You can win a match in several ways, but there are really two ways that are most common. If one wrestler pins another than the match is over immediately. This is called a fall. In order to pin a wrestler, the athlete must get his opponent’s shoulder blades to both touch the mat for just a split-second. You will find that some referees count pins quicker than others, but that is the very basic criteria.

             You can also win the mat by points. At the end of the third period, the points will be tallied up of both wrestlers and the winner will have his hand raised to signify his victory. The match will also end immediately if one wrestler exceeds a fifteen point margin over his opponent.

In folkstyle wrestling, there are many different ways to score points. You can score from neutral, top, or bottom position in a variety of ways. From neutral you can score from an offensive takedown or from a defensive counter. From top, you can work any number of pinning combinations ranging from the basic half-nelson to legs, tilts, and cradles. From bottom, you can score by escaping your opponent or reversing position. Points are typically given out in one (escape), two (takedown), or three point increments (near fall).

Yes, there are three clearly defined types of wrestling: folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. Each one of these different disciplines emphasizes different skills and maneuvers. Although there are tournaments throughout the year in all three fields, high school and college wrestling is primarily folkstyle competition. On the international and Olympic scene, wrestling competition is reserved for Greco-Roman and freestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike what you might see on television, high school wrestling is a very real test of strength, endurance, and intelligence. There is nothing choreographed. It is just you and your opponent competing on the mat to prove who is more worthy of getting his hand raised at the end of six minutes.

Is wrestling real or fake?

Are there different kinds of wrestling?

How do you score points in wrestling?

How do you win a match?

             A varsity match consists of 3 two-minute periods for a total of six minutes. At the beginning of the first period, both wrestlers are in neutral position (on their feet). At the start of the second period, the referee flips a coin and the winner of the toss gets to choose one of the following options: (1) to remain in neutral position; (2) to take top position; (3) to take bottom position; (4) to defer to his opponent and keep his choice for the third period. At the end of the second period, the other wrestler gets to choose what position he wants for the last period, unless the other wrestler deferred and he has already chosen in the second period.

             If a match is tied at the end of three periods, there will be an overtime period of one minute. The first wrestler to takedown the other one is named the victor. If neither wrestler takes down the other than there will be a second overtime period of thirty seconds. In double overtime, the wrestler who scored first in the match gets to choose either top or bottom position. If he chooses top, then he must prevent his opponent from escaping. If he chooses bottom, then must escape from his opponent before the thirty seconds elapses.

How long is a match?

In high school, the wrestling classes are as follows: 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 180, 189, 215, 275 (HWT). In college and on the international scene, weight classes may vary or be measured in kilograms. There is a weight class for men and women of all shapes and sizes. That is one of the great beauties of this sport.

What are the weight classes?

There are two types of wrestling events: duals and tournaments. In dual meet competition, one entire team will wrestle another entire team weight class-by-weight class. Typically, duals begin at a random weight an ascend by weight in sequential order.

             In a tournament, brackets will be posted with bout numbers. A wrestler will have to find his weight class and his bout number. Depending on whether he wins or loses, a wrestler will follow the bracket to find out what his next bout number is in the tournament. It is very important that wrestlers know their bout numbers and be alert and looking for them. A wrestler will forfeit a match if he fails to show up on the mat after just a few minutes.

How do you know when to wrestle your opponent?

A beginner wrestler should never lose weight. The rationale behind losing weight in wrestling is that by cutting a certain amount of weight a wrestler will gain an advantage over his opponent at a lighter weight. This is more the exception than the rule. Most of the time this “advantage” is psychological at best because losing weight, as you might imagine, very often involves muscle loss and excessive fatigue that translates into a poor performance.

             In some instances, with a more advanced wrestler and under coach supervision, a wrestler may cut weight if a) he has a significant amount of body fat that could be shed with a reasonable amount of effort; b) the methods employed for such a minimal weight loss are practical and safe; c) there is the potential for a legitimate advantage in such an endeavor.

Should I lose weight?

Both. At its core, wrestling is an individual sport. It is always one-on-one. There is nobody else on the mat, but a wrestler and his opponent. At the end of the day, the only person that a wrestler can blame for a win or a loss is him or herself.

             It is a team sport as well because in both a dual meet competition and a tournament a team scores points for each victory of one of its wrestlers. Furthermore, a team will get more points for a fall than a win by points, major decision, or technical fall (15 or more points). Team competition can get very heated in a dual meet or tournament setting. 

Is wrestling a team sport or an individual sport?

Singlets, a wrestler’s uniform, are only worn during competitions. Yes, they due to cling to the body tightly in order to prevent injuries that might result from getting caught in another wrestler’s clothing during a move. Wrestlers may practice in shorts or sweats. Moreover, the only people who tend to mock wrestlers or the outfits that they wear are those who have no experience of the sport and lack the courage to attempt it.

Do wrestlers wear tight outfits all the time?