High school wrestling rules
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Overview of Wrestling Rules
The object of the sport of wrestling is to put your opponent on his back -- to pin your opponent.
A pin (or fall) is when you put your opponent on his/her back with any part of both shoulders or both shoulder blades of your opponent in contact with the mat for two seconds. When you pin your opponent, the match is over and you are the winner.
If nobody gets pinned, the winner is the wrestler who has scored the most points during the match..
There are five ways to score points in a wrestling match:
1) Takedown - (2 points) You score two points for taking
your opponent down to the mat and controlling him/her.
2) Escape - (1 point) You score one point for getting away or getting to a
neutral position when your opponent has you down on the mat.
3) Reversal - (2 points) You score two points when your opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of your opponent.
4) Near Fall (Back Points) - (2 or 3 points) You get near fall points when you almost but not quite get your opponent pinned. A near fall (near pin) is when...
both shoulders are held for two seconds within four inches of the mat, or...
one shoulder touches the mat and the other shoulder is at a 45 degree angle coming down to the mat, or...
the wrestler is held in a high bridge or back on both elbows.
If a near fall lasts for two seconds, you get 2 points. If a near fall lasts for 5 seconds, you get 3 points.
5) Penalty Points - (1 or 2 points) Your opponent is awarded points if you commit the following infractions.
o Illegal Holds - There are several holds that the referee will penalize you for without warning. (There are other holds call "potentially dangerous holds" which the referee might make you let go of but will not penalize you for).
o Technical Violations
Going off the mat to avoid wrestling ("fleeing the mat.")
Grabbing clothing, the mat, or the headgear
Incorrect starting position or false start (You get two cautions before points are awarded).
Locked or overlapped hands: If you are down on the mat in control of your opponent, you cannot lock or overlap your hands, fingers or arms around your opponent's body or both legs unless you have your opponent in a near pin, or your opponent stands up and has all his/her weight on two feet.
Leaving the mat during the match without the referee's permission
Figure 4 head scissors from the neutral position.
o Unnecessary roughness
o Unsportsmanlike conduct
o Flagrant Misconduct (ejection, the match is over)
o Stalling (you get one warning before you are penalized and points are awarded).
The first and second time you are penalized, your opponent is awarded one point. The third time you are penalized, your opponent is awarded two points. The fourth time you are penalized, you are disqualified. (Except for illegal starting position or false start - you are cautioned twice, then one point awarded for each infraction, but you will not be disqualified).
These rules apply to the type of wrestling done in the United States in College, High School, Junior High, Middle School, and most youth wrestling. This type of wrestling is often referred to as "folkstyle" wrestling. The rules for "freestyle" and "greco-Roman" wrestling, as is done in the olympics and internationally, are a little different. Dual Meet Team Scoring Fall, Forfeit, Default, Disqualification - 6 team points
Technical Fall (getting ahead of your opponent by 15 points ends the match) - 5 team points
Major Decision (winning the match by 8 - 14 points) - 4 team points
Decision (winning the match by fewer than 8 points) - 3 team points
Tournaments Tournament Scoring 2 team advancement points shall be scored for each match won in the champoinship bracket, except for the final first-place match. If a wrestler receives a bye in the first round, he shall be awarded 2 advancement points for that round if he wins his next match.
1 team advancement point shall be scored for each match won in the consolation elimination, except for the final third and fifth place matches. A wrestler who has received a bye in the consolation round shall receive one advancement point, provided he wins his next round match.
2 additional points for each match won by default, disqualification, fall, or forfeit. 1 1/2 points for each match won by technical fall. 1 additional point for each match won by maor decision.
Placement points: Tournament scoring 4 places: 14-10-7-4 Tournament scoring 6 places: 16-12-9-7-5-3 Tournament scoring 8 places: 16-12-9-7-5-3-2-1
Individual placement points shall be awarded as soon as earned. Placement points already earned shall be deducted in case of forfeit (other than injury) or disqualification from the tournament.
In view of the rule requiring placement points to be added as soon as earned, placement points are added at the following junctures in a tournament scoring 6 places:
Championship quarterfinal winners: Add 3 points (has earned at least 6th place) Championship semifinal winners: Add 9 points (has earned at least 2nd place, already received 3 points) Championship final winners: Add 4 points
Consolation quarterfinal winners: Add 3 points (has earned at least 6th place) Consolation semifinal winners: Add 4 points (has earned at least 4th place, already received 3 points) Consolation final winners (for third): Add 2 points
Winner of final for 5-6: Add 2 points
National Federation Official High School Wrestling Rule Books are published by:
National Federation of State High Schools Association P. O. Box 690 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Phone: (317) 922-6900 Fax: (317) 822-5700
