Wrestling Rules Overview

High School Wrestling Overview

Weight classes: 

Varsity meets are co-ed and have one wrestler per weight class, starting at a randomly chosen weight.  JV meets match up all available wrestlers as closely as possible. Female weights are used at the Girls Regional and State Tournaments.

A match has three 2-minute periods (total of 6 minutes), unless someone is pinned. Both wrestlers start the match in the neutral position with one foot on their respective lines (green or red), shake hands and wait for the referee’s whistle. At the start of the 2nd and 3rd periods the wrestlers take turns choosing the starting position for that period (defer, neutral, top or bottom). If tied after the 3rd, Overtime is: 1) One-minute neutral; 2. If still tied, two 30 second periods, each with choice of position; 3. If still tied, 30 second Ultimate Tiebreaker- escape to win.

Common Illegal Holds and Penalties

Full Nelson: Both arms under opponent’s arms and touching hands behind neck.

Locked Hands: On the mat, a wrestler may not lock hands around opponent’s waist.

Slam: Lifting and returning an opponent to the mat with unnecessary force.

Headlock: Locked hands around head without also encircling an arm or leg

Fleeing the mat: going out of bounds to avoid wrestling

Grasping clothing, mat or ear guards is prohibited

Not properly equipped: reporting to scorers table without correct equipment.

False Start: Starting before the whistle (2 cautions, then points).