New 2026 rules

[bnwtwg]

Finally doing something about grounding abuse!

 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

Good.  Makes for a better product.

Does this affect what we generally call par terre?

[Dark Energy]

I think I like this …. But wondering - What are the situations where people are going to feel this is bad?

Thinking the match legitimately gets to the ground and one wrestler is able to push, slide opponent OOB.  We see that on same mats, sliding is a real thing.

[Gene Mills Fan]

10 minutes ago, Dark Energy said:

I think I like this …. But wondering - What are the situations where people are going to feel this is bad?

Thinking the match legitimately gets to the ground and one wrestler is able to push, slide opponent OOB.  We see that on same mats, sliding is a real thing.

cleets?

[MPhillips]

44 minutes ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

cleets?

[Gene Mills Fan]

26 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

maybe in the center tho, and you get some rope.

Edited December 17, 2025 by Gene Mills Fan

[mspart]

I think they could modify the grounding rule so that if you go on your knees in the "danger" zone, and go OOB, then that's a point.   If you are on your knees inside that zone, no points for OOB.   I think the rule is to keep folks from dropping when it is clear they are going out of bounds, or almost clear, and they do that to avoid losing a point.  

mspart

[Hammerlock3]

So, the designation 'defensive' basically preserves the grounded status if you are trying to run around someone, but basically if you start butt out there is no more grounding?  

 

@mspart's suggestion is quite good. The really annoying thing about grounding is these 'gotcha' officially waiting to blow up the guy who keeps wrestling on the edge. 

[gimpeltf]

I wonder if the NCAA Women's Wrestling rules will be updated mid-season?

[MPhillips]

12 minutes ago, gimpeltf said:

I wonder if the NCAA Women's Wrestling rules will be updated mid-season?

[bnwtwg]

3 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

So, the designation 'defensive' basically preserves the grounded status if you are trying to run around someone, but basically if you start butt out there is no more grounding?  

 

@mspart's suggestion is quite good. The really annoying thing about grounding is these 'gotcha' officially waiting to blow up the guy who keeps wrestling on the edge. 

Or, just thinking out loud here, what about holding center and not playing the edge game. I can appreciate that is what UWW is trying to instill.

[bnwtwg]

Spicy! Sorry that the creep is included but it was his thread.

 

[CHROMEBIRD]

8 hours ago, Dark Energy said:

I think I like this …. But wondering - What are the situations where people are going to feel this is bad?

Thinking the match legitimately gets to the ground and one wrestler is able to push, slide opponent OOB.  We see that on same mats, sliding is a real thing.

J'Den Cox rn:

David Taylor rn:

[Hammerlock3]

3 hours ago, bnwtwg said:

Or, just thinking out loud here, what about holding center and not playing the edge game. I can appreciate that is what UWW is trying to instill.

Or just only let really entertaining people wrestle.

Edited December 18, 2025 by Hammerlock3

[BAC]

I don't understand these rule changes at all. So many of the sentences seem internally contradictory and of unclear breadth.  This sounds like a clusterfuck waiting to happen.

[Window12]

On 12/17/2025 at 9:04 PM, bnwtwg said:

Or, just thinking out loud here, what about holding center and not playing the edge game. I can appreciate that is what UWW is trying to instill.

In terms of physics if you are being pushed backwards by a stronger opponent- the alternative to going backwards towards the edge- by offering a lot of on the spot forward resistance and not going backwards, is being taken to the ground?

 

[Shibboleth]

On 12/17/2025 at 6:31 PM, Dark Energy said:

I think I like this …. But wondering - What are the situations where people are going to feel this is bad?

Thinking the match legitimately gets to the ground and one wrestler is able to push, slide opponent OOB.  We see that on same mats, sliding is a real thing.

This happens a lot in sumo, when one wrestler pushes another one and slides him to the edge, and then there is tawara, which is 3 inches above the ground level and provides for leverage. 

[Gene Mills Fan]

On 12/17/2025 at 9:31 AM, Dark Energy said:

I think I like this …. But wondering - What are the situations where people are going to feel this is bad?

Thinking the match legitimately gets to the ground and one wrestler is able to push, slide opponent OOB.  We see that on same mats, sliding is a real thing.

Can someone tell me if there is a difference in footing on the tarp covered wrestlite compared to the uncovered wrestlite surface? I have never heard a complaint just looks like the tarp moves a bit to gain footing in forward pressure hand fighting.  and may dampen quickness possibly.

[bnwtwg]

15 hours ago, Window12 said:

In terms of physics if you are being pushed backwards by a stronger opponent- the alternative to going backwards towards the edge- by offering a lot of on the spot forward resistance and not going backwards, is being taken to the ground?

 

That's the point of wrestling though... one person succeeds, the other person fails.

[Window12]

3 hours ago, bnwtwg said:

That's the point of wrestling though... one person succeeds, the other person fails.

Sure - I guess in trying to succeed many factors come into play- athleticism of the individual, mastery of the techniques , speed of thinking , the rules of the game and application of physical forces within some set of rules that may give some strategies an inherent advantage within a given set of rules… I myself could work out the implications for different styles of wrestling of the rule changes that you have posted.. I guess the crux of it is how it will be applied by the referees . As things stand it seems a bit opaque.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Window12

[Dark Energy]

Regarding the injury point … I get that.  I see why we need to punish lung timeouts.  
 

I’m a bit nervous this creates an incentive to actually hurt the opponent.  Take the chance that the doc doesn’t see anything bad and get a point.  As I think about it, I suppose there is already incentive to hurt your opponent since if hurt more likely to win the match.  So, perhaps not a big deal.  Ref just has to look out for illegal holds / actions just like they do today.

[bnwtwg]

1 hour ago, Dark Energy said:

Regarding the injury point … I get that.  I see why we need to punish lung timeouts.  

2 points if they use cold spray

[Lucho]

I think the rules are good, I felt the grounding rule was stupid and was essentially the counter to the underhook for wrestlers who kept getting pushed out of bounds. From memory the American guys benefited quite a lot from it. The grounding rule was also ambiguous at times so a hard and fast rule imo reduces the need for discussion about it. I'm also a fan of cutting the fake injuries out of the sport. It doesn't matter whether they are Iranian, Russian etc. If you aren't conditioned enough that's your problem, you shouldn't be faking things to get rest or an advantage. 

[MPhillips]

13 minutes ago, Lucho said:

I you shouldn't be faking things to get rest or an advantage. 

No. That's exactly what is done to get, "rest or an advantage."

[SocraTease]

On 12/17/2025 at 2:43 PM, CHROMEBIRD said:

J'Den Cox rn:

David Taylor rn:

This was one of the worst refereed matches in history.   Cox ran, slid, and hid.   He didn't fully step out when Taylor took him down but DT was only given 1 point for the TD.   Taylor shot and shot but there was no passivity on Cox.   The match was also greased up and slick as ice.  This match was an embarrassment to the sport.