Amateur Wrestling
Helpful Facts About Amateur Wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most popular form of sport wrestling in the world. It has two international wrestling styles performed for this sport wrestling that are supervised by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles. These styles include the freestyle and the Greco-Roman. The freestyle is obtained from the English Lancashire style, which is commonly called as collegiate, folk style or scholastic. It is practiced by younger age groups and in middle schools, secondary schools, universities, and colleges.
Freestyle and Greco-Roman have plenty of differences when it comes to scoring. Compared to freestyle, Greco-Roman allows wrestlers to attack and hold only above the waist. However, both styles can be scored based on factors of takedown, reversal, exposure or danger position, and penalty.
For international styles of amateur collegiate wrestling, points are awarded for reversals and takedowns. However, according to the current rules, penalty points are given to collegiate wrestling wherein moves that impair the limb or life of the opponent are being penalized. The manner of penalizing infractions and awarding points to the offended wrestler are different in international styles in some aspects. In addition, collegiate wrestling are awarded with points for near fall, riding time or time advantage, and escape.
In international styles of amateur wrestling, the period format is three two-minute. Once a wrestler is considered winner for the match when he had able to win two out of the three period formats. For instance, if one wrestler won the first and second period, the match is now considered over. However, if the opponent is able to win the second and third period, it would result into a deciding period. Only disqualification, injury default, or fall will terminate the match. One consequence of the format is that the losing wrestler will have the chance to outscore the winning wrestler.
In amateur collegiate wrestling, the structure of period formats is different. The match will require of one three-minute period and succeeded by two two-minute periods however if necessary, an overtime round maybe needed. For high school wrestling match, the period format is usually three two-minute and also with overtime round if needed. According to the standard rules of collegiate wrestling, draws are not possible but this rule is modified for high school wrestling match wherein participating wrestlers are still young.
Grappling is the position-based form for amateur wrestling, thus the wrestling itself generally prohibits different illegal moves. These moves include biting; poking or pinching with nails, toes, or fingers; fish-hooking the mouth or nose; intentional scratching; gouging; striking using head, knees, feet, elbows, fists, or hands; joint locks that include small joint manipulation, wristlocks, spinal locks, leglocks, and armlocks; smothering; suffocating; strangling; spiking; and holding or grasping the opponent’s genitals. The use of the opponent’s clothing or one’s own clothing is strictly prohibited and discouraged as well in amateur wrestling.
The equipment and costumes worn by amateur wrestlers are highly specialized as well as those professional ones. The costume is a wrestling singlet of one-piece that is colored, tight-fitting, and made of lyrca material. For women wrestlers, the costumer usually has a higher cut singlet and with underneath sports-bra for protection. The wrestling shoes are ankle-high, thin-soled, and light sneakers that allow wrestlers for maximum traction and speed on the mat without neglecting the ankle support.