Wrestling

Matches and Starting Positions

• Match rounds

For varsity matches, there are 3 rounds, each being 2 minutes. Overtime is when there is a tie of points by the third round. The overtime period is one minute directly after the 3rd round of a regular match, meaning there is no rest in between. If both wrestlers don't succeed in scoring, they will go into double overtime. Double overtime is only for 30 seconds and from the referee's position. The wrestler that scored the most points by the end of the 3 rounds and possibly overtime will win the match. The match can be finished sooner if one of the wrestlers manages to pin or win by getting the max amount of points in the overall match.

• Starting Positions

Neutral or "standing" is where both wrestlers get into their stance and have their lead leg on the mat line. The mat itself has marked points for certain positions. It mostly is composed of a rectangular bordered box with 2 different colors on the side. However, this rectangle can be a circle where the wrestlers stand aside. -image on the right-. Matches in higher levels such as the Olympics have a solid colored circle with 2 larger colored rings. The two different colors are one being red, one being green, sometimes maybe blue. One wrestler will have a corresponding ankle velcro strap to the mat’s rectangle side and the referee with wrist bands with the same colors as well. This is all so the person that's keeping score at the table can keep track of which wrestler is earning points according to the referee. Referee position or "bottom position" is where the wrestler's knees and palms line up with the 2 rectangular sides (for the mats without the circles) that are longer than the others. The wrestlers commonly look like a table with all hands and knees on the mat. Most wrestlers are up on their toes, have their elbows bent in, head up, and the majority of their weight on their legs and feet. Off the whistle, this wrestler must try to either stand up and escape which is worth one point or, get a reversal (The defensive wrestler comes from the bottom / defensive positions and gains control of the opponent) which is 2 points. Or the wrestler could escape from bottom, most commonly by a switch or knee slide. Top position starts with the wrestler that choose being on top, set in position on the bottom wrestler who is in referee's position. The "top man" can only approach and set in position after the referee signaled to. The top wrestler commonly picks a lead side (either the left or the right) and has one knee up, the other down. With the same side that has a knee down the wrestler has their arm around the opponent and their hand on the belly. Their other arm is on the elbow with "lego hands". Both wrestlers will wrestle off the whistle.