WRESTLING

The Greeks believed wrestling displayed strength, agility, gracefulness of body better than any other activity. It had in important place int he festival program of Greece and Rome.

There were two types of wrestling, standing and ground wrestling, standing being the most popular. The contestants stood upright, face to face, and each tried to throw his opponent to the ground without falling himself. Three falls rewarded a victory. In round wrestling, the object was to throw the opponent to the ground where the struggle continued until the opponent admitted he could not continue. Competitions were conducted in the same manner as modern tournaments.

Their earliest rules called for wrestling much along the modern catch-as-catch can, but permitted breaking of the fingers, gouging and chopping. Eventually, more excitement was needed. The Pancratium, a sort of rough and tumble style, no holds barred, grapple, bite, gouge, clinch, strangle, punch and kick type where you did anything possible.

After the Romans had conquered Greece, they ruled out some of the not too refined processes in the Pancratium. They blended their own method with the earlier form of Grecian wrestling to produce the Greco-Roman style that is used in Europe today, with few alterations. In the Greco-Roman, holds are not permitted below the waist.

Greek wrestler oiled their bodies prior to a match and then sprinkled on some Alucky dust@. At one period, it was mandatory that a flute be played during the match.

Wrestling was a sport reserved for royalty and their gusts in European countries at the beginning of the Christian Era.

Countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Germany all had a different type, each one a little more grueling that the next. The Indians of North American, early Spanish settlers, the English, the Dutch, and the French in Canada also were attracted strongly to this sport.

In the U.S., the method where the performers were permitted to grip except omitting the strangle hold wherever they were given a chance was the favourite of the public. Since then the Americans abandoned the Greco-Roman style and claimed the Americanized catch as catch can method. To give the competitors a fair chance at defeating their opponents, weight classes have been put into effect.

To add excitement to the wrestling world, there has been a midget class as well as a women=s class. However, contests between women are prohibited in various places. There are also tag-team events and free for alls.

Present day wrestlers have also added Adrop kicking@ to their defensive routines. This is a blow that does not help in pinning the opponent but is a spectacular maneuvre. Wrestling has been an active sport for centuries and enjoyed by many people.

Summary of Free Style Wrestling Rules

Ontario has always wrestled according to N.C.A.A. rules which emphasize Acontrol@ over the opponent while down on the mat. In 1972-73, O.F.S.S.A. has changed to Freestyle rules and under these rules the take down is the most important skill. These same Freestyle rules are being used for university, national and international meets.

1. Weight Classes: - Freestyle - O.F.S.A.A. modifications for high school competition are as follows:

38 kgm 54 71

41 57.5 75

44 61 80.5

47.5 64 87

51 67.5 unlimited

2. Duration - The bout shall be divided into two periods of 3 minutes each with breaks of thirty seconds after the first period. Coaches may talk with their wrestlers between periods and wipe them down with a towel.

Wrestlers will commence each round in standing position, facing each other on opposite sides of the 10 foot circle, regardless of their position at the end of the previous period.

3. Edge of Mat Situations

a) Standing

1) Should be 3 feet outside the mat, the bout shall be interrupted and the wrestlers brought back to the middle of the mat to continue wrestling in the standing position.

2) During the talking of a hold, both feet of one opponent may go outside the mat but the wrestler on the mat shall be allowed to complete his action, the referee shall blow his whistle as soon as the action has been completed.

3) A wrestler who is outside the mat may no longer apply a hold even if his opponent is still on the mat.

4) Should both wrestlers leave the mat together, the referee shall order them to return to the position on the mat in which they were before, either standing or on the ground, at the moment they crossed the edge of the mat. No wrestler may intentionally run off the mat.

5) In the case of a bringing down to the ground which is not maintained and which results in both wrestlers leaving the mat, the bout shall be restarted in the middle of the mat in the standing position. Likewise, in the case of brining down to the ground, if both hands of the bottom man go beyond the boundaries, the bout shall be restarted in the standing position.

Valid takedown - Defensive wrestler must be stopped with both knees touching the mat and complete control exercised over him by the offensive wrestler.

vi) It shall be considered that three feet are outside if the feet of the wrestler who is lifted are both outside the mat and if the wrestler who is applying the hold places one of his feet outside the mat.

vii) To be valid, a hold must bring the head and shoulders within the limits of the mat.

b) On the Mat

1) Should the wrestler who is underneath be inside the mat (even if 3 or 4 feet are outside), the bout shall be continued as long as the wrestlers continues to be inside.

2) Should the wrestler who is underneath apply a hold which brings both himself and his opponent off the mat, the bout shall be interrupted. Wrestling shall then start again in the standing position in the middle of the mat. (ie.) While attempting a reversal.

3) Should the head of the wrestler who is underneath, together with his hands and shoulders, go outside the mat, the bout shall be stopped resumed in the middle without no change in position.

4. Ground Wrestling - If one of the wrestlers is brought down to the ground during the bout, wresting shall continue on the ground. Should one of the wrestlers go off the mat in this position, the bout shall be resumed in the center of the mat and he shall be placed in the on-the-ground position.

When the bout is resumed, the competitor who is to adopt the on the ground position shall compulsorily get down on his hand and knees on the mat, with his hand and elbows spread out and at a distance of at least 8 inches from his knees. His arms shall be stretched out and his feet not crossed.

The wrestler who is on top will take up a position with the only contact being the placement of his two hands flat on the back of the wrestler underneath, parallel to one another.

Should one wrestler bring his opponent down to the ground, he must be active; if both competitors are passive, the referee may order them to get up and to continue the bout in the standing position. ( no penalty)

5. Foul Holds - Same as N.C.A.A. with the following exceptions:

1) no scissors on the head or body

2) three-quarter nelson is illegal

3) full nelson is illegal in O.F.S.S.A. (High School) but not in other freestyle tournaments if applied from the side.

Any illegal hold will result in the match being stopped immediately and the offender being assessed a one point caution (point given to adversary). Three cautions in one match results in disqualification.

4) Stalling (passivity) may also result in caution.

6. Scoring Matches

1) 1 point - take down

- reversal

- caution (point awarded to opponent)

- forcing shoulder of defensive man less than 90 degrees with mat while shoulders or head do not touch mat.

- Athrow@ with touch of shoulder, head or upper torso

2) 2 points - Aplacing in danger@ (ie.) forcing an opponent to touch his head or shoulder to the mat, or rest on both elbows to prevent such touching - any of the preceding for less than 5 seconds.

3) 3 points - Aplacing in danger@ for 5 continuous seconds

- rolling falls - rocking from should to shoulder to prevent a fall,

for 5 seconds

- the referee will indicate the seconds with a hand motion

Note: An escape is not worth any points.

7. The Fall - Both shoulders on the mat long enough for the referee thousand one.

- O.F.S.A.A. Modification (high school) - fall will be two seconds

8. Dual Meet Scoring - The following modification of the International Penalty Point System is suggested for high school dual meets:

Fall Winner 4 points - loser 0 points

Decision Winner 3 points - loser 1 point

Decision (10 or more point difference in score)

Winner 3.5 points - loser 0.5 points

Draw 2 points each

9. Tournament Scoring - Penalty Points

When a wrestler has attained 6 penalty points, he is eliminated from competition.

Fall Winner 0 penalty points loser - 4 penalty points

Decision Winner 1 penalty point loser - 3 penalty points

Superior Decision Winner 0.5 penalty points loser - 3.5 penalty points

(10 or more points)

Draw 2 penalty points each

Draw - With zero points scored or with one or two caution points, each wrestler receives 2.5 penalty points.