Collegiate wrestling

Collegiate and freestyle wrestling, unlike Greco-Roman, also both allow the use of the wrestler's or his opponent's legs in offense and defense.

For example, in collegiate wrestling, "exposure" points are not given to a wrestler for simply forcing the opponent's shoulders to quickly rotate and be exposed to the mat.

All three styles begin a match with both wrestlers facing each other on their feet; known as the neutral position with the opportunity given to both to score a takedown and thus gain control over the opponent.

This lack of emphasis on throws is another example of how collegiate wrestling emphasizes dominance or control, as opposed to the element of risk and explosive action.

In freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, points awarded for a wrestler's takedowns increase with the level of explosiveness seen in the throws.

In collegiate wrestling, some of the throws seen in the international styles may even be illegal, such as a full-back suplex from a rear standing position.

In a last-ditch attempt to foil a fall, the defensive wrestler could also "bridge" out of his opponent's control (that is, pry his head, his back, and both of his feet up from the mat and then turn toward his stomach).

[4] The Irish were known for their "collar-and-elbow" style, a variant of jacket wrestling (which was popular across Europe), in which wrestlers at the start of the match would grasp each other by the collar with one hand and by the elbow with the other.

Since "catch-as-catch-can" wrestling was very similar, it gained great popularity in fairs and festivals in the United States during the 19th century.

[6] The collar-and-elbow style was also refined by later Irish immigrants, and gained great ground because of the success of George William Flagg from Vermont, the wrestling champion of the Army of the Potomac.

After the Civil War, freestyle wrestling began to emerge as a distinct sport, and soon spread rapidly in the United States.

[6] By the 1880s, American wrestling became organized, with matches often being conducted alongside gymnastic meets and boxing tournaments in athletic clubs.

[4] The growth of cities, industrialization, and the closing of the frontier provided the necessary avenue for sports such as wrestling to increase in popularity.

[10] Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada has competed in NAIA wrestling since 1977, consistently producing individual champions, All-Americans, and winning the team title twice (1988, 1993).

[1] SFU made history in 2009 by becoming the first non-American NCAA member school, with their wrestling program participating in U Sports for Olympic styles and NAIA for collegiate.

However, the wrestler may only return to that certified weight class according to the weight-loss plan of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

This weight loss plan takes into account potential dehydration during the wrestling season and minimum amounts of body fat.

Post-season competition usually continues from February to March (depending on, if individual wrestlers or teams qualify for a conference, regional, or national championship).

[15] In all cases, after determining the sequence of weight classes for the dual meet, the referee will call the wrestlers from each team who have been designated as captains.

The order the matches occur in is determined after the weigh-ins either by a mutual decision of the coaches or by a random draw choosing a particular weight class to be featured first.

College wrestlers often serve as referees, volunteer coaches, assistants, or as counselors during many of the camps, clinics, and tournaments held during the off-season.

Wrestlers are encouraged to stay near the center of the mat within the inner circle, or else they risk being penalized for stalling (that is, deliberately attempting to slow down the action of the match or backing away from the opponent so they cannot score).

Every year nearly 135,000 children ranging from age 5 to 18 are treated for concussions and other head injures from sports or other recreational activities.

[citation needed] The Mayo clinic states that "Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo involve red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust.

Once a person becomes infected the virus stays in the body forever and can reactivate itself anytime causing cold sores.

[44] The main official at the wrestling match is the referee, who is in full control in matters of judgement at the competition and is responsible for starting and stopping the match; observing all holds; signaling points; calling penalties such as illegal holds, unnecessary roughness, fleeing the mat, or flagrant misconduct; and finally observing a full view of and determining the fall.

[51] Most often, the wrestler with the choice chooses the defensive (bottom) position because of the relative ease of scoring an escape or reversal in comparison to a near fall.

When the referee starts the match by blowing the whistle, the defensive wrestler then has the opportunity to get back to his feet in a neutral position.

[58] After the match is completed, regardless of the victory condition, the wrestlers will return to the center of the mat (on the 10-foot inner circle) while the referee checks with the scorer's table.

[80] A more detailed account of how individual and team points are awarded for tournaments is given on pages WR-49 to WR-51 of the 2009 NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations.

In collegiate wrestling, like scholastic wrestling , great emphasis is placed on one wrestler's control of the opponent on the mat, usually by controlling the opponent's legs or torso. When a wrestler gains control and maintains restraining power over an opponent, as seen here, he is said to be in the position of advantage.
Throws can be performed in collegiate wrestling, but there is not as much emphasis placed on them from a points perspective as in the international styles.
A Navy vs Penn State wrestling match in 1949
The layout of a collegiate wrestling dual meet taking place alongside a collegiate gymnastics meet
A Columbia University collegiate wrestler before start of match; in college wrestling, rules mandate wearing headgear during matches.
At the start of the first period(the referee flips a coin in the second period, and you may choose between the 3 positions), the two wrestlers start in the neutral, or standing, position, as shown.
Usually at the start of the second and third periods, both wrestlers start in the "referee's position", a term for top and bottom wrestling. The wrestler in bottom position starts with hands spread out above top starting line and knees behind back starting line. The wrestler in top position starts with one hand on center of belly button and the other on the opponent's elbow.
The college wrestler (in light blue) gets a takedown for three points; the points for the takedown will be given once the wrestler gets his opponent on the ground and has control of his opponent's hips.
Near fall points are scored when the defensive wrestlers shoulders are exposed to the mat, as shown.
Near fall points can be scored when the defensive wrestler is held with one shoulder on the mat and one shoulder at an angle of 45 degrees or less toward the mat, as shown.
A fall , also known as a pin , occurs when any part of both shoulders or both scapula (shoulder blades) of the defensive wrestler is held in continuous contact with the mat for a specified amount of time (in collegiate wrestling for one second).
The wrestler in light blue is attempting to finish a single leg takedown to the mat, with the wrestler in white attempting a counter move.
One of the wrestlers pictured here is attempting to get to the neutral position, for a one-point escape.
In the top offensive position, the objective is to try and break down the opponent in order to turn them over to their back, to secure near fall points or a pin.
The top wrestler using the leg riding technique, helping to maintain control of the bottom wrestler.
This high school wrestling match resumes in the referee's position.