I've read the posts and went back and watched video a couple more times with close attention to the wrestler.

All of you who say the official should have gotten down on the mat quicker...you are correct. If he had done so, there would be no controversy. Being in position not only makes the situation easier to see, it makes it easier to sell the call (or no call). Here, for those that think he missed a fall, taking 5 seconds to get into position makes it easy to criticize the official. Had he been down there, he'd have gotten the benefit of the doubt.

But it would not have made any difference. For the first five seconds it is clear as a bell that the kid's left shoulder (right side on the video) is not in constant contact with the mat for two seconds. The official could probably easily see that from his feet and he'd seen these two spin around without much skill for a minute. After those five seconds, the left shoulder is down, but the official is looking at the other side, away from the camera, so you can't see what he is seeing. No doubt it was close. But it is not clearly a fall. But, again, had the official been on his belly quicker he would have not been questioned.

Last edited by Rford; 02/24/12 02:49 AM.