Modern wrestling is similar at all levels in terms of how matches are conducted, but the rules become increasingly stringent as wrestlers progress beyond high school into the university and beyond. Organizing bodies for the sport mandate you use specific equipment for a match as a matter of safety. In addition to mandatory equipment, you may take extra precaution to protect yourself from the dangers of grappling with allowable safety equipment.
Mat
The wrestling mat provides critical shock absorption during a wrestling match. Without it, most bouts would never make it to the second period because of injury. According to the NCAA, the diameter of the center wrestling circle on the mat must be between 32 and 42 feet. The distance from the outer edge of the wrestling area to the edge of the wrestling mat cannot be less than 5 feet. The entire mat must be of a uniform thickness that is not more than 4 inches nor less than "the thickness of a mat that has the shock-absorbing qualities of a 2-inch-thick hair-felt mat."
Uniform
All college wrestlers are required to wear either a singlet or a spandex-style top and shorts in freestyle wrestling. For the shirt and shorts combination, the material must be form-fitting and cannot extend beyond the elbow or the knee. Your singlet cannot be cut lower than the armpit in the front or back, and the cut under your armpit cannot extend any deeper than the midpoint between your armpit and waist. College wrestlers engaging in Greco-Roman wrestling tournaments do not have any cut limitations for their singlets.
Headgear
Ear protection, commonly known as wrestling headgear, is mandatory in freestyle wrestling. The NCAA states that the headgear must protect the ears adequately, not present a danger to the opposing wrestler and lock securely on your head to prevent it from coming off. College Greco-Roman wrestling tournaments do not require ear protection, but they are allowed if you choose to wear one.
Footwear
You are required by college rules to wear wrestling shoes that come above your ankles and provide ample support. The shoes cannot have heels, nailed soles or any type of buckle or snap that could cause injury. If the shoes have laces, you must wrap them with tape or have a cloth securing mechanism that prevents the laces from coming undone during a match.
Optional Equipment
Some college wrestlers choose to wear light kneepads, hair coverings, face masks, mouth guards or any similar piece of equipment that does not offer a competitive advantage. Specialized equipment is subject to review by the presiding referee before it is allowed into competition. Any delay due to equipment you wear can result in a penalty deduction from your allotted injury time.
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