Competition Format

Traditional wrestling, as practiced world wide, are subject to specific rules, and are thereby divided into styles.

In Wrestling competitions there are 3 styles: Greco-roman, Men’s Freestyle and Women’s Freestyle.

The Greco-roman style and the freestyle basically differ as follows:

In Greco-roman wrestling, it is strictly forbidden to grasp the opponent below the belt line or to trip him or to use the legs actively to perform any action.

In Freestyle wrestling, however, it is permissible to grasp the legs of the opponent, to trip him and to use the legs actively to perform any action.

Double nelsons are strictly forbidden in women’s freestyle.

The competitions take place by direct elimination system with:

Pairing in the order of the numbers drawn at random

All competition conditions take place by direct elimination system with a repêchage for the wrestlers eliminated by the first and second place finalists. The ideal number of wrestlers is chosen at the beginning of the competition and the bouts will take place from the bottom of the draw.

All the wrestlers losing only against the two finalists will make up a repêchage

The repêchage bouts begin with wrestlers who lost in the first round (including in bouts to obtain the ideal number)against one of the two finalists up to the losers in the semifinals by direct elimination. The winner of two repêchage bouts will both receive the bronze medal.

The Junior World Wrestling Championships take place in the following manner at the following weight categories:

- elimination rounds (1/8 finals, quarterfinals, semifinals)

- repêchages

- final

Greco-Roman: 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 74kg, 84kg, 96kg, 120kg

Female Wrestling: 44kg, 48kg, 51kg, 55kg, 59kg, 63kg, 67kg, 72kg

Free Style: 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 74kg, 84kg, 96kg, 120kg

If there are less than 6 wrestlers in a weigh-in category, the Nordic round will take place (each wrestler against each wrestler). To apply the direct elimination system, it is necessary to have an ideal number of wrestlers, i.e. 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc. If the number of wrestlers in a weight category is not ideal, qualification bouts will take place.

The duration of the bouts is set as follows: three periods of two minutes. For all the competitions on the timing boards, the timing will run from 0 to 2 minutes. A light of the same color as the wrestler concerned will indicate the winner of each period. At the end of each period, a wrestler is declared the winner. The wrestler winning two periods is declared the bout winner. If the victory can be proclaimed after two periods, the third period is withdrawn.

A fall stops automatically the bout whatever the period. In the exceptional case where the period ends 0-0, a clinch will be ordered at the end of the regular time. The clinch lasts a maximum of 30 seconds.

Sport Rules and Procedures:

A bout may be won by:

a) a "fall"

b) by injury, withdrawal, default, disqualification of the opponent. At the end of each period, the winner shall be declared. The wrestler who wins two periods is declared the winner of the bout. If the victory can be declared after two periods, the third period is eliminated.

c) by technical superiority

d) by points (winning two periods by 1 to 5 points difference)

If the wrestler executes a ‘grande amplitude’ 5 points hold, he shall be declared the winner of the period whatsoever the score.

If the wrestler executes 2 holds of 3 points in the period, he shall be declared the winner of the period whatsoever the score.

In case of a tie by points 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc. and when the criteria of holds and cautions are the same, the winner shall be declared not by the first, but by the last point obtained in order to encourage the wrestlers throughout the bout.

If there is one or more cautions, the wrestler who has the fewest cautions, shall be declared the winner. If the period ends 0-0, the winner of the period shall be the wrestler who wins one or more points during the ordered clinch in a maximum of 30 seconds.

For cautions, all the periods will be considered. A wrestler receiving 3 cautions is disqualified.

Tie-Break Rules

The wrestlers of each weight category will be ranked in the following manner:

- The losers in the two bronze medals finals will be ranked 5th equal

-The classification points determine the rank of wrestlers from 7th place. In case of a ranking tie, they will be ranked by analyzing the following criteria successively:

1) The most victories by “Fall”

2) The most bout wins by superiority (6 points difference)

3) The most period wins by superiority

4) The most technical points scored in the whole competition

5) The fewest technical points received in the whole competition

If the place of the wrestlers cannot be determined, they will be ranked ex aequo.

The wrestlers taking part in the repêchage phase will also be ranked according to the classification points earned during the competition.

Penalties / Disqualification Rules

Each bout should have a winner, as mentioned earlier, except in the case of a double disqualification.

Protests / Appeals

No protest may be lodged after the end of a bout, only the result obtained on the mat counts.

If the FILA President or the Refereeing Department notes that the refereeing body has abused their power to modify a bout results, they can examine the video and, with the agreement of the FILA Bureau, sanction those responsible as laid down in the provisions of the Regulations for International Refereeing Bodies. Under no circumstances may the results of a bout be modified.

Officials

In all competitions, the officials for each bout shall consist of the following:

- 1 referee

- 1 judge

- 1 mat chairman

i.e.: three officials qualified or designated by the Regulations for international judges and referees. Replacement of an official during a bout is strictly prohibited, except in the case of a serious illness that is medically confirmed. In no case may two officials be of the same nationality. Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden for an official to officiate in bouts involving compatriot wrestlers.