Wrestling Hair Net Rules

Wrestling is a sport conducted in age groups from childhood all the way into adulthood. Wrestling has a very strict set of rules that does vary somewhat between the various levels of competition. One of the rules that changes depending on the wrestling organization and the team is the use of hairnets. Hairnets are needed for people with long hair in wrestling matches, but some groups ban long hair and hairnets alike.

  1. Hair Length

    • The NCAA requires a wrestler to have hair that is shorter than than the top of a regular shirt collar. The sides should not be longer than the top of the earlobe. If the hair is longer than that restriction, a hairnet is required in order to prevent the hair from spilling out from underneath the protective headgear. Some high school teams require wrestlers to cut their hair and do not allow hairnets at all, but they are permitted and required for the most part.

    Material

    • Most organizations require the hairnet to be made out of nylon. Abrasive materials are not permitted because they could result in injury to the wrestler or the opponent. Swimmer's caps are usually not allowed as they can cause the headgear to slide more than what it normally would. The hair cover must be a solid material and the NCAA does not recognize a bandanna as adequate for hairnet usage.

    Final Decision

    • The referee has the final decision on if the hairnet and any other special equipment worn by a competitor is legal. If the referee decides that a hairnet does not meet the safety requirements of the commissioning body, a replacement net can be used if it is immediately available, or the coach may be given the option of cutting the wrestler's hair with the wrestler's permission. However, these measures may be deemed to require too much time, in which case the wrestler might be disqualified and not eligible to compete.