At the start of
a tournament
match wrestlers
will usually be
given colored
anklets.
Generally, one
wrestler will
wear a green
anklet while the
other wrestler
will wear red.
The significance
of the colors is
that they
correspond to
the colors worn
by the referee.
The referee will
have a green
band on one
wrist and a red
on the other. As
the match
proceeds, the
referee will
signal the award
of points to a
wrestler by
holding up that
wrestler's
color.
As you look at
the wrestling
mat you will
notice a large
circle going
around the
perimeter of the
mat, this is the
out-of-bounds
indicator. Each
wrestler must
stay within the
circumference of
this larger
circle to score
points. In most
cases you will
also notice a
smaller circle
within the
larger one, this
is referred to
as the center of
the mat.
Contained within
the center of
the mat are 2
parallel lines
or a box, this
is the starting
point for each
period.
After the
wrestler has
his/her anklet
on and proceeds
to the center of
the mat the
referee will ask
the timer, score
keeper, and the
wrestlers if
they are ready.
If everyone is
ready to begin
the referee will
ask each of the
wrestlers to
shake hands and
get ready to
start. To start
a match each
wrestler will be
in the "Neutral"
position. The
neutral position
is where both
wrestlers face
each other in a
standing
position. Each
wrestler is
required to have
at least one
foot on the
neutral line
before the match
is allowed to
proceed. Once
the wrestlers
are in the
starting neutral
position, the
referee will
blow his whistle
to start the
match.
From the neutral
position, each
wrestler is
attempting to
score points on
his/her opponent
by taking that
opponent down.
If a wrestler is
successful in
taking down the
opponent and is
in control of
the opponent the
referee will
award that
wrestler 2
points for a
"takedown". To
indicate the
points, the
referee will
hold up the hand
with that
wrestlers
corresponding
color and flash
2 fingers up and
then down
towards the mat.
It should be
noted that a
wrestler must be
in control of
the other
wrestler to
score the
takedown points.
Generally this
means that the
scoring wrestler
is on top,
behind, or in
some way free of
his/her
opponents
advantage.
Once a wrestler
has taken down
his/her opponent
they must now
try to turn that
opponent to
their back. A
wrestler who has
successfully
taken down
his/her opponent
must continue to
wrestle or be
warned for
"stalling". The
same applies to
the wrestler who
was taken down,
they must try to
escape the
control of the
top wrestler. If
a wrestler
receives 2
warnings for
stalling his/her
opponent will
receive 1 point
on the next
stalling
warning.
Stalling
warnings carry
over from one
period to the
other and are
accumulated
during that
entire match. If
a wrestler
receives too
many stalling
deductions they
automatically
lose the match.
As the top
wrestler (the
one who took
down his/her
opponent)
continues to
wrestle they
will use various
holds to turn
over their
opponent, one
such hold is the
half nelson.
This is when the
top wrestler
threads his/her
arm under the
arm and over the
head of their
opponent. By
doing so a
wrestler can
"expose" (turn
their opponents
back past a 90
degree angle
with the mat)
their opponent
and score
points. If the
top wrestler
successfully
exposes his/her
opponent for
more then 2
seconds without
the continuation
of a move he/she
will score 2
"Near Fall"
points. However,
if the top
wrestler can
expose his/her
opponent for
more then 5
continuous
seconds they
will receive 3
near fall or
"back points".
The referee will
award the amount
of back
points/near fall
points a
wrestler
receives by
holding up the
corresponding
colored arm and
indicated with
his/her hand the
points and
tapping their
back.
If the first
period expires
with no
pin/fall, the
referee will
stop the
wrestlers and
bring them back
to the center of
the mat. At this
point the
referee will
flip a coin or
colored disk and
ask a wrestler
to "call-it". If
the wrestler
wins the coin
toss it is
"their choice"
as to how they
would like to
start the second
period. A
wrestler could
choose to defer
his/her choice
until the third
period and allow
his/her opponent
to choose how
they will start
the period. The
choices a
wrestler could
make are top,
bottom, or
neutral. If the
wrestler chooses
the neutral
position each
wrestler will be
starting as they
did in the first
period. Each
wrestler is
facing each
other as they
start. However,
if the wrestler
so chooses they
could start in
the bottom
position. The
objective of the
bottom wrestler
is to either
reverse their
position with
the top wrestler
or escape from
the top
wrestler. The
bottom wrestler
may execute some
common moves
such as a
sit-out, switch,
or a stand-up.
If a wrestler
successfully
executes a
switch for
example they
will end up on
top of the other
wrestler and
receive 2 points
for the executed
move. If the
bottom wrestler
executes a
stand-up and can
break free from
the control of
the top wrestler
they will
receive 1 point
for an escape.
The referee will
generally signal
that the bottom
wrestler is free
by indicating no
control.
If the wrestler
chose the top
position they
must try to turn
their opponent
to their back.
As the two
wrestlers
continue to
wrestle there
may be a point
in the match
when the referee
determines that
neither wrestler
can complete or
advance a move.
In this case the
referee will
call a stalemate
and break/stop
the wrestlers
moving them back
to the center of
the mat to start
over. If the
wrestler on top
ever locks his
arms around the
bottom wrestler
while still
being on the mat
and not having
control of at
least one arm
the top wrestler
will be called
for locked
hands. If this
happens the
referee will
stop the match
and award the
bottom wrestler
one point. At
any point in the
match a wrestler
may not grab or
hold the
clothing of his
/her opponent.
After the second
period expires,
the wrestler who
has not made a
choice on how to
start a period
chooses the
starting
position of this
period. As the
period begins
the referee will
ask the bottom
wrestler to get
set. The bottom
wrestler will
have to place
their knees on
one line and
their hands in
front of the
other line
located in the
center of the
mat. After the
bottom man
indicates to the
referee that
he/she is set
the referee will
allow the top
wrestler to get
position. If the
top wrestler
tries to get
into position
too soon or
either wrestler
moves before the
referee
indicates to
start then that
wrestler will be
cautioned for a
false start. If
the wrestler is
cautioned again,
the other
wrestler will be
awarded a point.
As the wrestlers
continue the
match they are
each trying to
score points or
pins/falls. If a
wrestler
attempts to
score a point on
another wrestler
with an illegal
move (i.e. a
full nelson),
the referee will
blow the whistle
and stop the
match. The
referee will
award the
offended
wrestler a point
and start the
match again from
the center of
the mat. If one
wrestler has
control over
another and is
trying to score,
they may
unintentionally
be in a position
where the move
they are
executing is
legal but
potentially
dangerous. If
this occurs the
referee will
stop the match
and again move
the wrestlers
back to the
center of the
mat.
Throughout the
match wrestlers
will be
performing
different moves.
A wrestler can
only score on
the move if they
are in-bounds. A
wrestler is
considered
in-bounds if
three points of
their body and
their opponent's
body are within
the larger
circle. If one
wrestler tries
to execute a
move and their
opponent or
their own body
carries over the
outer circle,
the referee may
blow his/her
whistle and have
the participants
move back to the
center of the
mat. The referee
may or may not
award points to
a wrestler if
the referee
deems the move
completed before
the wrestlers
moved
out-of-bounds.
Wrestling is a
physically
demanding sport
with many
emotions. As
wrestlers do
combat with each
other, sometimes
emotions can
take over and
cause one
wrestler to over
react. If a
referee
determines that
an individual is
or has
over-reacted
they will blow
the whistle and
call a technical
violation.
Depending on the
infraction, the
offending
wrestler may
have a point
deducted from
their score or
forfeit the
match.
During the
season, if you
have any
questions about
scoring, moves,
or potential
infractions
please do talk
to the coaches
of the team. The
coaches will do
their very best
to address any
questions you
may have.
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