Bracketing

Double-elimination line-bracketing with complete wrestle-backs to eighth (8th) place for the Kids, 16U and Junior Divisions and third (3rd) place for the Veteran's division. All KIDS brackets will include matches for True 2nd if the wrestler finishing 2nd has not already wrestled the wrestler finishing in 3rd, there will be NO TRUE 2ND FOR 16U & JUNIORS.

USA Wrestling Performance Index: Separation used for all brackets. 

• The USA Wrestling Performance Index (PI) measures consistency over time and rates the probability of a person winning against an opponent based on their bodies of work.
• A person with a higher PI is considered more likely to beat someone with a lower PI and the closer the PIs are the closer the probability gets to 50/50 chances.
• This does not reward the one time win or head-to-head over an opponent; what it does is rewards consistency over time. If you consistently beat people with higher PIs, you will gain PI points to surpass them in index given that you do not lose to lesser competition along the way.

PERIOD LENGTHS

8U & 10U:
Championship Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:00, 1:00
Consolation Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:00, 1:00  

12U & 14U:
Championship Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:30, 1:30
Consolation Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:00, 1:00

16U & Junior:
Championship Bracket Periods 2:00, 2:00, 2:00
Consolation Bracket Periods 1:00, 2:00, 2:00

Masters:
Championship Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:30, 1:30
Consolation Bracket Periods 1:00, 1:00, 1:00

All Divisions will be 
Double-elimination line-bracketing with complete wrestle-backs to eighth (8th) place. NO True 2nd place matches will be contested. Wrestlers from the same state will also be separated. Modified rule - 15 minutes minimum between matches.

BRACKET CHANGES WILL BE MADE UP UNTIL 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE WRESTLING SESSION.  Please contact the tournament director with any issues (ie: wrestler missing from bracket or incorrect weight) by email at least 2 HOURS PRIOR to the start of the wrestling session or please come to the headtable.  

Rules

National Federation of State High School Association scoring rules with USA Wrestling modifications will govern the competition. These USA Wrestling modifications include the following:

• Headgear is not required for wrestlers 14U and younger.
• Mouth guards are not required for wrestlers (even wrestlers with braces)
• Rest time in between matches is a minimum of 15 minutes
• A match can be started when a wrestler does not have a coach
• The three-quarter nelson with leg hook IS legal in USAW Folkstyle Events

USA Wrestling rules governing ages, weights and match time will take precedence where applicable. USA Wrestling Protest Procedures will govern all challenges, and where available video review will be used to aid in the decision making process.

2023 USA Wrestling Rulebook 

Folkstyle Competition Video Challenge Addendum (This process will be available at USA Wrestling events that are designated for a video review)

Note: The concept of the video challenge is essentially the same in all styles of wrestling. However, Folkstyle wrestling offers some instances that call for a variation in the processes that are used in Greco and Freestyle wrestling. The intent of the video challenge process is to not initiate a challenge every time a coach disagrees with a judgment call. Rather, it is to fix a mistake or missed infraction not seen because of positioning on the part of the mat official. Coaches should also take into account the positioning of the camera when issuing a challenge. The camera may not have the advantage of a better position than the mat official making the call. Lastly, please take into account that there can be human and technological errors that may prohibit a video sequence. 

Folkstyle modifications will be applied as follows: 

• The “JURY” will consist of two officials consisting of (1) the official on the mat and (2) an assigned video review official, or an official who has been assigned to officiate in that competition. During championship matches, the second official may be the head mat official(s) or rules clinician. 
• Coaches’ challenges shall be initiated by the coach walking to the scorer’s table and getting the official’s attention. (This procedure will be in place only if challenge blocks are not being used.) 
• Challenges must be made promptly. (Generally, within 5-7 seconds of when the scoring situation is posted on the score clock but will be ultimately at the discretion of the jury). If the score is correctable by video review, the score is corrected and the match results will stand or be changed. If it is determined that there was a “bad time” the correct score will be established and “bad time” will be re-wrestled. (End of the match “bad time” for video review, is described as the time remaining in the match after a correction is made.) 
• Where video challenge is used in a dual meet situation no challenges or protest for a previous match will be accepted after the start of a subsequent bout. 
• A coach may approach two instances and quickly ask (without initiating the challenge): “Is the score correct on the clock?” or “Is the time correct on the clock?” and receive a response of “Yes coach, it is.” or “No coach, let me correct it?’ If the coach still disagrees with the existing or corrected results he/she must immediately decide to challenge those results or return to the coach’s corner. All other differences must be challenged by approaching the scorer’s table and getting the official’s attention. 
• Falls/Pins can only be challenged in the situation where time may have expired, out of bounds may have occurred, or when an illegal hold is applied by the wrestler when securing a fall. 
• No challenges will be accepted at the end of the bout unless there is the potential for the result of that challenge changing the winner of the bout, changing the athlete’s advancement in the tournament, or changing the value of team points awarded during team competitions. These challenges, if accepted, must be made before the start of the subsequent bout on that mat or in that meet. 
• Calls that involve stalling, fleeing the mat, unsportsmanlike, unnecessary roughness, penalties for an illegal hold (except if applied by the offensive wrestler when securing a fall), potentially dangerous holds, or acts of misconduct cannot be challenged. 
• Errors in “bad time” should adhere to the NFHS rule book. Scoring challenges must be made prior to the start of the subsequent period. However, if a coach realizes a mistake in position has occurred, the challenge should be initiated at that time. 
• There will be one coaches’ challenge allowed per bout in dual meet competitions. Challenges that do not result in changing the score to the advantage of the challenging wrestler will result in one (1) technical point added to the opponent’s score. If the challenge is successful (in individual competition) the coach has the opportunity to challenge again in that bout.  If there is a technical problem and the video is not available, the original decision will stand, and the coach will be given back the challenge opportunity. 
• In competitions where the video challenge is in place, it replaces the “Coach Misconduct” rule 5-5 Article 1-3 in the NFHS rulebook. If the coach thinks there was a misapplication of a rule he/she must use a challenge. A coach may only approach the official, through the scoring table, to question if the proper score was recorded and shows on the clock. If he/she disagrees with the scoring a challenge must be used. If the coach lost a challenge in a previous challenge or has used the 1 challenge per bout in dual meet competition there can be no further challenges for that bout from that coach and wrestling will continue. Further attempts by that coach to interrupt that bout will result in him/her being issued, per the NFHS rule book, an “unsportsmanlike” conduct penalty. 
• All decisions made by the jury will be final and will not be changed. Therefore, it is not possible to request a counter challenge. 
• Challenges/Protest will only be accepted after the end of the bout where a scoring error occurred in the last wrestled period and the wrong wrestler was declared the winner.