Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Competitors
Wrestling is an individual sport. Each match features two athletes competing one-on-one. Wrestlers are classified by weight category to ensure competitive fairness. The Olympic weight categories are:
- Freestyle Men (6 categories): 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg
- Freestyle Women (6 categories): 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg
- Greco-Roman Men (6 categories): 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg
World Championships may include additional weight categories beyond the six Olympic classes. Non-Olympic weight classes (e.g., 61 kg, 70 kg in Freestyle) are contested at World Championships and ranking series events but not at the Games.
4.2 Age Categories
UWW recognizes the following competitive age divisions, each with its own weight classes:
- Schoolboys/Schoolgirls: 14–15 years old
- Cadets: 16–17 years old
- Juniors: 18–20 years old
- Seniors (U23): 18–23 years old
- Seniors: 20 years and older (Olympic and World Championship level)
- Veterans: 35 years and older (age-group categories in 5-year increments)
4.3 Officials
Each match is overseen by a three-person officiating panel to ensure accuracy and fairness:
- Mat Referee: The primary official on the mat. The referee controls the action, starts and stops the bout, awards points, issues cautions and passivity calls, and ensures wrestler safety. The referee wears red and blue wristbands to signal point awards by raising the corresponding wrist.
- Judge: Seated at the scoring table at mat level. The judge independently scores the match and records all points on the score sheet. The judge can signal disagreement with the referee's calls by raising a colored paddle.
- Mat Chairman: The senior official, seated at an elevated position for optimal viewing. The mat chairman supervises the referee and judge, resolves disagreements between them, and has the final authority on all scoring decisions. Decisions require agreement from at least two of the three officials (majority rules).
In addition to the three-person panel, a competition doctor and timekeepers are stationed at matside. At major championships, a UWW Technical Delegate oversees the entire competition to ensure regulatory compliance.