Wrestling Rules and Officiating Guidelines

Vocabulary flashcards covering key rules, terminology, penalties, and scoring regulations for high school wrestling.

Potentially Dangerous Hold/Maneuver

A legal hold or move that could cause injury, such as when a body part is forced to the limit of its range of motion. The referee shall verbally caution "Keep it legal" or stop the match before injury occurs.

Caution

A warning issued for an incorrect starting position or false starts; a wrestler receives $2$ cautions before being penalized, after which any subsequent caution awards $1$ point to the opponent.

Default

A match outcome awarded when one of the competitors is unable to continue wrestling for any reason (not awarded when a wrestler fails to appear for a match).

Escape

Occurs when the defensive wrestler comes to a neutral position and the offensive wrestler has lost control, beyond reaction time, while all supporting points of either wrestler are inbounds.

Supporting Points of the Body

The feet, knees, butt, thigh, hands, or head. A wrestler remains inbounds and can continue scoring if at least $1$ part of either wrestler's body touches the wrestling area, whether it supports weight or not.

Stalling

An infraction called when a wrestler goes out of bounds or forces an opponent out to avoid wrestling.

Fleeing the Mat

A penalty assessed when either wrestler fails to make every effort to stay in bounds during an imminent scoring situation.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

A conduct violation that requires the referee to immediately stop the match and penalize the wrestler, such as when a wrestler taunts an opponent during a pinning situation.

Flagrant Misconduct

An infraction resulting in the disqualification of the individual, immediate removal from the premises, and the deduction of $3$ team points on the first offense.

Unnecessary Roughness

Fouls including, but not limited to, a forceful slap to the head or face, gouging or poking the eyes, or grabbing an opponent's hair to pull them down to the mat.

Technical Violation

A category of infractions that includes reporting to the table not ready to wrestle or not properly equipped, wearing bulky and loose-fitting knee pads, or forcing an opponent out of the wrestling area to avoid wrestling.

Required Equipment

The mandatory items a wrestler must wear to compete: ear guards, a uniform, and compliant wrestling shoes.

Wrestling Shoes (Compliance)

Footwear that must be light and heelless, reach above the ankles, and have laces secured through the top eyelet and fastened to the feet. Single-knotting of laces is not acceptable.

Artificial Limbs Rule

A rule stating that amputees are not permitted to wear artificial limbs during weigh-ins or competition.

Video Recording and Reviewing

An activity allowed during a match unless explicitly prohibited by the state association (such as the AIA)

Takedown

A scoring maneuver awarded $3$ points in high school wrestling competition.

Near-Fall

A scoring situation awarded as $2$ points for a two-second count, $3$ points for a three-second count, and $4$ points for a four-second count.

Coach Misconduct

A penalty that is always charged to the head coach and can occur whether the match clock is running or stopped.

Ultimate Tiebreaker

The final overtime period in which choice of position is granted to the wrestler who scored the first point(s) in regulation, unless superseded by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Stalemate

A situation during a match where neither wrestler can make progress or improve their position, requiring the referee to stop the match and resume wrestling.

True or False: It is legal for a wrestler to compete wearing wristbands, sweatbands, or bicep bands.

False; Wrestlers are not allowed to compete wearing wristbands, sweatbands, or bicep bands as they can pose a safety hazard.

True or False: The National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) traditionally follows rules/guidelines set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

True

True or False: When penalizing wrestlers, the referee always shall stop the match.

False; the referee may also choose to continue the match and apply the penalty at an appropriate time.

True or False: The referee can make decisions related to the match by using video equipment

False

True or False: It is not possible to earn a 5 point near-fall

False, 5 points are awarded if a 4 point near-fall criteria has been met and the match is stopped due to the defensive wrestler’s injury or bleeding

In the first period you caution Wrestler A three times. In the tird period, you caution Wrestler A again. How many point would be awarded to Wrestler B in the first period caution? What is the call on the third period caution?

There would be 1 point awarded during the first period ( 2 cautions before penalizing) and the third period caution would be 1 point awarded to wrestler B.

True or False: There is no rest period between periods in a wrestling match

True

True or False: When the contestants are tied at the end of three regular periods, they will wrestle overtime.

True

True or False: When the defensive wrestler stands supporting all of the weight of the offensive wrestler, the referee shall stop the match for a potentially dangerious situation

True

Wrestling has started. As the wrestlers work their way around the mat, the referee realizes that Wrestler A has knee pads that are very bulky and loose fitting. What is the call?

Technical Violation; The match will be stopped. Wrestler A will be charged with a technical violation and an injury time out to remove the knee pad (1.5 min). Wrestler B will be awarded 1 point. Match will resume in neutral position

Wrestler A’s shoelaces have come undone during the match. What is the call?

Stalling; When shoelaces come undone during the match it is an automatic stalling call. The match will be stopped when there is no action so the wrestler can re-tie their shoes.

True or False: There is a one minute rest period between regulation match and sudden victory period

False

Wrestler A’s shoe comes off during the match. What is the call?

Stalling; The match will be stopped when there is no action and the wrestler will be allowed to put shoe back on

True or False: A front headlock is always considered potentially dangerous and shall be stopped immediately

False

True or False: Youth/ Jr. Wrestling traditionally does not follow rules/guidelines set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

False

True or False: Points for a “locked hands” call is disregarded if an escap or reversal is awarded

False

What is the maximum amount of time a wrestler is permitted to appear ready to compete at a specific mat?

5 minutes

True or False: A match may be as long as seven minutes and thirty seconds

True

True or False: At the center of the wrestling mat, the 10 foot circle is not required by rule

False

True or False: The wrestler who scores the first point(s) during the ultimate tiebreaker of overtime will be declared the winner

True

Unacceptable form of securing shoelaces

Single-knotting of the shoelaces

The ______ has the authority to rule promptly, and in the spirit of good sportmanship, on any situation not specifically covered by the rules

Referee

If the official detects wet blood during an imminent scoring stuation, they shall _____

Immediately stop th match and award he appropriae point(s) as dictatd by he situation

Either wrestler failing to make every effort to stay in bounds during an imminent scoring situation shall be penalized for ______

Fleeing the mat

When will the referee not stop the match when penalizing?

A defensive wrestler in a pinning situation

Wrestler B attempts a reversal and before B can complete the manuever, Wrestler A screams. What is the call?

If the referee determines that Wrestler B would have completed the maneuver, then Wrestler A would be charged wit an injury time-out and Westler B awarded 2 points for the reversal

Wrestler A has Wrestler B in a pinning situation in a heated match and A begins to taunt B. The referee should ____

Stop the mach and penalize Wrestler A for unsportsmanlike conduct

When the defensive wrestler stands, with one or both arms trapped and is lifted off the mat by te offensive wrestle. The referee shall _____

Immediately stop the match as potentially dangerous

Coah Misconduct is always charged to ____

Head Coach

True or False: Any method for quick weight reduction purposes is prohibited and shall disqualify an ndividual from competition

True

True or False: A match is a competition between two individual wrestlers wo are of as nearly equal weight as possible

True

True or False: On matters of judgement, the decision of the referee shall be final

True