Folkstyle Wrestling/Rules

The Objective

There are three basic victory conditions in a wrestling match:

• Pinning your opponent (Win By Fall)
• Scoring more points than your opponent in the time alotted (Win By Decision)
• Scoring 15 points more than your opponent at any point during the match (Win By Technical Fall)
  • In team tournaments and meets, different points are awarded to the team, depending on whether or not a pin occurred, how large the point spread was at the end of the match one.

The Format

• Three periods
  • Can be different amount of time for periods depending on the league
    • For College the Norm is usually 3-2-2
    • For High School the Norm is usually 2-2-2
    • For Modified and Youth the Norm is usually 1-1-1

The Three Positions

• Neutral
• Referee's Position
  • Top
    • Optional/Freestyle
  • Bottom

Ways to Score

There are 5 ways to score-

• Takedown- Defined as taking opponent from feet to mat. This is worth 2 points.

• Escape- Defined as escaping opponent's control and facing him. This is worth one point.

• Reversal- Defined as coming from mat, and taking opponent to mat, in a single move/move combo, which is worth 2 points.

• Nearfall- Points gained when opponent's back/shoulders break the 45 degree plane with respect to the mat for a duration of time. A two-four count awards you 2 points, then a 5 count awards you 3 points.
• Riding Time-Defined as being in control on the mat, for a long period of time, usually used in collegiate wrestling. If one wrestler has more than 1 minute more of riding time than his opponent, he is awarded 1 point at the end of regulation time.

Penalties

• Stalling
  • Fleeing the mat

• locking hands around waist on ground without 2points of body

Note:(When a wrestler lifts another off the mat, it is the lifting wrestler's responsibility to ensure the other's safe return to the mat.)

• Locking hands strictly around an opponent's waist while on the mat.

• Potentially Dangerous
  • Choking
  • Full Nelson
  • Body Figure Four
  • Head Scissors
  • Chicken wing (extended past a certain point)
  • Arm across the back above 90 Degrees

• Unsportsmanlike conduct
  • Swearing
  • Striking
  • Unnecessary Roughness
  • Grabbing of the singlet
  • Throwing your headgear
  • physically hurting your opponent for revenge of previous match
  • Smack Talking
  • Pulling opponents head gear off or making it an obstruction of view