From USA Wrestling
FILA, the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling, has announced a rule modification for men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle competition effective immediately.
Beginning with the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in late September, there may only be one clinch per match. Previously, the clinch was held at the end of each period if neither wrestler was able to score. The wrestler that clinched first was decided by a coin toss.
Now, if the first period is scoreless, the clinch is required. However, the clinch may only occur in the second or third period if there was not a clinch in the previous period(s).
If a clinch has been held in a previously completed period, and the score is 0-0 following the first minute of competition in the second and/or third period, international officials have been instructed to not allow the period to end without a point being scored.
A score may be the result of either one of the competitors being penalized with a caution and a point for fleeing the hold or the official may make an inactivity call within the last one minute of the second and/or third period to eliminate the possibility of no score.
“I think these new rules are good for our guys,” USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson stated. “I think we will all be curious to see how the officials implement the rule of making sure a point is scored before the end of the period. But this rule change forces an aggressive style of wrestling, which is what American wrestlers are known for.”
Following the Olympic Games in Athens last year, FILA instituted new rules for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestlers compete in three, two-minute periods in a best-of-three format. The first wrestler to win two individual periods wins the match.
For information on the other rule changes in international competition, contact Gary Abbott or John Fuller of USA Wrestling at (719) 598-8181.
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