Rules of Olympic Wrestling

Is Olympic wrestling the same as regular wrestling? While they do share similarities, there are many rules that differ from one to the other. Here we'll share some of the basic rules.

Wrestling is a sport that consists of using various techniques to topple your opponent. It’s a traditional sport that’s included in the Olympic Games. But, what are the rules of the sport of wrestling? Here, we’ll share some basic aspects to keep in mind.

It’s important to note that Olympic wrestling has some important differences from traditional wrestling. This is because the latter is a staged fight, while the Olympic version is considered a highly difficult sport that demands high performance. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most important aspects of the regulations of the Olympic sport.

The most important rules of wrestling

One of the most important aspects of regulations in wrestling is the fact that there are three different Olympic styles which all share basically the same rules. There are a few exceptions in the “Greco-Roman” style of wrestling.

For example, for every type of wrestling, the mat on which the fighting takes place has to be 12 meters by 12 meters. The mat has to be divided into distinctly separate zones. This is similar to other martial arts.

The referees

The refereeing body is made up of the main referee and a timekeeping auxiliary referee. The referee oversees the point keeping and directs every aspect of the fight from the inside of the mat. 

Among their actions to regulate the fight, the referee raises their hand with the color that corresponds to the wrestler that makes the action, and they gain a point. The right hand corresponds to the color blue and the left hand to the color red.

The external part of the mat also has a referee whose point keeping is independent of the other referee. Off the mat, there’s a “mat president” who is in charge of coordinating both decisions and validating the final punctuation.

It’s worth mentioning the fundamental role of the referee who works on the mat. This referee is in charge of starting and ending the fight and for pointing out when one of the wrestlers has committed an infraction.

Uniforms: rules of wrestling

The official uniforms for Olympic wrestling are very simple. The wrestlers use a one-piece sling that has to be unicolor, whether it’s red or blue.

Rules of the fight

All rules of wrestling related to the fight can vary according to the category. For example, in the children and school categories, there are two timed rounds of two minutes.

In the adult and youth categories, the fights last three minutes, although these timed fights are also divided into two rounds. The break between these two rounds is 30 seconds.

In terms of victories, there are three different ways for a wrestler to win. The first way is through the points system, which is regulated by the federation. In this case, each wrestler has to make certain moves that gain points. 

For example, if a wrestler does a takedown that’s not from behind they gain a point. If a wrestler’s opponent commits an illegal move, then that person gets two points. The “wide-ranging technique” is worth five points.

Another way that a wrestler can win is through “the pin.” This consists of controlling your opponent by keeping their two shoulder blades on the mat for long enough that the referee verifies it.

Finally, it’s also possible to win with a superior technique. This category applies when there’s a difference in score of more than ten points between the two opponents.

Prohibited techniques: rules of wrestling

The sport of wrestling is very clear when it comes to which techniques aren’t allowed. In this sense, some of the most well-known are the chokehold technique, grabbing your opponent’s head with both arms, or going against your opponent’s spine.

It’s also prohibited to cover your body with oil or any other sticky substance. Wrestlers cannot wear bracelets, rings, or bandages among other items.

Wrestling is a technical and demanding sport!

The rule system of Olympic wrestling is very extensive and very specific. Anyone who plays or wishes to play this demanding sport needs to know these rules well in order to prevent harm to themselves.

In addition to the general and specific rules, it’s also recommended to understand the lexicon of the game. This will help any player to better understand the details that are included in many of the rules. This is a discipline that, as we’ve seen, is very broad and has many technical aspects to consider.