How
To Watch And Score A Wrestling Match
High
School Wrestling Individual and Team Scoring Systems
Sanctioned high school wrestling matches
consist of three 2-minute periods
with no rest between periods. The wrestler with the most points at
the end of the third period is 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.
The match can also end before the end of the six minute
regulation time by technical fall (15 point advantage) or if one of the
wrestlers is disqualified or can’t continue the match due to injury. In
the case of an injury, the injured wrestler loses by 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 and uses a team scoring system to decide the winning team in a
match. First, we will go through the individual scoring system and
then the team scoring system.
BASIC
WRESTLING POSITIONS
Neutral – Both wrestlers stand facing each other about 3 feet apart
and ready to wrestle.
Referee’s
Position – Start position where one wrestlers is perched down on
his hands and knees (all fours), while the other wrestler is positioned on
top, alongside the bottom wrestler, kneeling on his nearside knee. The top
wrestler also places his far-side arm around his opponent’s waist with
the hand of the other arm on the nearside elbow of his opponent. The
far-side leg of the top man is placed behind the bottom wrestler.
Top Position (advantage) – The person on top in the
referee’s position .
Bottom Position (disadvantage) – The person on bottom in
the referee’s position.
INDIVIDUAL
SCORING SYSTEM
- Before
each match, wrestlers are assigned a color (green or red) that corresponds
to green and red wrist bands worn by the referee on each wrist and
used to
award points during the match.
- For dual meet (team vs team matches),
green identifies the home wrestler, while red is assigned to the visiting
wrestler.
points scored by each opponent during
the match.
Takedown = 2 Pts. From the neutral position, when one wrestler takes the
other wrestler down to the mat and controls him from the top, a takedown
is scored – 2 Pts.
Reversal = 2 Pts. When a wrestler is on the bottom in the referee’s
position and reverses his opponent to the top in the referees position, a
reversal is scored – 2 Pts.
Escape = 1 Pt.
When a wrestler is on the bottom in the referee’s position and escapes
to the neutral position without reversing the top man, an escape is scored
– 1 Pt.
Near Fall (back points/exposure) = 2 Pts. When the bottom wrestler has his back exposed to the mat
on an angle of 45 degrees or less for a count of at least 2 seconds, but
less than 5 seconds, a 2 Pt. near fall is scored.
Near Fall (back points/exposure) = 3 Pts. When the bottom wrestler has his back exposed to the mat
on an angle of 45 degrees or less for a count of 5 seconds or more a 3 Pt.
near fall is scored.
Penalty Points 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.
1. 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 Pt., with each additional incident
incurring penalties of 1
Pt. – 2 Pts. – 2 Pts. – Disqualification.
2. False
Start/Illegal Start Position (starting before the whistle blows, top or bottom
wrestler not aligned in the
proper referee's position)
– 2 warnings, followed by 1 Pt. penalties for each additional incident
– No
Disqualification.
3. Locking Hands (top wrestler clasping hands together without having the
bottom wrestler on his back) –
Immediate 1 Pt. penalty. Each additional incident is followed by
incurring penalties of 1 Pt. – 2 Pts. – 2 Pts. –
Disqualification.
4. Illegal Holds (full nelson, figure 4 the body, scissor the head,
headlock without the opponent's arm, etc.) –
Immediate 1 Pt. penalty. Each additional incident is followed by
incurring penalties of 1 Pt. – 2 Pts. – 2 Pts. –
Disqualification.
5. Technical
Violations (grasping uniform/headgear, improper equipment (i.e. no
headgear), fleeing the mat,
unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness) – Immediate 1 Pt.
penalty. Each additional incident is followed
by incurring penalties of 1 Pt. –
2 Pts. – 2 Pts. – Disqualification.
6. Cause for
Ejection Penalties – Gross misconduct, slamming or any illegal 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.
1. 1 minute sudden
death period (wrestlers start in neutral position, first man to score).
2. Two 30 second tie
breakers (wrestlers swap referee’s positions). If match is still tied,
it goes to a ride-out.
3. 30 second ride-out
(wrestler who scored first has the choice in referee’s position). If
wrestler escapes from bottom position,
he wins. If he is ridden-out for the 30 seconds, he loses.
TEAM
SCORING SYSTEM DURING A DUAL MATCH
A wrestling team scores points via the results of
individual wrestler’s matches.
6 Pts. – Wrestler wins by pin or forfeit, injury default,
disqualification of the opponent.
5
Pts. – Wrestler wins by technical fall (lead of 15 Pts. during the
match)
4 Pts. – Wrestler wins by major decision (point spread of between
8 and 14 pts.).
3 Pts. – Wrestler wins by regular decision (7 points or less)
Teams
can also be penalized team points for unsportsmanlike conduct and other
violations of the individual wrestlers or the coaching staff.
TOURNAMENT
TEAM SCORING SYSTEM
MATCH
Points
Pin
(also called a "fall")...................
2 pts.
Default, forfeit,
disqualification ......
2 pts.
Technical Fall
..................................
1.5 pts.
Major Decision
...............................
1 pt.
BRACKET Advancement Points
Championship Bracket Win ............
2 pts.
Consolation Bracket Win ................
1 pt.
Bye
Followed by Win
Championship Bracket .....................
2 pts.
Consolation Bracket .........................
1 pt.
PLACEMENT Points
Tournament scoring 4 places: 14-10-7-4
Tournament scoring 6 places: 16-12-9-7-5-3
Tournament scoring 8 places: 16-12-9-7-5-3-2-1
Individual placement points shall be awarded as soon as earned. Placement
points already earned shall be deducted in case of forfeit (other than
injury) or disqualification from the tournament.
In
view of the rule requiring placement points to be added as soon as earned,
placement points are added at the following junctures in a tournament
scoring 6 places:
Championship quarterfinal winners: Add 3 points (has earned at least 6th
place)
Championship semifinal winners: Add 9 points (has earned at least 2nd
place, already received 3 points)
Championship final winners: Add 4 points
Consolation quarterfinal winners: Add 3 points (has earned at least 6th
place)
Consolation semifinal winners: Add 4 points (has earned at least 4th
place, already received 3 points)
Consolation final winners (for third): Add 2 points
Winner of final for 5-6: Add 2 points
