RULES

This is a grade-based tournament. Wrestlers must be registered for the grade they are currently in during the 2026-2027 school year. This event has maximum age limits for each grade division. Wrestlers who exceed the age limit for their grade division must compete in the next age group. 

Maximum Participation by Division: 

• Athletes can compete in a specific division for a maximum number of years based on the division's age range. 

• This will be verified based on previous year's tournament registration. 

• Example (Boys): 7th & 8th Grade Division - Athletes can compete for two years. In the third year, they are no longer eligible for this division and will not be allowed to compete at event.  

• Example (Girls): Middle School 6th-8th Grade Division - Athletes can compete for three years. In the fourth year, they are no longer eligible for this division and will not be allowed to compete at event.  

Consequences of Incorrect Grade Division: 

• Athletes caught competing in the wrong grade division will be removed from the tournament with NO refund. 

Grade Protests: 

• All grade protests must be submitted prior to the start of the event. 

• To submit a protest, email jmcarty@usawrestling.org. 

 Chart Example: 

Based on 2026-27 School Year 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Once an athlete enters the weigh-in area they have two (2) consecutive attempts to make weight.  ATHLETES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE WEIGH-IN AREA OR RE-WEIGH LATER EVEN IF THERE IS ANOTHER WEIGH-IN TIME SCHEDULED. All wrestlers must be dressed in a COMPETITION SINGLET for weigh-ins and no weight allowance is given for the singlet.

2026-2027 Folkstyle Girls Rules:

Girls will follow the same modified NFHS Folkstyle rules as the boys.

Athletes MUST meet the at least one of the pre-qualifications listed below in order to enter the 2026 Boys National High School Recruiting Showcase, High School age athletes who do not meet the pre-qualifications below should  enter in the 9th-10th Grade, 11th-12th Grade divisions. *Girls National Recruiting Showcase will be held at the 2027 US Open in Las Vegas, NV in April. *

National High School Recruiting Showcase Automatic qualifiers:  

• High School State Champions – Any year  
• High School State Placers -2025-26 HS Season
• National Prep Champions 

• USA Wrestling National All-American status Place 1st-8th: (Preseason Nationals, Boys and Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase, Women’s Freestyle Nationals, Girls and Boys Folkstyle Nationals, and 16U/ Junior Nationals)   
• U15 and U17 National Placer (Must be currently enrolled in High School) 
• NHSCA Virginia Beach Placer (9th –12th grade Divisions ONLY)

Bracketing

Double-elimination line-bracketing with complete wrestle-backs to eighth (8th) place for the ALL elementary, Middle School, and High School divisions. 

USA Wrestling Performance Index (PIN): Separation used for all brackets. Click here for more information about PIN 

• The USA Wrestling Performance Index (PIN) 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 PIN is considered more likely to beat someone with a lower PIN and the closer the PINs 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 PINs, you will gain PIN points to surpass them in index given that you do not lose to lesser competition along the way.
• PIN score used is style specific 

Period Lengths

Full period lengths will be used for both events.  

• 1st & 2nd grade Boys/ 1st – 5th grade Girls/ 3rd & 4th grade Boys 
  Championship and Consolation: 1:00-1:00-1:00
   
• 5th & 6th grade Boys/ 7th & 8th grade Boys/ 6th – 8th grade Girls  
  Championship: 1:00-1:30-1:30; Consolation: 1:00-1:00-1:00 
   
• 9th & 10th grade Boys/ 11th & 12th Grade Boys/ 9th- 12th grade girls/ Boys High School Showcase 
  Championship: 2:00-2:00-2:00; Consolation: 1:00-2:00-2:00  
   
  Please refer to USA Wrestling Age Group & Weight Chart 

BRACKET CHANGES MUST 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 head table. 

National Federation of State High School Association scoring rules with USA Wrestling modifications will govern the competition. These USA Wrestling modifications include the following 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 MANDATORY for all competitors but recommended  

• 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 

USA Wrestling rules governing ages, weights and match time will take precedence where applicable.

Click Here for USA Wrestling Rulebook

Folkstyle Competition Video Challenge Addendum:

Folkstyle modifications will be applied as follows:

1)     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.

2)     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.)

3)     Challenges must be in a timely manner. (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). 

4)     Falls/Pins can only be challenged in the situation where time may have expired, an out of bounds may have occurred, or when an illegal hold is applied by the wrestler when securing a fall.

5)     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.

6)     Calls that involve stalling, fleeing the mat, unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness, penalties for an illegal hold (except if applied by a wrestler when securing a fall), potentially dangerous holds, or acts of misconduct cannot be challenged.

7)     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.

8)     Challenges that do not result in changing the score to the advantage of the challenging wrestler will result in a technical point added to the opponent’s score and the loss of the challenge opportunity for the remainder of that bout.

a)     If there is a technical problem and video is not available, the original decision will stand, and the coach will be given back the challenge opportunity. 

9)     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, 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, in accordance with the NFHS rule book, an “unsportsmanlike” conduct penalty.

10)  All decisions made by the jury will be final and will not be changed.  Therefore, it is not possible to request a counter challenge.

11)  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. 

• 1) If the score is correctable by video review, the score is corrected, and the match results will stand or be changed.
• 2) If it is determined that there was a “bad time” the correct score will be established, and “bad time” will be re-wrestle. (End of the match “bad time” for video review, is described as the time remaining in the match after a correction is made.)

12)  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.

13)  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.

USA Wrestling Code of Conduct for Event Attendees

USA Wrestling is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and positive environment for all participants, including athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. All individuals attending or participating in USA Wrestling events are expected to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, integrity, and respect.

The following standards apply to all coaches, spectators and athletes at USA Wrestling events:

• Coaches, spectators and athletes are entitled to enjoy the wrestling experience free from disruptive or inconsiderate behaviors or unruly actions.
• Coaches and spectators may not interfere with the event and/or athletes in any manner.
• Coaches, spectators and athletes shall refrain from using abusive language or obscene gestures.
• Coaches, spectators and athletes may not engage in fighting, throwing objects, or other behavior deemed detrimental to the experience of others. Individuals engaging in such actions will be immediately ejected from the event.
• Coaches, spectators and athletes are encouraged to report inappropriate behavior to event or venue staff.
• Coaches, spectators and athletes shall comply with requests from venue staff and USAW event staff regarding venue operational and emergency procedures.
• Violation of this Code of Conduct may result in ejection from the venue without refund and may include further disciplinary action.

USA Wrestling thanks you for adhering to the provisions of the Code of Conduct.