what is the basic rule for taking another wrestler off the feet. i guess a slam is what some would call it. i know you have to safely return them to the mat but does one of your knees have to hit the mat before they do?

There has been a month long discussion of the issue on the HS forum!

Nowhere in the rule book does it mention, knees hitting first!

thanks randy, a friend sent me an article about knees hitting first and i thought that it was wrong is why i asked. i will check the topic out in the high school section.

Mr. Nix a slam does not require an athlete to be lifted off the mat. When a wrestler forcibly drives an unprotected athlete into the mat he is subject to the slam rule. Most often we find this when a wrestler has elevated the opponent off the mat, however the same effect can happen with a simple bar from the knees. If you think it's a slam it's probably a slam whether called by the official or not.

Rule 7, Section 1: Illegal holds/Manuevers

Article 1: A slam is lifting and returning an opponent to the mat with unnecessary force. This infraction may be committed by a contestant in either the top or bottom position on the mat, as well as during a takedown. A slam shall be called without hesitation.

Rule 7 Sec. 1 Art. 1
A SLAM is lifting and returning an opponent to the mat with unnecessary force. This infraction may be committed by a contestant in with the top or bottom position on the mat, as well as during a takedown. A slam shall be called without hesitation.

Make sure your not giving anyone any false information. Your example of a simple arm bar from the knee's and planting your opponent back into the mat would be considered unnecessary roughness, but more times than not a ref would let that go.

Just because you think it is a slam does not mean it is one whether the official called it or not.

Quagmire. I dont want to get into a peeing match with you, however if you been around wretling long enough you will know of kids who get a double bar arm and plant both knees in front of the opponents knees and use the forse created by pulling them over the knees to return the unprotected athlete to the mat. Im sorry this is a slam. The idea that an opponent has to be lifted completely in the air and then returned to the mat is wrong. I guess we can disagree. There is a difference between a slam and unecessary roughness. A slam is unecessary roughness that requires you to slam your opponent into the mat. Lastly it is impossible to achieve a slam without some sort of lift involoved.