SOURCE: wadeschalles.com

July 13, 2015

I thought of three more things I would develop in the sport if I were the man in charge holding the magic wand. Please add these to your "let me think about it" list.

1. The team who forfeits a weight class also forfeits any say in the order of bouts for the evening and the choice of position at the beginning of the second AND third periods. That will get the coaches attention. Forfeits are that bad for the sport and should be penalized as such.

2. Simplify scoring for our spectators. Make it easy for everyone to remember while placing a stronger emphasis on takedowns. Bout scoring; 4-3-2-1. 4 point nearfalls (1 point for every hand count of the referee up to 4 points), 3 point takedowns, 2 point reversals and 1 point escapes. Penalties are the reverse. 1-2-3-4. 1 point for the first offense, 2 points for the second offense, 3 for the third etc. I don't know what would happen if an athlete gets hit with a 5th penalty? Maybe we should force him or her to go out for another sport; no one can be that daft.

3. Lastly, an athlete can't be saved by the buzzer if he's on his back. The match continues until a pin occurs OR the athletes leave the mat area OR the official determines one isn't going to take place.