Step Out In Grounded Position

[Psalm 1 guy]

I know there is some confusion as to what constitutes the new Step Out In Grounded Position. USA Wrestling made a video, "2026 Rules Modification", clarifying this rule and other new rules. Starting at 15:42 in the video the Step Out In Grounded Position is explained along with numerous video examples from UWW matches. Here are some highlights from the video:

-- A step out point can only be awarded if the wrestlers start on their feet, one or both wrestlers go down to one or both knees (parterre position) with no points scored in the sequence, and then the opponent of the wrestler who goes out of bounds first will be awarded a step out point

-- If points are scored in the process of going to the mat or if parterre points are awarded, then any subsequent step out in the wrestling sequence will not result in a point

-- Once the wrestlers get to a standing, facing position (whether from a restart or both wrestlers getting back to a neutral position on the mat), then the possibility for a step out point will resume

-- A wrestler can have both his knees and feet outside the cylinder and not be called for a step out. Their chest and "pinning points" also have to be outside the cylinder before a step out point is awarded. See the two photos below for clarification. It is not until the wrestler's upper body goes outside the cylinder (second photo) that a step out point would be awarded:

-- No step out points will be awarded if a wrestler pushes their opponent off the mat. The example given is where a wrestler extends both arms out and uses their palms to shove their opponent off the mat. Several video examples are included in the video.

On an unrelated note, in FS you are now allowed to step on an opponent's foot.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Potterlion]

-- No step out points will be awarded if a wrestler pushes their opponent off the mat. The example given is where a wrestler extends both arms out and uses their palms to shove their opponent off the mat. Several video examples are included in the video.

This part makes no sense to me. OK, most don't do it by shoving with both palms on their opponent's chest, but any step out point that I've ever seen awarded was because the offensive wrestler was leaning, pushing or pressuring the defensive wrestler. I mean, OK, you occasionally see someone ceding ground without any forward pressure from his opponent, but that's pretty rare. Admittedly, I'm not a big freestyle fan and it's hard enough for me to follow even when they don't change the rules.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

-- No step out points will be awarded if a wrestler pushes their opponent off the mat. The example given is where a wrestler extends both arms out and uses their palms to shove their opponent off the mat. Several video examples are included in the video.

This part makes no sense to me. OK, most don't do it by shoving with both palms on their opponent's chest, but any step out point that I've ever seen awarded was because the offensive wrestler was leaning, pushing or pressuring the defensive wrestler. I mean, OK, you occasionally see someone ceding ground without any forward pressure from his opponent, but that's pretty rare. Admittedly, I'm not a big freestyle fan and it's hard enough for me to follow even when they don't change the rules.

I think the argument is that UWW wants to reward actual wrestling action versus what they see as simply gaming the rule. The UWW International Wrestling Rules refers to a push out as "no meaningful action", so that is their stated reason for the rule. I will say the match video examples included in the USA Wrestling rules clarification video do a good job of showing what UWW considers pushing your opponent out of bounds.

 

[Sunshine88!]

We need a Step out Rule in College that awards a Point. Cael has been wanting it for years now. Desperately needed and hopefully it’s put in for next season. If fans push hard enough that definitely helps.

 

[AgSurfer]

We need a Step out Rule in College that awards a Point. Cael has been wanting it for years now. Desperately needed and hopefully it’s put in for next season. If fans push hard enough that definitely helps.

FULL COURT PRESS!!!!!!!

 

[zzs006]

I have to say I absolutely love this new rule change. It’s made the product much better. No more going to your knees in the zone and just scooting out. Positions like in Spencer vs Luke would’ve been 1 Spencer before but now allowed Luke to keep wrestling and reverse the position for his own points. I think it’s a great change

 

[Nitlion1986]

I have to say I absolutely love this new rule change. It’s made the product much better. No more going to your knees in the zone and just scooting out. Positions like in Spencer vs Luke would’ve been 1 Spencer before but now allowed Luke to keep wrestling and reverse the position for his own points. I think it’s a great change

No, no. It is the single reason Luke won. Don't you read your HR wrestling news?

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Over on HR, jrod65 had the following question regarding when Luke was awarded a step out point against Spencer, making the score 4-1 at the time: "I still have a question on the situation with Lilledahl and Spencer that I'm not quite grasping. I understand that when Lilledahl was on his knees, he's grounded and chest/shoulders would determine oob. But once he comes off his knees, wouldn't he no longer be "grounded" and regular stepout rules apply?"

I decided to email Casey Goessl from USA Wrestling, who made the video I attached to my original post. Here is his gracious and thorough reply: I highlighted where he addresses the specific question jrod65 had:

Hi Gaylon. I'll see if I can help answer these questions.

Please understand the evolution of the "grounded out-of-bounds (oob)." In previous years, wrestlers would be under attack from standing and then drop to their knees near the zone to avoid a standing stepout. The onus was on the referees to determine if this was correct defense and no points, or a tactic to avoid going out-of-bounds whereby fleeing the mat would be called. To avoid these types of tactics going forward, the "grounded oob" provision was added to the UWW rules this year. Please understand, fleeing the mat from this position is still an existing application if an athlete intentionally leaves the wrestling area, but hopefully this modification increases action towards the edge and takes some of the referee subjectivity out of the equation.

If the athletes are standing and facing one another, then per Olympic style rules, each athlete can score a takedown. If the athletes start in this position, but then transition to a knee/s without one wrestler showing dominance (meaning no score during this transition), and then go oob, a point for grounded stepout shall be awarded assuming that a clearly offensive wrestler does not go oob first (think of a go behind situation). If neither athlete is clearly offensive or if the athletes are just in a scramble for position, a grounded oob should be scored. If the athletes score during the transition (takedown, or turn from par terre), the sequence for grounded oob will not restart again until the athletes come to a standing position, facing one another since each athlete would then be eligible to score a takedown again.

The only other exception to going out of bounds in par terre where no point is awarded would be an ordered par terre situation. In this case, it is only fair to allow the bottom athlete an opportunity to defend without fear of penalty by going oob.

To clarify the situation at 2:00 in the bout in the Lee v. Lilledahl match, the interpretation of this position comes back to Article 34 in the UWW rules:

"any momentary loss of contact of the knees from the mat once the athletes have established parterre position will not be considered a standing action."
Lilledahl comes off his knees but Lee maintains his chest on his back, never allowing him to come to a fully standing position. Think of it from these terms: if Lee would do a front headlock on Lilledahl in this position (knees slightly off the mat) , it would only be judged as two points, not four points, meaning Lilledahl is still in parterre, not standing. By the time Lilledahl comes back to what I would consider standing, he is already well in bounds and then gets the stepout on Lee.

And please do not be confused; grounded is par terre, only in that grounded implies no wrestler is dominant.

I apologize but the pictures you sent in your message aren't coming up for me.

The last highlighted point you sent is in regards to "push-outs." I make sure to cover this topic in every rules clinic because the American wrestling audience often mixes "push-outs" with stepouts. Pushing your wrestler out of bounds in all styles is not allowed, even though no real penalty exists. It generally involves a break in contact near the zone and one athlete extending his arms to attempt to get a cheap point, although we don't consider this a wrestling action worthy of a point.

I don't routinely visit any wrestling forums as to maintain my sanity

, but if this helps clarify the rules, I am happy to assist.