The Rules of Mat Wrestling

Starting Position

• In the center of the wrestling circle is a rectangle shaped box. Both wrestlers must have at least one foot on their respective side of the box at the start of the match. This is standard in all forms of mat wrestling. At the start of the second period, the wrestler who is leading can choose to be on bottom, top, neutral (both standing) or defer to his opponent. In any instance the bottom wrestler is on his hands and knees over the center box with the top wrestler positioned on either side with a hand on the opponents stomach and the other on his elbow. The third period follows the same routine but with the other wrestler getting to choose.

Timing

• High school wrestling matches generally consist on three two-minute periods with stoppages only for out of bounds or injury. Collegiate and professional wrestling consists of a three-minute period followed by two two-minute periods. The same time stoppages as high school matches apply.

Scoring

• A wrestler can score points in a match in a number of ways. A takedown is worth two points, an escape is worth one point, a reversal is worth two points and a near fall is worth anywhere from one to three points. A near fall is when a wrestler has his shoulders exposed to the mat but not enough to be considered a pin, where both shoulders are flat on the mat. The referee will count up to a maximum of five seconds, where the wrestler in control will receive three near-fall points. A one- to two-second count is worth one point, and a three- to four-second count is worth two points. A wrestler may not receive more than three points if his opponents' shoulders remains exposed, however, if positions change and he ends up in the same near-fall situation, a new count is started.

Team Scoring

• A match can end in a number of ways: by pin, a decision by points, a major decision by points, a technical fall and a disqualification/forfeit. A pin, when an opponent's shoulders are flat on the mat for about two seconds, is worth six team points. A win by decision, meaning a wrestler wins the match by one to seven points after the six minutes or overtime, is worth three team points. A major decision, when a wrestler wins by eight to 14 points, is worth four team points. A technical fall, when a wrestler gains a lead of 15 or more points at any time during a match, is worth five team points. A disqualification or forfeit is worth six team points.

Penalties

• A number of penalties that are enforced during the course of a match. Illegal holds usually come with a warning from the referee before a penalty point is awarded to the opposing wrestler such as clasping, when a wrestler locks his hands around his opponent when on the mat. Potentially dangerous holds, such as raising an opponent's arms past a perpendicular position to his spine when it is behind his back on the mat, can be immediately penalized one point. Other penalties that are rewarded a point are unsportsmanlike conduct, incorrect starting position or a false start (two initial warnings from the referee before a point is awarded), and stalling (one warning from the referee before a point is awarded). Flagrant misconduct, when you put the other wrestler in serious harm, can result in an automatic ejection and disqualification from the match.