3-point takedown and near fall point changes officially coming to high school wrestling

Steven Falk, Asbury Park Press

Get used to the shouts of "three" for a takedown in New Jersey high school wrestling.

Takedowns will be worth three points beginning with the 2024-25 season, the National Federation of State High School Associations wrestling rules committee announced Thursday morning.

The takedown change was one of several announced by the NFHS.

Among the other changes are:

  • Two near-fall points will be awarded for a two-second count, three near-fall points will be awarded for a three-second count, and four near-fall points will be awarded for a four-second count. A fifth point will be awarded if the defensive wrestler is injured, indicates he is injured or bleeding occurs after the four points have been awarded.

  • A new out-of-bounds rule was approved, allowing wrestling to continue if a single point of contact is kept on the mat.

New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association executive director Colleen Maguire said earlier this month that the association will adopt any changes approved by the NFHS. The NJSIAA has traditionally adopted NFHS suggested rule changes in all sports.

Jeremy Quezada, of Dumont, is shown against Chase Bish, of Paulsboro, at the NJSIAA Wrestling State Championships, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Atlantic City. Quezada went on to win the 150 pound match.
Jeremy Quezada, of Dumont, is shown against Chase Bish, of Paulsboro, at the NJSIAA Wrestling State Championships, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Atlantic City. Quezada went on to win the 150 pound match.

“Whatever they adopt formally, we obviously will adopt," Maguire said at the association’s monthly executive committee meeting on April 10. “Sometimes they put things in place and give states flexibility. But a rule change is a rule change."

Takedowns had long been worth two points, which has long meant fans have shouted “two" when a takedown occurs. Now, everyone will have to get used to shouting “three."

The takedown change puts high school wrestling in line with what the NCAA implemented for college wrestling this past season.

Near-fall points had long been worth two points for a two-second count and three points for a five-second count.

Previously, wrestlers were considered to be in-bounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler were inside or on the boundary line.

Other changes were also announced regarding technical falls; the 10-foot-circle and a referee’s time out signal.

  • The change to the technical fall rule is that if a takedown or reversal creates a 15-point advantage, the bout will continue until the near-fall criteria is no longer met. This allows wrestlers to continue working for a pin.

  • The 10-foot circle at the center of the mat is now optional. Wrestlers will now be encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat, instead of within the 10-foot circle."

  • The new time out signal will be both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: High school wrestling: 3-point takedown coming in 2024-25

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