What is a wrist tie in wrestling?

Where does USA Wrestling list the wrist tie?

The international-style outline groups the wrist tie with other control ties as set-ups. The folkstyle outline lists it beside offensive entries that follow it.

How does a wrist tie differ from other ties?

A wrist tie controls the opponent’s wrist or forearm. An underhook goes under the arm, a collar tie grips the neck or head, and an inside tie works inside the opponent’s arms. The outlines use separate names because the next actions differ.

The underhook has its own page. Read underhook.

What does the UWW passivity rule say about wrists?

The UWW Greco-Roman passivity criteria include grabbing the opponent’s wrists without starting an attack. Other criteria include attacking without direct contact, regaining the initial position right after beginning an attack, fake attacks and evading into the passivity zone.

The full procedure is explained under passivity. Read passivity.

UWW also prohibits grasping or interlocking fingers to block the opponent and prevent active wrestling. A wrist grip that becomes a blocking lock can therefore be penalized in the international styles.

Does the NCAA rules book restrict wrist ties?

The rules book penalizes locked hands in listed situations and prohibits bending or forcing a limb beyond its normal limits, and it allows a wrestler to grasp all four fingers to break a hold while making pulling back one, two or three fingers or the thumb illegal. A wrist tie that stays within those limits is part of ordinary hand fighting.

Hand fighting is covered separately. Read hand fighting.

How should athletes and parents describe a wrist tie?

Say which wrist, which hand held it and what followed: a snap, a shot or a release. A tie that goes nowhere is the one an official may eventually ask to attack.

Smart Wrestler records scored actions and penalties. Ties are coaching vocabulary and are not entered.

The grip reads differently across styles. In folkstyle it is one step in a neutral exchange toward a head snap or pop and go, both listed beside it in the Level 1 outline. In freestyle and Greco-Roman it belongs to a larger set of control ties, and the activity rules mean the grip should lead to an attack. A youth athlete moving between styles should ask the coach how long a tie can be held before the next action.