INTRO TO FREESTYLE WRESLTING
First year parents might not know what to expect at a wrestling match. I’ll explain what goes on.
Wrestlers are matched up by both age and weight (similar to boxing). They compete to win 2 out of 3 periods by scoring more points than their opponent. Periods last from 1-2 minutes depending on the age group.
They begin in the middle of the mat by shaking hands as a gesture of sportsmanship and respect. The referee then blows the whistle to start the match.
SCORING:
Here, it is helpful to remember that the ultimate goal of wrestling is to pin your opponents shoulders to the mat because the closer you get to this, the more points you accumulate.
A takedown, as the name implies, scores 1 point for taking your opponent down to the mat from their standing position. You are then given a moment on the mat to try and turn them to their back which scores even more points while trying to secure a pin fall. You earn 2 points each time you expose your opponents back to the mat (a near-fall) and a pin immediately ends the match.
If a turn does not occur in a few seconds, the referee will bring both wrestlers back to their feet and wrestling starts again. This continues until the period ends. The wrestler with the highest point total wins that round and the scores reset to zero after a 30 second break.
The wrestler with the best score 2 out of the 3 rounds wins but remember a pin overrides all scoring and ends the match. The match ends as it started with a congratulatory handshake reinforcing good sportsmanship. Other than penalty points awarded for rule infractions, this covers most of the scoring you will see.
A LITTLE MORE:
Stepping out of bounds is not allowed and awards your opponent 1 point.
If a wrestler is taken down directly from his feet to his back a 3 point takedown can be awarded. This simply combines the 1 point for the takedown with the 2 scored for immediate back exposure.
Throws and hip tosses are a big part of wrestling. They are exciting to the spectator and wrestling encourages their use by allowing 4 and 5 points to be earned when using them for a takedown.
I hope this clears things up a little. Your questions and comments are always welcome.
Coach Pride