USA Wrestling has implemented rules modifications for girls folkstyle wrestling, which will be in place for girls competition at USA Wrestling folkstyle national events, as well as all of the upcoming 2024-25 Folkstyle Tour of America events.

The first use of these rules will be in all of the girls divisions at the Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa. The girls divisions are set for Sunday, October 27.

In short, these rule modifications provide for a step-out point in girls folkstyle competition, as well as the institution of a neutral start in all three periods. These rules were approved by the Junior Olympic Committee, then accepted by the USA Wrestling Board of Directors. Also supporting these modifications were the Women’s Age Group Council and the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee.

In addition to the Brian Keck Preseason Nationals, the other national events utilizing these rule modifications in the girls divisions will be the 2025 USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle Nationals and the 2025 USA Wrestling Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals. All of the girls divisions at the 2024-25 Folkstyle Tour of America events will also have these modifications.

The language for the girls’ wrestling modifications is now in the USA Wrestling rulebook in Article 26.

Video Demonstration of the Girls Rule Modifications

Philosophy behind the girls rule modifications, from the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee

At USA Wrestling, we believe the best way to champion the future of girls and women's freestyle is with incremental steps, not drastic mandates. The step out point and neutral start modifications are simple first steps to shaping the future of girls and women's wrestling set by the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Women's Freestyle Wrestling. We are proud to be at the forefront of shaping the future for girls and women in our sport.

Step-out rule modifications for Girls Folkstyle Nationals and Tour of America Events

Step-out rule - 1 point will be awarded if from a neutral position (with neither wrestler on the mat with one or two knees touching in a down position) the action goes out of bounds based on NFHS guidelines. All attempts by both wrestlers should be made to wrestle aggressively and in the center of the mat. The step-out point will be awarded to the opponent of the wrestler who first steps out with both feet.

Clarifications:

This rule differs from the NFHS rules for being “inbounds”. Once the step-out criteria is met the opponent will be awarded 1 point. If there is a step-out by a wrestler and the opposing wrestler immediately completes a scoring action, that action will be scored the step-out point will NOT be scored. The official should not sound the whistle for the step-out and allow the offensive action to score.
Once a wrestler steps out of bounds with both feet while neutral, that wrestler cannot return from out of bounds to score points. The whistle will sound and 1 point is awarded to the opponent and wrestling will resume in the middle of the mat.
If a wrestler leaves the mat under attack to avoid being scored on, the step-out point will be scored plus 1 point for fleeing the mat.
If a wrestler uses a straight arm “push-out”, the opponent is NOT penalized. This is considered stalling under the NFHS rules and should be penalized accordingly.
If the defensive wrestler stands in an attempt to gain an escape point and is driven out of bounds, without gaining an escape point, there will NOT be a step-out point awarded. (Neutral wrestling was not established)
If the defensive wrestler stands, is awarded the escape point, and then steps out of bounds, the step-out point will be awarded.
Step-out points are recorded “SO-1” in a scorebook and will be a “+1” in Trackwrestling. Step-out points are not to be considered penalty points.
The step out in girls' folkstyle is a 1-point offensive score. The signal for a step-out point in folkstyle will be the pointing of the appropriate index finger indicating the point. It would be followed with the signal of both hands in the air indicating both wrestlers return to the standing position, like when indicating the escape point. This is an additional way of signaling the step-out it is not a penalty but an offensive score.

Neutral Start rule modification for Girls Folkstyle Nationals and Tour of America Events

In the girls divisions at the Folkstyle Nationals and Folkstyle Tour of America events, all periods, both regulation and overtime shall begin in the neutral position.

Clarification for Neutral Start:

Following the end of each period, the wrestlers will begin the subsequent period in the neutral position.
In the event of overtime, the first overtime period will begin in the neutral position, as in the current NFHS rule. Modification: If no scoring happens, the wrestlers will wrestle for 2, 30-second periods. These 30-second periods will be conducted similarly to the Freestyle “Activity period”. The coin is flipped, and the wrestler winning the coin flip chooses if she wishes to be “on the clock” first. If the wrestler being placed “on the clock” fails to score in the 30 seconds, their opponent will be awarded 1 point. In the 2nd 30-second period the other wrestler is put “on the clock”. If the score is tied at the conclusion of wrestling, the wrestler “scoring last” will be declared the winner. This allows strategy to be used similarly to selecting the offense or defense wrestling position in the 1st 30 seconds.
EXAMPLE: In overtime, as in the NFHS rules, the first points scored of any type in Sudden Victory (1st, 1-minute period) terminates the match.
As in the NFHS rules, the entire 30 seconds in each 2nd and 3rd overtime period will be wrestled to completion unless there is a fall. If the wrestler "on the clock" does not score, 1 point will be awarded to their opponent regardless of any scoring by their opponent - stalling, step out, or takedown points will be awarded as earned.

Girls Folkstyle modifications set for 2024-25 season at USA Wrestling national and Tour of America events

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