The OBJECT of the sport of wrestling is to put your opponent on his back (to pin your pin your opponent).

A PIN (or FALL) occurs when any part of both shoulders or both shoulder blades of either wrestler make contact with the mat for 2 seconds.

When you pin your opponent, the match is over and your are the winner.

If nobody gets pinned, the winner is the wrestler with the most points at the end of the match.
There are five ways to score points in a wrestling match.
    1) Takedown      (2 points)
    2) Reversal        (2 points)
    3) Escape         (1 points)
    4) Near Fall       (2 or 3 points See description below)
    5) Penalty         (2 points)

The match will last minutes (consisting of three, one minute periods) or until one wrestles is pinned.
 

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Takedown - occurs when a man takes his opponent to the mat from a standing
position and gains control. This is worth one point, but can be worth more if the
opponent is brought down onto his back.

Near Fall (Back Points) - occurs when you almost pin your opponent where the
following conditions are true:
    - Both shoulders are held for a minimum of two seconds within four inches of 
         the mat, or
    - One shoulder touches the mat and the other is at a 45 degree or less angle 
         coming down to the mat for 2 seconds.
   - the opponent is held in a high back bridge or back on both elbows for two 
         seconds.

If the near fall lasts for two seconds you receive 2 points if a near fall lasts for five
seconds you receive 3 points.

Reversal - when the man on the bottom completely reverses his position and
comes to the top position and is in control, he has scored a reversal, worth two
points.

Escape - when an athlete works to come out from the bottom position (after
being under dominant control) and gets to his feet, facing his rival, he has
scored an escape, worth one point.

Technical Fall: 15 point margin, match ends

Injury default: Athlete cannot continue to compete, match ends.

Decision: The athlete who scores the most points in a bout wins. If neither wrestler scores points during regulation, the bout goes into an overtime period. The first wrestler to get a takedown wins the match.
 

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    Illegal Holds - There are several holds that the referee will penalize you for without
           warning.  These include full nelson and locking (overlapping) hands when in 
           top position.  There are other holds called "potentially dangerous holds" for 
           which the referee may make you let go but will not penalize you.

    Technical violations - including the following:
        - going off the mat to avoid wrestling
        - grabbing clothing or headgear
        - incorrect starting position or false start (you get two cautions)
        - leaving the mat during the match without referee permission
        - unnecessary roughness
        - unsportsmanlike conduct
        - stalling (no points awarded, but you forfeit the match after the fifth call)
 

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