Wrestling Glossary
Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Wrestling.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Example | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkstyle | The wrestling style commonly used in U.S. school and many youth winter programs, with scoring focused on control. | The tournament is folkstyle, so escapes and reversals are important scoring actions. | Scholastic style |
| Freestyle | An international wrestling style with different scoring and exposure rules than folkstyle. | A summer freestyle event may not look exactly like the winter folkstyle season. | Olympic style |
| Greco | A wrestling style that limits attacks below the waist and uses different scoring from folkstyle. | The coach explains that Greco rules are different from the folkstyle match parents watched last week. | Greco-Roman |
| Period | One timed segment of a wrestling match. | The second period starts after the referee calls the wrestlers back to the center. | Round |
| Neutral | A position where neither wrestler has control, often with both wrestlers on their feet. | The match starts in neutral. | Neutral position |
| Top | The wrestler who has control from above after a start, takedown, or reversal. | The top wrestler tries to keep legal control. | Control position |
| Bottom | The wrestler underneath who is trying to improve position, escape, or reverse. | The bottom wrestler earns an escape and returns to neutral. | Down position |
| Referee's Position | A set top-bottom starting position used for many folkstyle period starts and restarts. | The referee sets both wrestlers in referee's position before blowing the whistle. | Starting position |
| Choice | The right to choose starting position for a period or overtime situation according to the rules. | The wrestler chooses bottom to start the second period. | Position choice |
| Defer | Choosing to delay position choice so the opponent chooses first and the wrestler chooses later. | The wrestler defers, so the opponent chooses the second-period position. | Delay choice |
| Takedown | Scoring action when a wrestler gains control from neutral. | The referee signals a takedown after control is established. | Control from neutral |
| Escape | Scoring action when the bottom wrestler gets free and returns to neutral. | The bottom wrestler separates and the referee awards an escape. | Getaway |
| Reversal | Scoring action when the bottom wrestler gains control and becomes the top wrestler. | The bottom wrestler switches control and earns a reversal. | Change of control |
| Near Fall | Scoring action for holding the opponent's back close to the mat long enough under the rules. | The referee counts near fall before awarding back points. | Back points |
| Pin | A match-ending fall when the referee confirms the required shoulder control on the mat. | The referee slaps the mat for a pin. | Fall |
| Control | Having enough legal command over the opponent for the referee to recognize scoring or position. | The referee waits to award points until control is clear. | Possession-like control |
| Out Of Bounds | Outside the legal wrestling area or too close to the edge for action to continue safely. | The referee stops the match out of bounds and brings wrestlers back to center. | Out |
| Stalling | Not making enough legal effort to wrestle, improve, or stay active. | The referee warns a wrestler for stalling near the edge. | Passivity |
| Caution | A warning or start-procedure call, often for early movement or improper setup. | The referee gives a caution after movement before the whistle. | False start warning |
| Penalty Point | A point awarded to the opponent after certain rule violations or repeated infractions. | The scoreboard adds a penalty point after the referee explains the call. | Penalty |
| Weight Class | A competition grouping based on event weight rules, often combined with age or grade divisions. | The wrestler is placed into a weight class after weigh-ins. | Division |
| Weigh-In | The event process used to confirm a wrestler's weight class or division. | Families arrive early because weigh-ins close before wrestling begins. | Check-in scale |
| Bracket | The chart or event system that shows matchups, winners, wrestle-backs, and placement rounds. | Parents check the bracket to find the next bout number. | Draw |
| Bout | One wrestling match between two athletes. | The bout number is called to mat three. | Match |
| Mat Awareness | Knowing where the center, edge, and boundary are during action. | The wrestler circles back toward the center instead of stepping out. | Boundary awareness |