Wrestling: how it is set up and scored.
Olympic wrestling is contested one against one on a circular mat of 9 metres within a 12 metre square, in freestyle and Greco-Roman styles. A bout is two periods of three minutes with a 30 second break. Points are awarded for takedowns, exposures and reversals, and a bout ends early by fall, by technical superiority or by the opponent being pinned. United World Wrestling rules apply, administered in Britain by British Wrestling.
How wrestling is set up.
- Size
- 12 m by 12 m
- Match
- 2 periods of 3 minutes
- Squad
- 1 on the field per side, no rolling substitutes
- Scoring
- A score is a bout; the result is in bouts.
- Rules
- United World Wrestling International Wrestling Rules (January 2026)
How a result is recorded.
There is no lineup to pick in wrestling. A coach records these for each athlete at every competition.
Scoring and results
- Takedown (2)
- Exposure (2)
- Reversal (1)
- Step Out (1)
- Four-Point Move
- Five-Point Throw
- Bout Won
- Bout Lost
- Win by Fall
- Win by Technical Superiority
Discipline
- Passivity
- Caution (Points to Opponent)
- Disqualification
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