First year parents might not know what to expect at a wrestling tournament. So I'll try to explain what goes on at a wrestling tournament or dual meet. 

The two wrestlers put on ankle bands - one Green and one Red. If it is a dual meet, the wrestlers will not usually wear ankle bands. At a dual meet, the home team is green and the visiting team is red.

After they put on the bands, they shake hands and the referee blows the whistle.  At this point both wrestlers are on their feet trying to gain control of the other wrestler. If one wrestler gets a takedown he/she scores 2 points. 2 points are scored by "taking" "down" your opponent either - either he/she will be on his/her stomach, butt, or on all fours.  Basically, the wrestler who scored the take down is in control of the other wrestler.

Now that a takedown occurred the wrestler on the top is trying to score a near fall or working for a pin (also called a fall).  A near fall means the top wrestler is exposing his/her opponents back to the mat almost in a pinning position. A pin is also called a "fall." This is why in this position it is called a "near fall."  If the wrestler holds his/her opponent for 2-4 seconds he/she scores 2 points. If the wrestler holds his/her opponent for 5 seconds, he/she scores 3 points.  If the wrestler holds, his/her opponent for 2 seconds flat on his back - he/she has pinned his/her opponent and the match is over.

The wrestler on the bottom is trying to escape or reverse his opponent.  An escape will earn the bottom wrestler 1 point. An escape occurs when the bottom wrestler is no longer under the control of the other wrestler. A reversal occurs when the bottom wrestler "reverses" his opponent and is now on top controlling the other wrestler. This is worth 2 points.

During the second period, the referee flips a coin and the winner of the coin flip gets his/her choice of Neutral (both wrestlers on their feet), Bottom, Top, or defer his choice until the third period. If the wrestler defers, the loser of the coin flip has the choice. During the third period, the other wrestler has his/her choice.

Keep in mind there are points awarded for stalling, unsportsmanslike conduct, and other penalties. This is beyond what I wanted to cover here.

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