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IV. Penalty Chart (The "Ladder")

General Penalty Progression

For Illegal Holds, Technical Violations, and Unnecessary Roughness:

1st 1 Point to opponent (NO warning first!)
2nd 1 Point to opponent
3rd 2 Points to opponent
4th DISQUALIFICATION

Knowledge Check

For an illegal hold, does the wrestler get a warning before the first penalty point?
Answer (flip to read):
NO. There is no warning for illegal holds, technical violations, or unnecessary roughness. The first offense is 1 point immediately.

False Start (Cautions) - Different Progression

1st Caution (Warning only)
2nd Caution (Warning only)
3rd+ 1 Point each time (does NOT lead to DQ)

Scenario: Multiple False Starts

Green keeps false starting from the bottom position - anticipating the whistle and moving early. You've given two cautions already. Green does it again on the third restart.
Call: Award 1 point to Red (Green's third false start). Unlike other penalties, false starts never lead to disqualification - even if Green false starts 10 times, it's just 1 point each time after the second caution. However, if you suspect the false starts are intentional stalling or unsportsmanlike conduct, that's a separate violation.

Knowledge Check

Can repeated false starts lead to disqualification?
Answer (flip to read):
No. False starts follow a different progression: 2 cautions (warnings), then 1 point for each additional false start. They never lead to DQ on their own.

Flagrant Misconduct

Scenario: Flagrant Misconduct

During an intense scramble, Red suddenly punches Green in the face. Green's coach is screaming. Both benches are getting agitated.
Call: Immediate DQ for Red - flagrant misconduct. Red's team loses 3 team points. Red must leave the premises (not just the bench - out of the building). Green wins by disqualification. If Green was injured, Green may also get recovery time (2 minutes) before the next match. Document everything carefully - this may result in further sanctions.

What Would You Call?

After a heated exchange near the edge of the mat, you notice teeth marks on Green's forearm. Green shows you the marks and says "He bit me!" Red denies it. You didn't see it happen.
Answer (flip to read):
If there are clear teeth marks, this is evidence of biting regardless of whether you saw it. DQ Red for flagrant misconduct, deduct 3 team points, remove Red from premises. The physical evidence (teeth marks) is sufficient proof.

Definitions & Distinctions

Illegal Hold

A maneuver that puts a wrestler's life or limb in danger (e.g., Full Nelson, Twisting Hammerlock). Action: Stop immediately. Award points.

Scenario: Full Nelson

Green is on top and applies what appears to be a half nelson. As you watch, Green's other arm comes around and locks hands behind Red's head - it's now a full nelson. Red's face is being driven toward the mat.
Call: Stop immediately! "Illegal hold - full nelson!" Award 1 point to Red (first offense). Restart in referee's position with Green on top. The full nelson is dangerous because it puts extreme pressure on the neck and cervical spine. A half nelson (one arm behind head) is legal; full nelson (both arms, hands locked) is always illegal.

Knowledge Check

What's the difference between a legal half nelson and an illegal full nelson?
Answer (flip to read):
Half nelson = one arm behind opponent's head (legal). Full nelson = both arms behind head with hands locked (illegal - dangerous to neck/cervical spine).
Unnecessary Roughness

Physical acts that exceed normal aggressiveness (e.g., cross-facing too hard, shoving after the whistle). Action: Penalize.

Scenario: Unnecessary Roughness

You blow the whistle for out of bounds. As the wrestlers separate, Green gives Red a hard shove, and Red stumbles backward. Green appears frustrated with how the match is going.
Call: Unnecessary roughness on Green. Award 1 point to Red (assuming first offense). Talk to Green: "That's unnecessary roughness. Keep it clean." Physical acts after the whistle that exceed normal aggressiveness are always penalized. If Green continues this behavior, the penalties escalate on the ladder.
Potentially Dangerous

A hold that is legal but progresses to a point where injury is likely (e.g., twisting a joint beyond normal range). Action: Stop the match. No penalty points. Restart in the same position (or neutral if advantage was lost).

Scenario: Potentially Dangerous vs. Illegal

Green has Red in a legal arm bar from the top position. Green is working to turn Red, and Red's arm is being twisted. The arm is approaching an angle that concerns you, but Green hasn't crossed the line into illegal territory yet.
Call: Stop for "Potentially Dangerous" before injury occurs. No penalty points - this wasn't illegal, just approaching dangerous. Restart in the same position (Green on top). Explain briefly: "That arm was getting into a dangerous position." The key difference: illegal holds are always dangerous by their nature; potentially dangerous is a legal hold that progresses too far.

Knowledge Check

What's the difference between "Illegal Hold" and "Potentially Dangerous"?
Answer (flip to read):
Illegal Hold = specific maneuvers that are always illegal (full nelson, twisting hammerlock) - award penalty points. Potentially Dangerous = legal holds that progress to near-injury - stop match, NO penalty points, restart same position.

Common Illegal Holds Reference

Illegal Hold Description Why It's Dangerous
Full Nelson Both arms under opponent's arms, hands locked behind head Extreme pressure on neck/cervical spine
Twisting Hammerlock Arm bent behind back AND twisted outward Shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff injury
Headlock without arm Locking head without including opponent's arm Neck injury, cervical damage
Straight back suplay Throwing opponent straight back over your body Head/neck impact with mat
Slam Lifting and forcefully throwing opponent to mat Impact injury, concussion risk
Figure-4 around head Legs wrapped around opponent's head in figure-4 Choking, neck compression

What Would You Call?

Green applies a headlock from standing, but doesn't include Red's arm. Green starts to throw Red to the mat. What should you do?
Answer (flip to read):
Stop immediately - illegal hold (headlock without arm). Award 1 point to Red. This is dangerous because it puts all the pressure on the neck. A legal headlock MUST include the opponent's arm to distribute the force.

What Would You Call?

It's late in the third period. Green has already received 2 penalty points (first for illegal hold = 1 pt, second for unnecessary roughness = 1 pt). Now Green applies another illegal hold (twisting hammerlock). What's the penalty?
Answer (flip to read):
This is Green's THIRD penalty offense = 2 points to Red. Green is now at the 4th offense threshold - one more penalty of any type and Green is disqualified. Note: penalties accumulate across categories (illegal hold + unnecessary roughness + another illegal hold all count on the same ladder).

Knowledge Check

Do penalty points from different categories (illegal hold, unnecessary roughness, technical violation) accumulate on the same ladder?
Answer (flip to read):
Yes! All penalties (illegal holds, technical violations, unnecessary roughness) accumulate on the same ladder. 4 total offenses of any combination = DQ.