Interactive Explainer
WrestlingRead the Gamefrom the Bench
Wrestling is a pure grappling sport — no strikes — focused on taking an opponent down and controlling them on the mat. It's both a scholastic/Olympic sport and one of the oldest competitive sports in the world.
Sport DNA
Mat Size
~9–10m circle (international)
Folkstyle mats often ~42 ft × 42 ft square area
Match Length
3 periods × 2 min (folkstyle)
2 periods × 3 min (freestyle/Greco-Roman)
Weight Classes
~14 classes (high school)
Youth divisions add age + growth allowances
Styles
Folkstyle · Freestyle · Greco-Roman
US scholastic wrestling uses folkstyle rules
Format
1-on-1
No teams — individual matches (team scoring is aggregated)
Countries Playing
190+ UWW member nations
One of the original ancient Olympic sports
Founded
Ancient Olympic sport · 708 BC
One of the oldest continuously practiced sports
Parent's Cheat Sheet
What just happened?
Official Wording
Takedown (2 pts): bringing an opponent to the mat and gaining control. Escape (1 pt): getting free to a neutral position. Reversal (2 pts): going from bottom to control on top. Near-fall (2–3 pts): holding an opponent's shoulders close to the mat without a full pin.
Parent Translation
These four moves are the entire scoring system. Takedown = brought them down and controls them. Escape = got away. Reversal = flipped the situation from being controlled to controlling. Near-fall = almost got the pin but not quite. Add these up and you get the match score.
Ready to get them on the mat?
Find local Wrestling programs in your area.
Before the Start
Essential Gear
See all 9 itemsWrestling Shoes
Lightweight, high-ankle, thin-soled shoes for mat grip — nothing like a regular sneaker. Never worn outside the mat area.
Est. $30 – $70
Singlet
Required uniform for most tournaments. Practice gear (see below) is worn day-to-day instead.
Est. $30 – $60
Headgear (Ear Guards)
Required by most leagues and a genuinely good idea regardless — prevents "cauliflower ear" from the constant ear-to-mat and ear-to-opponent friction in wrestling.
Est. $25 – $45
Antifungal Body Wash / Skin Wipes
Mat-to-skin contact makes ringworm and other mat-related skin issues common in wrestling. Many leagues require a pre-tournament skin check — this is genuinely worth having on hand, not just a nice-to-have.
Est. $10 – $20
Full gear guide
4 must-haves · 9 items total · Est. $90 – $260
