Rules of the game

The following are the official rules adopted by the DWS in 2014.

Westcountry Wrestling

How to play

1. Objective: The goal is to lift and throw your opponent, so they land flat on their back.
2. Back Definition: The back is the area between the shoulders and the buttocks. Each corner of the back is called a “Pin.”
3. Throwing Position: All throws must be done from a standing position.
4. Dress Code: Wrestlers must wear DWS uniform: Official Wrestling Jacket, T-shirt, Bare-footed, socked or simple trainers, Shorts (Summer) or Jogging-bottoms (Winter), Football shin-pads. Both competitors must agree to the footwear condition. If shoes are worn, then shin-pads must be worn for protection. Female wrestlers must additionally wear a leotard or swimsuit under the shorts/joggers and Jacket.
5. Jewellery and Nails: Remove all jewellery and metal objects and keep fingernails short.
6. Starting the Match: Wrestlers shake hands and start wrestling when given the signal.
7. Grips: Grips must be on the jacket only; no gripping the flesh.
8. Hand and Arm Use: You can use the flat of your hand on your opponent’s body above the waist and use your forearm or elbow to fend off attacks.
9. Foot Use: Feet cannot be used above your opponent’s knee.
10. Breaking Holds: If any part of the body other than the soles of the feet touch the ground, wrestlers must break the hold, stand up, shake hands, and resume unless a “Back” is awarded.
11. Judging Falls: Three judges, called Sticklers, decide if a wrestler is thrown onto their back with three or four pins touching the ground at the same time. This wins the match.
12. Scoring Points: Points are scored for pins touching the ground: one point for one pin, two points for two pins. Sticklers keep track of points and faults.
13. Out of Bounds: No points or “Back” are awarded if pins touch the ground outside the wrestling area, even if the throw started inside.
14. Out of Ring: If a wrestler steps out of the ring, the nearest Stickler calls “Break” and brings both wrestlers back to the centre.
15. Jacket Issues: If a jacket comes off a wrestler’s shoulders and over their head, the match is paused to fix it. Wrestlers then shake hands and continue.
16. No Points Scored: If no points are scored, a point is awarded to the wrestler who tried the hardest to throw their opponent.
17. Winning: The wrestler with the most points on at least two Sticklers’ scorecards wins.
18. Fouls: Each foul results in one point being deducted from the wrestler’s score. A series of 3 fouls, as defined under the rules for ‘Foul moves’, and the competitor will be disqualified from further play.
19. Tie-Breaker: If Sticklers can’t decide a winner, wrestlers wrestle for two more minutes. The first to touch the ground with anything other than their feet loses. If still undecided, Sticklers may unanimously pick a winner or decide by coin toss.
20. End of Match: Wrestlers stay in the ring until the result is announced, and the winner raises their arm.
21. Ring Access: Only wrestlers, Sticklers, and first aiders (if needed) can enter the ring during a match unless Sticklers allow otherwise. Unauthorized help can lead to disqualification.
22. Non-Combativity: If neither wrestler attacks for about 60 seconds, they get a verbal warning. Continued inactivity results in a fault.

Based upon the original rules by The Cornish Wrestling Association, and integrating historical versions, 2024.

Foul moves

1. Escaping the Jacket: Intentionally slipping out of your jacket to avoid being thrown.
2. Using Hand or Knee: Putting your hand or knee on the ground to avoid being thrown.
3. Excessive Kicking: Persistent kicking that is not part of wrestling. Kicking must be measured and strategic. Excessiveness is measured by the agreement of the Sticklers.
4. Hand Below Waist: Using your hands below your opponent’s waist.
5. Feet Above Knee: Using your feet above your opponent’s knee.
6. Grabbing Flesh: Grabbing your opponent’s skin.
7. Verbal Abuse: Using offensive language.
8. Cross Collar: Choking your opponent by crossing over the collars and pulling the jacket tight.
9. Throat Pressure: Applying any pressure to your opponent’s throat or neck.
10. Crowbar Hitch: Using your arm inside your opponent’s jacket as a lever.
11. Extreme Fouls: Any severe foul play can lead to immediate disqualification and possible review by the Council of Management before being allowed to compete again.

Guidelines for Sticklers

1. Role of Sticklers: Three Sticklers oversee each match to ensure fairness, decide if throws score points or result in a Back, and identify fouls. Their decisions are final, and a 2-to-1 majority is enough for a ruling.
2. Scoring a Back: A Back is scored when a wrestler is thrown onto their back with at least three of the four Pins touching the ground at the same time. This wins the match, and Sticklers indicate a Back by raising their sticks.
3. Back and Pins Definition: The back is the area from shoulders to buttocks, with each corner being a Pin. Points are given for Pins touching the ground:
   • One Pin down scores 1 point.
   • Two Pins down score 2 points.
   • Three or four Pins down score a Back.
   • No points or Back if Pins touch outside the Wrestling Area.
4. Jacket Issues: If a jacket comes off during the match, Sticklers call “Jacket”. Wrestlers separate, fix the jacket, shake hands, and continue.
5. Best Back Assessment: Sticklers mark their scorecards with numbers 1 to 4 to rate the quality of a Back, with 4 being the highest.
6. No Points Scored: If no points are scored, a point goes to the wrestler who made the most honest attempts to throw their opponent.
7. Score Sheets: Sticklers do not discuss before submitting their score sheets.
8. Handshake Tradition: Wrestlers must shake hands before the match starts, before each Hitch, and at the end of the bout.
9. Standing Throws: All throws must be from a standing position. If any part of the body other than the feet touches the ground, wrestlers must break the hold, stand up, shake hands, and start again.

Westcountry Cudgling

Short stick

How to play

[~Coming soon]

Foul moves

[~Coming soon]

Guidelines for Sticklers

[~Coming soon]

Long staff

How to play

[~Coming soon]

Foul moves

[~Coming soon]

Guidelines for Sticklers

[~Coming soon]