What is the rule on head coverings?

[PapaBearSLIM]

hmmm....

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/...-before-match/

After watching the clip of the match I fail to see how the "hair cut" was effective in anything other than an attempt at emasculating that kid.

This horrible story and my own kid's experience at the Whitlach prompt me to ask "What is the rule on head coverings? and What is the rationale behind the rule?"

My kid has wild hair and has worn a head covering but at the Whitlach a ref refused to start a match until my son had tucked every strand of hair inside his head covering with nothing hanging outside it. This was the 1st I've ever witnessed a ref require that and it seemed ridiculous considering 99.99% of wrestlers have exposed hair.

[Don E. Brook]

I saw an IKWF referee cut a 13 or 14 year old's bangs with a dull pair of craft scissors. When the ref claimed that he had the kid's consent, I reminded him that the kid was a minor and that legally, his consent didn't mean much. Race was not an issue in that incident as both ref and wrestler were white. I was working the table at the time and had words with the ref regarding the issue. It still doesn't sit well with me.

[55663]

The rule is pretty straightforward:

During competition all wrestlers shall be clean shaven, with sideburns trimmed no lower than earlobe level and hair trimmed and well groomed. The hair, in its natural state, shall not extend below the top of an ordinary shirt collar in the back; and on the sides, the hair shall not extend below earlobe level; in the front, the hair shall not extend below the eyebrows. (Photos 2-3) A neatly trimmed mustache that does not extend below the line of the lower lip shall be permissible. If an individual has hair longer than allowed by rule, it may be braided or rolled if it is contained in a cover so that the hair rule is satisfied. (Photo 4) The legal hair cover shall be attached to the ear guards. A bandanna is not considered a legal hair cover. The legal hair cover must be of a solid material and be nonabrasive. The wrestler opting to wear a legal hair cover must wear it to the weigh-in procedure and be checked for grooming with it on. The legal hair cover must be removed prior to the wrestler stepping on the scale to be weighed. If a referee is not present at weigh-ins, the hair cover must be checked by the meet referee upon arrival at the site.

If an individual has facial hair it must be covered with a face mask. All legal hair covers and face masks will be considered as special equipment. If an individual’s hair is as abrasive as an unshaved face, the individual shall be required to shave the head as smooth as a face is required, or wear a legal hair cover.

[oldpioneer]

I just saw this on national news and of course social media. I have coached numerous kids with head coverings. Now I have been out of coaching for at least 10 years. On social media I asked if the rules have changed. The former wrestler said that now the head covering has to be attached to the head gear. Is that true? I do know one thing, our coaches told us that if our hair touched our shoulders he would gladly cut it mat side! I saw it happen a couple of times back then. Our beloved sport is the most inclusive sport on the planet! Race, body-types, gender, disabilities, even blindness. That better not change!!! I heard the kid won in NJ. The news said it de-masculated the kid. I think the kid was given a choice and said to himself, "like hell I am forfeiting, cut it off so I can get out there and advance!"

I wonder if the head gear was presented to the ref before hand. I always made a point of getting anything like braces, tapings, and head gear checked out by a ref before action starts. The last place you want to hear something is in violation is when the kid has already reported to the head table. Let's hear it from people still in the know. The sport changes. laces taped, one time my kid was wearing long, long socks. the ref said no. I said, we wore tights under our singlets in the l70's. He responded, " It is not the seventies anymore coach!"

[mckbln]

There was a post on FB from a coach who was at the event...I can't post the link because it has been taken down (a LOT of cussing in it)...and as mentioned above, his cover was not legal so he was given a choice to either cut it or FF the match. Rules, not racism were the cause. The NFHS has some pretty strict rules and I still hate the weight changes they made. The bottom line is if people want to hate, hate on the rules, not the refs enforcing them, unless the ref is clearly not enforcing them fairly.

[Red Turban]

JB is from the state, did the research, and knows the ref personally. Aside from the obvious, I'm going with his take.

[oldpioneer]

Just on 10:00 news. Ref showed up late!

[mckbln]

I'm going to change course here slightly, want some opinions. During the years I wrestled in high school, college, and later wrestling freestyle tournaments in the Army, my shoes never came loose or unlaced once, yet I never taped them.

I watched some footage of Ben "Fear the Fro" Askren, it was over 10yrs ago and in the NCAA, and with all those goldilocks bulging out all over the place through his headgear, it didn't have any effect on the match whatsoever. So I pose the question, are these head/hair coverings even necessary?

[Earl Campbell]

What would the call be if you snapped Ben's head and your hands got caught in his hair and you injured his neck?

[lookleft goright]

I'm going to change course here slightly, want some opinions. During the years I wrestled in high school, college, and later wrestling freestyle tournaments in the Army, my shoes never came loose or unlaced once, yet I never taped them.

I watched some footage of Ben "Fear the Fro" Askren, it was over 10yrs ago and in the NCAA, and with all those goldilocks bulging out all over the place through his headgear, it didn't have any effect on the match whatsoever. So I pose the question, are these head/hair coverings even necessary?

I think for long hair, they may be helpful to prevent injury to the long haired guy from getting snapped or something and the opponent from getting his fingers caught in them like pulling in a singlet or something. For rough or coarse hair, they help keep the opponent from getting scratched up, much like a beard would.
I think they are being ultra conservative on what is acceptable without a hair covering. I am not sure what the answer is. Give the refs more discretion or make the rules more lax or what?

[ctdad]

Per the New York Times, the team was visited by a 20+ year official (a graduate of the same high school the young man attends) last week and told both the wrestler and the coaches that the young man (actually two of them) would need proper head covers. It's on the coaching staff to know the rules at that point.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/n...readlocks.html

The article also indicates that the wrestler had competed in a prior competition this year, so you have to wonder why the officials at that meet/tournament did not enforce the current rule.

[Blonjuan44]

What would happen in this case in college?

[Truth is Out There]

The article also indicates that the wrestler had competed in a prior competition this year, so you have to wonder why the officials at that meet/tournament did not enforce the current rule.

Just guessing... but I would wager it's because they didn't want their name dragged through the mud and/or to face the scrutiny of "racist court" for the trouble of simply doing their job.

[mckbln]

What would the call be if you snapped Ben's head and your hands got caught in his hair and you injured his neck?

That's a fair point.

[Hook-N-Tilt]

I wasn’t there so can’t get into it as deep as others. Seems like a lot of mixed emotions. I guess I was always partial and thought the only person it affected was the wrestler with the long hair blocking there vision and never really liked the rule. But if we’re gonna talk about fingers getting caught up let’s talk about basketball shorts the’re aloud to wrestle in. Can’t run a spiral and many other moves that have been around for decades but they can’t figure out how to mandate hair covers. I have no objections to anyone’s hair style but let’s use same rules as football, it’s part of your body, defender can do as they will. No hair nets. Gets old will all the stoppages with fixing it, just like the kids saying they get hit in the nuts and need a breather. It’s 2019 so I’m not getting into all the BS that’s is being implicated in this match but just giving my opinion. Tired of hearing this crap that has been drug out for 200 years. Teach the kids right instead of making **** up.