What is wrestling about?

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Wrestling is a raw, intense sport where athletes face off one-on-one, relying on skill, preparation, and competitive drive. It builds strength, speed, stamina, technique, and mental toughness. While early success may come to naturally athletic kids, long-term achievement comes from a strong competitive spirit. Wrestling teaches discipline, fuels motivation, and builds confidence through individual effort and accountability.

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Wrestling Health Benefits

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Wrestling develops total-body strength, balance, speed, and coordination. It promotes equal muscle group development—important for young athletes—and avoids early specialization, reducing injury risk. Like swimming and gymnastics, wrestling provides a well-rounded athletic foundation.

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Character Development

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Wrestlers learn, by the nature of the sport, that long-term success has much more to do with the investment made than the "natural" gifts one is given. Wrestlers learn the value of preparation and hard work, and the role it plays in achieving one's goals. Wrestling provides real-life experiences that build and strengthen the following character traits:

 

• Self Reliance

• Mental Toughness

• Work Ethic

• Competitive Spirit

• Responsibility

• Self Discipline

• Goal Orientation

• Confidence

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What About Weight Cutting? Does My Child Have To?​

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No! Youth wrestling does not require weight cutting. Concerns about unhealthy weight loss are outdated and overblown. At advanced levels, weight management is approached with safety, education, and regulation in mind. For younger kids, the focus is on healthy eating and body awareness, not losing weight.

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Wrestling Basics ​

Wrestling matches consist of three periods. Periods can vary in length from one minute in duration for younger age groups, to as long as three minutes for college wrestling. Either wrestler can win the match at any time if they are able to pin their opponent or develop a lead of more than 14 points. Otherwise, the wrestler that can accumulate the most points by the end of the third period (or after overtime in the case of a tie) wins the match.

There are only two positions from which referees start, or continue a match. The first is the neutral position, with both wrestlers standing and facing each other. The other is the referee's position, where one wrestler starts on his hands and knees down on the mat, and the other starts on top, behind, and in control. The first period always begins in the neutral position. Each wrestler has their choice in one of the remaining periods, to choose to start from the top or bottom referee's position, or in the neutral position. If the action must be stopped before the end of a period, the referee restarts the wrestlers in the starting position that best reflects the position the wrestlers were in when the action was stopped.​​​

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Scoring

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The scoring system is rather simple. Takedowns (when from a neutral position one wrestler is able to bring the other to the mat and gain control) are worth three points. Escapes (when the bottom wrestler is able to break free from the top wrestler and revert back to a neutral position) are worth one point. Reversals, (when a wrestler on the bottom is able to reverse the control so that the opponent is on the bottom) are worth two points.
 
Back points (also called near fall) are awarded when one wrestler comes close to pinning the other (i.e. exposing the other wrestler's back) and are worth two, three or four points depending on the length of time (2, 3 or 4 seconds) that the opponent's back is exposed. In addition, penalty points can be awarded when the opposing wrestler performs illegal moves or is penalized for excessive stalling.
 
Competition is conducted in a manner as to promote and require good sportsmanship.
Competitors are expected to show respect to opponents, officials, and coaches regardless of the outcome of their match. Both wrestlers are required to shake hands before and after the match. It is also common practice for each wrestler to shake the hand of their opponent's coach after the match.

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Required Equipment

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Wrestlers need headgear, wrestling shoes, and a singlet. Shoes support the ankles and allow movement; headgear protects the ears; singlets are snug to avoid obstruction. Kneepads are optional but commonly used.​​