Mat Surface Area

Just a reminder for tournament directors that sanctioned tournaments are to have the following minimum mat surface areas: Under 11 years of age 15'x15', 11-14 years of age 20'x20', and High School 24'x24' or 28'circle. The safety area under NFHS the rule is "approximately 5 feet wide".

Thanks,
Matt Treaster
Kids Ex. Director

If this is what the rule states, than I have yet to attend a tournament where this is being used. Most regulation mats are 42' x 42'. If you take 10' away for your border, that leaves 32'. That mat cannot be split or quartered for any age group above 10under. It would only allow for 16' x 32' surface if it was split down the middle. Some tournaments even wrestle 14u on these size mats. This is great information. The only way you could split or quarter a mat is if you are using them for 10u and below, or you must add more mat space to a regulation mat.

Richard Blevins
Ottawa Mat Masters President

Matt - I believe the boundary as stated here is 3ft from the floor, 5 feet from wall/post.

More specifically Rule 2:

Every wrestling area, no matter what size, must have a minimum three (3) foot safety mat area next to any floor surface and five (5) foot from any wall or post. Two (2) coaches’ boxes will be marked in appropriate locations within the safety area. The coaches’ boxes are to be no more than five (f5) foot in width. The wrestling area of the mat shall be based on the age group competing, as follows:
Under 11 must have a minimum wrestling area of 15'x15'
11 to 14 must have a minimum wrestling area of 20'x20'
High School must have a minimum wrestling area of 24’x24’
or a circular area of 28 feet in diameter

If you take a 42x42 mat you make 4 surfaces (2)16x16 &(2)20x20 or (4)18x18. The math is simple and these sizes comply.

The point is this .. we are ignoring the safety rules that USA Wrestling has set before us for a reason.. to protect our kids. The question is why? Is it profit?

Safety has to be back in the spotlight as these rules are mandatory and violating the mandatory rules may result in the forfeiture of USA Wrestling Liability Insurance they provide your club. Without this insurance, most if not all schools will not allow the tournament to be held at their venue.

Keep this in mind while planning your upcoming event... this issue has been taken to the highest powers and they WILL be watching as will I and many others who put the safety of our wrestlers before profit for their club.

The Kansas Young Guns Shoot Out exceeded the required minimum mat surface.