Wrestling abbreviations, decoded

Decode a result code

Enter an abbreviation, score and time in the free result decoder to see the result in plain English and its scoring context. Open the free tool.

Result abbreviations (how the match ended)

• DEC or Dec.: decision, a win by 1 to 7 points. 3 team points in a folkstyle dual.
• MD, M-DEC, or Maj.: major decision, a win by 8 to 14 points. 4 team points.
• TF or Tech: technical fall, the match ended on a 15 point lead (10 freestyle, 8 Greco). 5 team points.
• F, FALL, PIN, or WBF: win by fall, shoulders pinned; shown with the time, e.g. F 1:32. 6 team points.
• FF or FOR: forfeit, the opponent did not appear or the team had no wrestler at the weight. 6 team points.
• DEF, INJ, or ID: injury default, the opponent could not continue because of injury during the match. 6 team points.
• MFF, M-FOR, MED, or MFL: medical forfeit, the opponent could not wrestle a later match for medical reasons; often written as the loss code for the injured wrestler. Scored as a forfeit for team points.
• DQ or DISQ: disqualification, for flagrant misconduct or accumulated penalties. 6 team points.
• BYE: no opponent in that slot; the wrestler advances without a match.
• NC: no contest, a match not wrestled or voided (rare).

If you searched for what M FOR L or M for L means: it is results sheet shorthand seen on some systems for medical forfeit (M. For.) recorded as a loss, meaning the wrestler could not continue the tournament for medical reasons and forfeited the remaining match.

Overtime and match clock abbreviations

• OT: overtime, any period after regulation.
• SV or SV-1: sudden victory, the first overtime period; first score wins.
• TB or TB-1, TB-2: tiebreaker periods, 30 second periods starting in referee's position.
• UTB: ultimate tiebreaker, the final deciding period.
• RT: riding time, college folkstyle; one point for a minute or more of net riding time.
• Blood time and injury time: clock stoppages tracked by the table, not results.

Scoring abbreviations (during the match)

• TD or T3: takedown (3 points in current folkstyle; T2 in youth or older rules).
• E or E1: escape, 1 point.
• R or R2: reversal, 2 points.
• NF, N2, N3, N4: near fall (back points), 2, 3, or 4 points depending on duration and level.
• P or P1: penalty point awarded to the opponent.
• S: stalling warning or point.
• C: caution (false start or position violation), points after repeats.
• TV: technical violation.
• RO: rideout, college folkstyle notation for riding time situations.

Bracket and roster abbreviations

• HWT: heavyweight, the top weight class.
• Cons or Consy: consolation bracket (wrestlebacks).
• Champ: championship bracket.
• Semi, QF, R16, R32: semifinal, quarterfinal, round of 16, round of 32.
• 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th: placement matches.
• Seed or #: the wrestler's seed number.
• JV, V, FS, GR: junior varsity, varsity, freestyle, Greco Roman.
• OW: outstanding wrestler award.

How do abbreviations appear on Smart Wrestler?

Live brackets show the win type and score in full words on hover and as standard codes in compact views, with the fall time for pins. The score audit trail on premium plans lists every action (takedown, escape, reversal, near fall, penalty) in order with period and clock, so nobody has to decode a scoresheet by hand.