General Instructions
College Table Worker's General Instructions

Note: These are the instructions given to the table workers at the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament.

To: Table Workers

NCAA Wrestling Championships

From: Tom Whiteman and Chuck Robinson,

Co-Chairs for Volunteer Table Workers,

with comments from Pat McCormick,

NCAA Coordinator of Officials

Let us begin by thanking you for volunteering to work the mat side scoring tables at the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships to be held at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan on March 15-17, 2007. Please read the following carefully:

Pay attention to your mat at all times. We expect nothing less than a perfect performance. You all know wrestling and you know that one "table" mistake can destroy months of preparation by a wrestler. Talk to each other and be sure you agree on what the referee has signaled. If you do not understand a referee's call, stop the match when there is a break in the action and ask for a clarification. No cheering for a wrestler from the table is allowed. If you have an interest in the bout, remove yourself from the table and table area.

Each team will have a crew chief, who will assign the team members to their jobs.

1. The Crew Chief:

This individual should be primarily a "watchdog" to prevent/catch errors and keep things moving smoothly, accurately and quickly. Supervise every position on your team. Before the tournament, the crew chief or co-chairs of the Table Workers, must distribute a blank score sheet and, if available, a completed score sheet as an example of how to use the score sheet.

Specific duties of the crew chief:

· Keeps backup time for the match.

· Calls out remaining match time at, 45 seconds, 30 seconds and 15 seconds.

· Calls the referee to the table to solve a table problem, or upon a coach's request. The match shall only be stopped when there is no action in the bout.

· This is the sole job of the timekeeper. The crew chief may assist in this determination if asked by the referee. Watches that the bout number, score, match time and riding time are correct on the scoreboard and that the clocks are started and stopped properly and efficiently.

· At the end of each period, checks with all personnel to be sure everything is correct.

· Supervises the recording by the scorer of injury time and the number of injury timeouts. The maximum time for injury is 1½ minutes, which can be accumulated over a maximum of 2 timeouts.

· If a malfunction of the score clock occurs, the crew will work with the referee to reconstruct the correct time and score.

· Conducts practice for his team before the start of competition.

2. Timekeeper

· Keeps the official time on the score clock.

Is prepared, along with the crew chief, to assist the officials if asked to clarify a situation as time runs out.
Starts and stops riding time appropriately, and stops riding time when the referee indicates locked hands, the grasping of the uniform, illegal holds or loss of control.
See Rule 8.7, and 8.8 on pages WR 88 and 89 of the 2007 NCAA Rules Book for a listing of all duties.

3. Scorekeeper

· Records all scoring, penalties, timeouts, final scores, falls, technical falls, etc. See Rule 8.9 on pages WR 89 and 90 of the 2007 Rules Book.

1. Uses proper symbols as shown on the score sheet.

2. Always records the amount of riding time, whether or not it is a point.

3. The riding time point is not part of the third period. It has its own space.

4. Note bout time of fall, technical fall, disqualification or default.

5. Circle the first offensive points (does not include escapes or penalties) scored in the regulation bout.

· Be familiar with the score sheet before the tournament.

· Informs the referee when a 15-point difference in the score occurs. In a near fall situation, be sure to wait until the referee signals the near fall points and indicates that the near fall is over before announcing that a technical fall has occurred. This gives the offensive wrestler the opportunity to pin his opponent before the bout is terminated. Check if a near fall was awarded to the winner during the bout and circle yes or no on the score sheet.

· Immediately advises the crew chief when in doubt about a score.

· Calls out the scores as they are recorded, so the timekeeper can hear.

· Records which contestant has the choice of position at the start of the third period, and records using arrows on the score sheet the wrestler's choice at the beginning of the 2nd, 3rd and tiebreaker periods. Use an up arrow for the wrestler choosing the advantage position, a down arrow for the wrestler choosing the defensive position for the start of the period, or a two-headed left-right arrow for a the wrestler choosing the neutral position. These notations are to be put in the correct column on the score sheet.

· Records net riding time advantage at the end of each period.

· Awards riding time at the end of the bout and awards a point when earned. Advises the timekeeper of the final score.

· At the end of the match, totals the points, shows the score sheet to the referee and after he approves it, puts a circle around the name and school of the winner and crosses out the name of the loser.

· Insures that the referee records his number in the appropriate box on the score sheet.

· Insures that the referee fills out and signs the team point violation score box. The referee or runner shall take the score sheet to the head table and make sure that the team violation is understood and properly logged-in.

4. Backup

· This individual is part of the team and can take any position on request of the crew chief.

5. Runner

· This individual picks up the bout sheets from the head table, takes it to the scorers table, and returns the completed bout sheet to the head table.

· Hustle. You are a runner, not a walker.

6. Thumper for end of period notification

· This individual goes onto the mat to aid the referee in determining the end of each period. The thumper also retrieves the ankle bands after the match.

· Wear wrestling shoes or tennis shoes (not the ones worn on the street to the tournament), and full length trousers (no jeans or shorts), and a tournament-provided shirt. No hats or other apparel are allowed.

· Leave your chair approximately 12 seconds before the end of the period. Reading the clock is your primary responsibility.

· Try to position yourself about 8 feet from the referee, where you can see both the referee and the clock. In other words, put the referee between you and the score clock. Stay away from the referee and action. Be alert for a sudden flurry which could cause an abrupt change in position. Concentrate on the score clock as it counts down, and keep the referee in your peripheral view. Loudly count down from three seconds: "Three … two … one …TIME, then look at the referee to make sure he heard you. If the referee does not hear you, close in on him hollering TIME.

a. Never count down from "five" – it sounds too much like "time" and the referee may stop the match.

b. It is possible that a scoring situation could occur just as time expires. If the referee asks you, be prepared to respond about the time and his call.

c. The referee may run away in the closing seconds due to action by the wrestlers. If this happens, do not chase him to the extent of getting in his way or the wrestlers' way. Do not put yourself in the position to have to look over your shoulder to see the clock.

· Return to your chair as soon as possible.

· At the end of the match, stay on the mat to retrieve the ankle bands and return them to the table.

7. Miscellaneous Notes

· Everyone on the team must know wrestling, including the referee's signals, especially for locking hands, grasping clothing, technical violations, illegal holds, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, flagrant misconduct, no control, warnings, and cautions. Review the wrestling rules and Penalty Table, and know the accompanying penalties and the penalty sequence.

· Do not erase riding time from the clock(s) until the winner is declared.

· Be alert and help each other by talking to each other. Pay attention to only your mat.

· Know your mat number. Listen for announcers who may call for someone from your mat.

· On time outs, the assistant referee will come to the table to pick up the hand-held clock (if necessary), which you already will have started when directed by the referee. The assistant referee will keep the time and will confirm whether it is injury time (max of 1½ min.), bleeding time (discretion of referee), or recovery time (max of 2 minutes for each occurrence). Some score clocks include these functions and display them on the clock and, therefore, the assistant will not need a hand-held clock. If the score clock does not keep track of the used and/or remaining injury time for each wrestler, be sure the assistant referee knows how much time is left during a second injury timeout.

· Dress neatly including long trousers and a tournament shirt. No hats or other apparel are allowed. No tobacco products are to be used in the wrestling venue before, during or after a session.

· Arena clock is the official time-of-day.

· All penalties, warnings and injury time carries over into the overtime periods.

· No rest between the end of the regulation periods and the overtime sudden victory period, between the sudden victory and first tiebreaker period, or between the first and second tiebreaker periods.

· Riding time should be zeroed out to begin the first overtime period (sudden victory), but should run during all tie breaker periods.