About 7 minute read
Every match begins neutral
At the start of the match, both wrestlers come to the center of the mat, place their feet on the starting lines and shake hands. The first period always begins in the neutral position, with both wrestlers standing and neither wrestler in control.
The first period
Both wrestlers begin neutral and wrestle until the first period ends, unless the match ends earlier because of a fall, technical fall, default, disqualification or another match-ending situation.
The second period: one wrestler gets choice
At the beginning of the second period, one wrestler receives the first choice of starting position. In an individual tournament this is commonly determined by the referee's coin flip or disc toss. In a dual meet, which team receives first choice may alternate from weight class to weight class under the meet procedure being used.
The wrestler with first choice has four options:
- Neutral — both wrestlers begin standing with neither wrestler in control.
- Bottom — the wrestler choosing begins in the defensive position.
- Top — the wrestler choosing begins in the offensive position.
- Defer — the wrestler gives the opponent the second-period choice and keeps first choice for the third period.
The third period: the other wrestler gets choice
If the wrestler with first choice in the second period did not defer, the other wrestler receives the choice at the beginning of the third period. The available choices are neutral, top or bottom.
If the second-period wrestler chose to defer, that wrestler instead receives the third-period choice.
Top, bottom and neutral
Neutral means both wrestlers are standing and neither has control. Top means the wrestler begins in the offensive position behind the opponent. Bottom means the wrestler begins in the defensive position underneath the opponent.
At the end of the match
When the match ends, the wrestlers return to the center and shake hands. Jr Wildcats also expects our wrestler to shake the opposing coaches' hands before leaving the mat area.
After that, return to the Jr Wildcats coach who worked the match. The coach may have a quick correction, encouragement, technical observation or another comment that is most useful while the match is still fresh.
A simple rhythm to remember
- Come to the center and shake your opponent's hand.
- First period starts neutral.
- Second period begins with the first wrestler's choice: neutral, top, bottom or defer.
- Third period begins with the appropriate wrestler's choice: neutral, top or bottom.
- Finish the match and shake your opponent's hand.
- Shake the opposing coaches' hands.
- Return to your Jr Wildcats coach for feedback and support.
Note: Tournament procedures and special situations can vary, and overtime has its own sequence. This article describes the normal regulation-match flow families will see most often.