barbee made clear as to how a concussion evaluation can be requested, saying, "The referee or medical professionals are the ones who can request a concussion timeout. The wrestler who suspects he may be concussed may also ask for a timeout. Coaches cannot ask for this."
During that 2015 InterMat interview, Barbee pointed out that wrestling has the highest rate of concussion in sports ... higher than football.
All proposed rule changes for the 2016-17 season put forth by the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee -- including any adjustments to handling potential concussions -- must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss wrestling rules proposals via teleconference June 15.
"Overall, the committee is pleased that for the 2016-17 season, other than our health and safety rules, we have no additional new or experimental rules that will be recommended for implementation," Barbee said. "This rule change respite should allow for everyone to continue to improve and perfect the application of our existing rules."
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