In a situation where there is confusion about a call, who has the final authority to resolve the matter?

In wrestling competitions governed by IHSAA rules, the referee is the individual with the ultimate authority to make decisions on the mat. When there is confusion about a call, it is the referee's responsibility to clarify or resolve the matter based on their training, rules knowledge, and real-time observations during the match. The referee ensures that the match is conducted fairly and according to the established rules, making them the final arbiter in any disputes or uncertainties regarding scoring, penalties, or other officiating decisions.

The assistant referee, head coach, and official scorer have roles that support the match and may provide input or additional information, but their authority does not supersede that of the referee in resolving disputes. The assistant referee can assist the main referee but ultimately does not make the final call. The head coach typically advocates for their wrestler but does not have authority over officiating decisions. The official scorer's role is primarily to keep track of scoring and match details, but they also do not hold decision-making power in disputes. Thus, the referee's position is critical in ensuring match integrity and fairness.