Check out this video I found while surfing the net on youtube. The referee calls a fall, which doesn't look like a fall to me, then tries to explain the call to the kid.

Looks bad to me, but can I get a second opinion here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCcY_PqetBE&feature=fvsr

Pin

please see

http://www.usawks.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=94361

Yes that is a pin bottom side of both shoulder blades more then likely on mat.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think my shoulder blades are that long! I remember the first spladle I ever saw. It was Chas Thompson (current FHSU Head Coach) on Jotham Andrews (current Assistant Coach @ York College) at the Kids State Tournament a long time ago. I remember wondering what the heck that move was.

I think he was pinned earlier in the first match, but when the fall was finally signaled (not when he was pinned)was a second or two after he had started to crawl upwards but hey what do I know.

Tim, I didn't know Chas was tall enough to hit a spladle... he's a wee little guy.

Appears the call was correctly made per the rule. The pinning area is defined as both shoulders or both scapula. The photo is #5 on page 60 of this year's rule book. The pinning area extends to the bottom of the cut-out on an ordinary singlet. That is what the official in the video was showing the wrestler after the match, if you watch the official he is describing the area between the top of shoulders to the bottom of the scapula. In this position, it is usually very easy to see those sharp-pointed scapula bones sticking out and touching the mat. Yes, the shoulders are way off the mat, but its still a pin. Commonly occurs in a cradle-situation. Fans, and some coaches, will object, because they are looking at the shoulders or they don't realize the pinning area extends nearly to the middle of the back.

R.Ford
Official

There are two videos on YouTube for this same wrestler. The first the pin is easy to see, the second is not as good for the camera angle. Its not a lousy call, but I understand the wrestler's complaint. The "pinned" wrestler seems to be laying on top of his opponent in such a fashion that it is hard to imagine that he was pinned. The thread linked above for this site has a good discussion and a diagram. And as evidenced by this new thread, it is a recurring misconception that the shoulders must be down to call a fall. The pinning area is defined as both shoulders or both scapula. The photo is #5 on page 60 of this year's rule book. The pinning area extends to the bottom of the cut-out on an ordinary singlet. That is what the official in the video was showing the wrestler after the match, if you watch the official he is describing the area between the top of shoulders to the bottom of the scapula. In this position, it is usually very easy to see those sharp-pointed scapula bones sticking out and touching the mat. Yes, the shoulders are way off the mat, but its still a pin. Commonly occurs in a cradle-situation. Fans, and some coaches, will object, because they are looking at the shoulders or they don't realize the pinning area extends nearly to the middle of the back.

R.Ford
Official

Check out this link for clarification:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQuvAN-c36g&feature=player_embedded

WOW! I have only seen the spladle maybe 2-3 times tops, but that takes the cake on the neatest way to hit it for me!

You can hit it from quite a few spots. I used it through high school, but really learned how to work it in college.

In the Metcalf/Caldwell video above the wrestlers were in the same position as the high school video that started this thread. The offensive wrestler seems to be holding the defensive wrestler off the mat and clearly the shoulders are not touching, but both the NCAA official and the HS guy called a fall because of the scapula. And the college kid reacted just like the high school kid did....they both thought "I wasn't stuck" but sure enough, they both were.....

I've called this a few times and nearly every time somebody hoots and hollers but what can you do? A fall is a fall.

i wonder why the college ref, took so long to call it. being the rule is so cut and dry. why reach in and check? it was obvious that the tips of the shoulders had to be on the mat.

Being that it was against Iowa, he was probably afraid Brands would be on him like stink on a skunk.

i dont think i would call that a pin the kid being spladleds shoulder blades were on top of the kids body its kind of hard to get pinned when your back is laying on the other guy

That's why the ref took so long and made it clear that he was taking a real good look at it, because he's a good official and a statesman as well. He knew that folks would be hollering about the call because it looks odd. But, knowing the rule, he had to call it. But just like this thread demonstrates, if you call it, you made a "lousy call" in the eyes of some.

FOr the record, I wasn't trying to say it was a lousy call...I was just wondering on clarification. Thank you for donning the stripes Mr. Ford, I know I sure the heck couldn't do it!