Score this match....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3hfQNdpiH8

My current pet peeve - inconsistency on out of bounds calls. It's one thing to see differences between referees (still don't like) and another to see inconsistency in the same match. If a takedown isn't given to green in the first period, then it shouldn't have been given to red in the second period. However, I might have called stalling on red a little earlier - but would have coached my kid to do the same thing!

JMO -

3-0 Red.

What I always tell my son is, if you don't like a kid stalling on you, don't fall behind. When you fall behind, the other kid can stall and beat you. The other thing I tell him is, don't expect the referee to give you the match. If the referee gives you points for the other kid stalling, great, but otherwise you have to score them. I get frustrated when the other kid stalls too, but I don't want my son to blame a loss on a referee. Sometimes they can impact a match, but in the end, if you don't want this to happen, score more points. I tell my son to score early and often and finish when he gets the chance. I would be irritated by this match if it was my son, but I would use it as a learning tool.

imo: Greens left foot went out of bounds before the takedown was secured in the first. Right call. Red never escaped the front headlock of green in the second period. I wouldn't have given the escape. Reds takedown in the second was a bad call. First of all Greens left foot was on the gym floor; they should be out of bounds. Second, greens hip was not on the mat, therefore I don't think you can say red had greens hips covered. The stalling call on green in the 3rd was the one of the worst calls I've seen. Two very good athletes getting after it.

What is the purpose of this post? The video is labeled "Bad Reffing" on youtube. The indication is that the losing party doesn't like the result. I don't like the type of matches where one wrestler pushes and the other avoids and there is a lot of edge of the mat stuff, but I don't see how bad reffing is part of this conversation. There may have been a few close or questionable calls, but nothing that cost anybody the match. Try being a referee on any level where live action is occurring and not make any mistakes. It is not that easy.

I don't think that it helps teach our kids the right mentality when referees are put down to explain the athlete's loss. The refs may frustrate you or the rules of wrestling might need to be tweaked again to further encourage more wrestling in the center of the mat, but the reffing wasn't out and out bad and it didn't cost anyone a match.

I agree with you Tate. The Officiating was not the determing factor in this match so why put the blame there?

It reminds me of when kids get pinned and they get up mad and say "I wasn't even pinned" I look at them and say, if you weren't on your back there would be no problem.... I've seen coaches get mad at officials too in that situation. This stuff is the reason our team motto is NO EXCUSES. Get it done and take care of your business and everything should work out. JMO

Zach & Chad,

There is a purpose. Absent this post the official may not have an opportunity to see this match and do a better job. There is NO accountability for an official in Kansas. No evaluation, no feedback, nothing. I think this official is normally very good. Maybe he had some bad dealings with Roosevelt at this tournament, I don't know. If the first takedown was OB then the last one was absolutely OB. I have seen a small pct of officials give one when the offensive wrestler has a front headlock locked up but usually not. The stalling call at the end was just plain vindictive. The wrestler was losing and trying to open up the match and score. He was in constant pursuit. Say what you want, I think these posts serve a constructive purpose since there is no other avenue to improve officiating. If I had officiated this match I would be embarassed for awarding a takedown when one wrestler is on the wood and the stalling call is just terrible.

I agree that the takedown was out-of-bounds and green did not lose control on the front headlock (although thats not to say red would not have had an escape later in the period), the stalling on green was ridiculous. The refs did not make the right call in those situations. Yes, Cokeley it would be wonderful if the ref did look back at this match, and could see his mistakes. The only problem is, he probably does not care. He made the calls, and I do not believe he is going to change his "bad refereeing" ways. Hopefully, you will get the job at KSHSAA and you can change it so that every ref has to watch his mistakes over and over and receive thirty lashes for every mis-call and mistake, that Cokeley choses.

I still disagree...the ref did not make or break this match. Cokeley said that he is usually a good official. Does that mean he is a bad official when you don't agree with him? I think this is a good official and I doubt very seriously that he was out to get one of the wrestlers. He made the calls the way he saw it...Bottom Line. So would a rating system really help here? Someone is going to disagree and blame the official everytime they lose. How about blaming the wrestler for not being able to get a Takedown in the first. Not being able to hold down his opponent or turn him in the second. Not believing he could get loose in the third and picking both up....and then STILL NOT GETTING THE TAKEDOWN. Where is the BLAME?!

agree with beeson on this one. 1st takedown attempt wasn't even close (both men were OB). The escape is a judgement call all the way, criteria leaves it open to interpretation. the takedown call questionable, but it's not like there wasn't time to recover. sorry, but down 3-0, you don't pick neutral and take half- hearted attempts at shots. you're down 3-0 you must take him to his back. know the match score, know your situation, learn from your loss, get better, move on.

Cokeley is right this time. The refs need some accountability and feedback. Terrible call on the takedown and stalling.
Bad choice on red to choose neutral when behind 3 zip. He would have to either get 2 take downs or back points and one takedown. He looked pretty solid on bottom. Bad refing, bad coaching...
overall bad outcome for 2 good wrestlers

Really? Really?, we are going to blame everybody except for the wrestler? He doesn't have to take any accountability for this match? Blame the Coach. Blame the Ref. Why not blame OBAMA? This is what is wrong with America. You guys want to BLAME everybody except for the person who is to blame. What's wrong with, "It was a tough match and I loss this time," or "Well I have some things to work on to make me better."? Unbelievable!!!!

This post says more in a few sentences than most do in entire pages of material.

When an official makes a bad call it's up to him to overturn it, which happened at another tournament and it's the still the official's fault for not being accountable and sticking to his calls, is there really a good answer out there?

It looked like all of the best wrestling occurred on the edge of the mat. Either the mats need to get larger, or the wrestlers need to do their wrestling toward the center of the mat.