WRESTLING RULES PRIMER

New to wrestling? This page walks through how a match is scored so you can follow along from the stands. Nothing here is required reading, and the coaches are happy to answer questions at practice.

WRESTLING SCORING SYSTEM

Elementary club wrestling matches consist of three one-minute periods with no rest between periods. At higher levels, such as the PJW tournament, the match consists of one two-minute period, followed by two one-minute periods. The wrestler with the most points at the end of the third period is declared the winner. If a wrestler pins his opponent at any time before the end of the third period, the match is over and the winning wrestler earns a win by fall (pin). If the match ends in a tie, overtime periods are added until a winner is determined.

A match can also end before the end of the six minute regulation time by technical fall (leading an opponent by 15 points during the match) or if one of the wrestlers is disqualified or can't continue the match due to injury (injury default).

Even though wrestling is widely recognized as an individual sport because of the head-to-head competition, it's also a team sport that utilizes a team scoring system to decide the winning team in a particular match. We will go through the individual scoring system followed by the team scoring system.

POSITIONS (NEUTRAL, REFEREE'S POSITION, TOP, BOTTOM)

Before we get started, you'll need to know the basic positioning of the wrestlers during a match:

• Neutral: Both wrestlers stand facing each other about three feet apart and ready to wrestle.

• Referee's Position: Start position where one wrestler is down on their hands and knees (all fours). The other wrestler is positioned on top, alongside the bottom wrestler, kneeling on their nearside knee. The top wrestler also places their far-side arm around the opponent's waist with the hand of the other arm on the nearside elbow of their opponent. The far-side leg of the top wrestler is placed behind the bottom wrestler. 

• Top Position (Advantage): The person on top in the referee's position.

• Bottom Position (Disadvantage): The person on the bottom in the referee's position.

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

• Takedown: From the neutral position, when one wrestler takes the other wrestler down to the mat and controls them from the top, a takedown is scored. (3 points) 

• Reversal: When a wrestler is on the bottom in the referee's position and reverses their opponent to the top in the referee's position, a reversal is scored. (2 Points) 

• Escape: When a wrestler is on the bottom in the referee's position and escapes to the neutral position without reversing the top wrestler, an escape is scored. (1 Point) 

• Near Fall (back points/exposure): When the bottom wrestler has their back exposed to the mat on an angle of 45 degrees or less: Two points will be awarded when a near-fall is held for two seconds, three points for three seconds and four points for four seconds.   T

• Penalty Points: These can be awarded to the opponent of the wrestler in violation of certain rules and conduct. The following is a list of commonly awarded penalty points: 

• Stalling (one or both wrestlers not initiating action or one wrestler being totally defensive and backing away from opponent): Initially a warning, followed by penalty of 1 point, with each additional incident incurring penalties of 1 point – 2 points – 2 points – Disqualification. 

• False Start/Illegal Start Position (starting before the whistle blows, top or bottom wrestler not aligned in the proper referee's position): Two warnings, followed by 1-point penalties for each additional incident. No disqualification. 

• Clasping (top wrestler clasping hands together without having the bottom wrestler on their back): Immediate 1-point penalty. Each additional incident is followed by incurring penalties of 1 point – 2 points – 2 points – Disqualification. 

• Illegal Holds (full nelson, figure 4 the body, scissor the head, headlock without the opponent's arm, etc.): Immediate 1-point penalty. Each additional incident is followed by incurring penalties of 1 point– 2 points – 2 points – Disqualification. 

• Technical Violations (grasping uniform/headgear, improper equipment (i.e. no headgear), fleeing the mat, unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness): Immediate 1-point penalty. Each additional incident is followed by incurring penalties of 1 point – 2 points – 2 points – Disqualification. 

• Cause for Ejection Penalties: Gross misconduct, slamming or any illegal wrestling move that injures an opponent. That injury defaults the match. 

OVERTIME SCORING

A winner must be declared in all individual matches. If a match is tied at the end of regulation, the following overtime scoring system is used in order, until a winner is declared:

• A one-minute sudden death period (first person to score wins). 

• Two 30-second tiebreakers (wrestlers swap referee's positions). If match is still tied, it goes to a ride-out. 

• A 30-second ride-out (wrestler who scored first has the choice in referee's position). If wrestler escapes from bottom position, they win. If they are ridden-out for the 30 seconds, they lose. 

TEAM SCORING

A wrestling team scores points via the results of its individual wrestler's matches:

• 6 Points: Wrestler wins by pin or forfeit, injury default or disqualification of the opponent. 

• 5 Points: Wrestler wins by technical fall. 

• 4 Points: Wrestler wins by major decision (point spread of between 8 and 14 points). 

• 3 Points: Wrestler wins by regular decision (7 points or less). 

• Note: Teams can also be penalized team points for unsportsmanlike conduct and other violations of the individual wrestlers or the coaching staff.