What is flagrant misconduct in wrestling?
By the Smart Wrestler team · Written from hosting and scoring the events this software runs · Updated 2026-10-20
Flagrant misconduct is the most serious conduct penalty in NCAA wrestling. See what it covers, the team points, suspension and the post-event review.
Quick answer
Flagrant misconduct is the most serious conduct violation in the NCAA men’s rules book. It covers physical and nonphysical acts such as intentionally striking an opponent, deliberately attempting to injure one, or any act serious enough to disqualify a wrestler from an event. A wrestler in a dual meet is disqualified, the opponent is the winner and the opponent’s team receives six points. The offender also faces a suspension after the event.
What does flagrant misconduct cover?
The rules book says flagrant misconduct can occur before, during or after a match and may include, but is not limited to, nonphysical and physical acts of misbehavior such as intentionally striking an opponent, executing an intentional drill or forceful fall back on an opponent, or deliberately attempting to injure an opponent.
The standard is any act serious enough to disqualify a wrestler from an event. The referee decides, and a call may be reviewed on video where mat-side video review is used.
What are the penalties in a dual meet and a tournament?
| Event | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Dual meet | One team point deducted; wrestler disqualified and removed from the premises; opponent declared winner; six points to the opponent’s team |
| Tournament | One team point deducted; removal from the premises; opponent declared winner with two team points for advancement; no points earned before the incident, placement points or individual award |
Other wrestlers in a tournament remain in their positions on the bracket. A coach or other institutional representative who commits an act of flagrant misconduct loses one team point and is removed from the premises for the remainder of the event, and team medical staff are restricted to the spectator area but continue serving the team’s medical needs.
What suspension follows?
A wrestler or institutional representative other than medical staff is suspended from participation until after the team’s next regularly scheduled event, which includes duals, triangulars, quadrangulars, tournaments and multiple-day competitions. If the incident occurs in the last event of the season, the suspension carries over to the first event of the next season.
A wrestler who illegally participates while suspended has the suspension doubled, and the head coach serves the same suspension. A head coach who violates their own suspension has theirs doubled.
How is the call reviewed and reported?
When mat-side video review is used, the referee reviews the video immediately after assessing the violation, and the call may be confirmed or altered. Once assessed, the call is unchangeable after the next match begins in a dual meet or once the bout sheet leaves the table in a tournament.
The referee files an electronic Flagrant Misconduct Report after the match, the head coach is informed by name, and a conference office can request a post-competition review within 48 hours of the event.
How should hosts and families treat the term?
The penalties above are the NCAA men’s book. School and youth events use their own conduct rules, and many hosts publish a conduct policy. Hosts should state who removes a disqualified person and how results are recorded.
Smart Wrestler records the result and penalty the table enters under the host’s rules. Whether an act is flagrant is the referee’s decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is flagrant misconduct?
The NCAA men’s most serious conduct violation, such as intentionally striking or injuring an opponent.
How many team points does the opponent get in a dual?
Six, with the wrestler disqualified and the opponent declared the winner.
Does it lead to a suspension?
Yes, until after the team’s next regularly scheduled event.
Can the call be reviewed?
Yes, by video during the match where used and by a post-competition review within 48 hours.
Sources
Sources checked 2026-10-20.
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