2013 Rule Modifications (click here for PDF):

After consultation with USA Wrestling, the following rules will be in place for competitions in our country. There have been a number of different variations of the rules that were sent out, but our position is that we would like to have a unified scoring system at every competition. I will only address the changes that we will see since the FILA rules are still pending on their approval and we have a number of important competitions coming up in the near future. Some of the interpretations will be different from the FILA rules but the agreement was that we will be unified in our efforts. These rules should continue through Fargo 2013. After Fargo, any directives from FILA will be addressed and honored.
 
GRECO-ROMAN
Two 3 minute periods with a 30 second break between periods
Cumulative scoring, not individual period scoring
2 point takedowns
1 point reversal
2 point gut wrenches- hand to hand, across the back, still 2 points

Scoring [Greco-Roman & Freestyle]: No points:  If a wrestler makes a valid yet unsuccessful attempt to throw his opponent, the wrestler shall be returned to the standing position without delay.' [This should encourage more risk-taking]
no chest to chest starts- regular starts like freestyle
7 point difference ends the match
The winner of  the match is the wrestler with the highest point total for the two periods.
Stepping out of bounds under attack or pushed will result in 1 point and possibly a caution and a point for fleeing the mat (officiating team decision)
A wrestler completing a takedown but steps out of bounds in the process will be awarded the takedown if he does so in one continuous motion. Any hesitation, stoppage will result in a point for his opponent.
Two 3 point moves or a 5 point throw in a period DOES NOT end the period. Cumulative scoring > A 7 point difference results in a technical fall.
All cautions and warnings are cumulative from the first to the second period.
Water and damp towels will be allowed in the corners between periods.
 
Passivity procedure- Greco-Roman
1.  First violation- passive wrestler is warned without stopping the match and indicated by the official raising his arm corresponding to the passive wrestler. He will direct the arm towards the mat chairman and both corners while issuing a 'red or blue warning' loud enough for the athletes and coaches to hear. The officials will indicate on their bout sheets a W indicating a warning has been given. No confirmation from judge or mat chairman is needed.
2. Second passivity violation results in a caution without a point given. The referee must have confirmation in order to stop the match to issue the caution. The judge or mat chairman must confirm the call.  The active wrestler will have choice of standing or par terre position. If par terre (two hands on back) is selected, they will remain in that position as long wrestling is active. Same as last years rules. If there is no action, the referee will blow his whistle and stand the wrestlers up and wrestling will continue. The referee does not need confirmation to stand the wrestlers up from par terre. No point would be given for lack of scoring in par terre. The mat chairman and judge will indicate on their bout sheets a caution O and a peg will be inserted indicating a caution has been given. 
3. Third passivity violation results in a technical point being given to the active wrestler and a caution issued O against the passive wrestler. The referee must have confirmation in order to stop the match and issue the caution. The judge or mat chairman must confirm the call. The active wrestler will have choice of standing or par terre position. If par terre (two hands on back) is selected, they will remain in that position as long as wrestling is active. Same as last years rules. If there is no action, the referee will blow his whistle and stand the wrestlers up and resume wrestling. The referee does not need confirmation to stand the wrestlers up from par terre. No point would be given for lack of scoring from par terre. The mat chairman and judge would indicate on their bout sheets a caution O has been given and a peg is inserted.
4. Fourth passivity violation terminates the match. A caution is given and the active wrestler wins by a fall not a disqualification.  This is the third caution.
5. If the match ends 0-0 the more active wrestler wins the match. The wrestler that was passive LAST loses the match.
 
Passivity procedure generally will start 45 seconds to 1 minute into a scoreless period.
At the 5 minute mark of a scoreless match, the officials will intensify the passivity criteria to try and avoid a    scoreless match.
 
DETERMINING THE WINNER IN A TIE MATCH
 
Winner is selected as followed in a tie match
 
highest technical point value (5,3,2)
last point scored
more active wrestler (not last called for passivity)
 
warnings do not count in this determination.
cautions do not figure in this determination
 
CHALLENGES
Must be done within 5 seconds of the questioned call  posted on the official scoreboard. Only exception would be the official scoreboard did not indicate the score in a timely manner.
The athlete must accept or reject challenge. He can ask his coach to challenge. Once the challenge is accepted it cannot be withdrawn.
The wrestler can only override his coach 1 time per match. This could be conceived as a stalling technique.
After the review, the officiating team (mat chairman, judge, referee) renders their decision. The jury makes the FINAL decision even if all three of the officiating team are unanimous in their decision.
The review can be watched twice if there is  disagreement by the jury. Only the challenged action is reviewed.
If the challenge is upheld , the challenge block is returned to the challenged corner. This includes any change in the scoring for red or blue.
If the challenge is rejected, a point is given to the opponent of that wrestler.
There is only one challenge per match unless the challenge is upheld.
Challenges from coaches are made from their seats without stepping on the mat or approaching the mat chairman or mat judge
A challenge cannot be accepted to dispute a fall. It also cannot be accepted at the end of a period. However at the end of the period if the points have not been correctly posted to the scoreboard, a challenge would be accepted.
 
FREESTYLE
Two 3 minute periods with a 30 second break between periods
cumulative scoring
2 point takedowns
1 point reversals
2 point gut wrenches or ankle laces, hand to hand or shoulder.

Scoring [Greco-Roman & Freestyle]:  No points:  If a wrestler makes a valid yet unsuccessful attempt to throw his opponent, the wrestler shall be returned to the standing position without delay.' [This should encourage more risk-taking]
10 point difference ends the match
The winner of the match is the wrestler with the highest point total for the two periods
Stepping out of bounds under attack or pushed will result in 1 point and possibly a caution and a point for fleeing the mat (officiating team decision)
A wrestler completing a takedown but steps out of bounds in the process will be awarded the takedown if he/she does so in one continuous motion. Any hesitation, stoppage will result in a point for the opponent.
Two 3 point moves or one 5 point throw does not end the period. Cumulative scoring> A 10 point difference results in a technical fall.
All cautions and warnings are cumulative from the first to the second period.
Water and damp towels are allowed in the corners between periods.
 
PASSIVITY PROCEDURE
1. First offense is a verbal warning: The referee does not need confirmation to make the call and the match is not stopped. The referee will indicate the offending wrestler by raising his(referee) arm corresponding to the color and announcing 'Attention (red or blue). He directs his decision to the mat chairman and the two corners.
2. Second offense, the referee must first get confirmation from the mat chairman and judge and when he does, he stops the match and indicates that the wrestler penalized is in the penalty period. A separate clock is set at 30 seconds and the match is restarted. Should either wrestler score in the 30 seconds, no penalty point is awarded, only the technical point(s) will be scored.
3. The maximum limit to call the passivity is at 2:00 of the period in a scoreless match. However, passivity can be called anytime and the procedure followed. If a point is given for passivity, it is indicated on the bout sheet by a circle with a 1 in the middle of it. This is not a caution. The awarding of the point for passivity is done at the end of the 30 second penalty period without stopping the match. The point will be awarded to the non passive wrestler and the action that is in progress but not completed by the end of the 30 seconds will count in the continuation of the match.
4.The procedure could be repeated for the other wrestler if the officiating team feels that he/she is being passive and the same format is done.
5. If points have been scored in the period the passive call will be minimized.
6. All this is accompanied by confirmation by mat chairman or the judge.
7. The calling of fleeing the mat, illegal holds and fleeing the holds remain in effect with a caution and a point.
 
DETERMINING THE WINNER IN A TIE MATCH

Winner is declared as followed in a tie match
 
highest technical point value (5.3.2)
last point scored
 
Cautions do not figure into this determination..
Warnings do not count in this determination
 
CHALLENGE PROCEDURE
The challenge procedure is the same as explained in Greco-Roman.
 
Yours In Wrestling,
Rick Tucci, USWOA President