Wrestling competition rules explained: Nordic system and two-pool format - when are they used

Though rare, wrestling fans will sometimes come across the phrase Nordic system. In short, the Nordic system is a competition format which is used in wrestling in special scenarios.

In most popular amateur wrestling competitions in the world, including multi-sport meets like the Olympics, the knockout and repechage competition format is commonly used.

In the knockout/repechage format, wrestlers are drawn into brackets at random or according to their seedings and face off in direct elimination matches. The last two wrestlers standing face each other in the gold medal bout while the two losing semi-finalists progress to bronze medal bouts.

The wrestlers defeated by each of the two finalists before the semis, meanwhile, enter the repechage round of their respective brackets. After playing elimination matches in the repechage, the last remaining grappler faces the losing semi-finalist of their respective bracket for the bronze medal. Consequently, two bronze medals are awarded in wrestling, be it freestyle or Greco-Roman.

Sometimes, qualification rounds are held before the first round begins to even out the number of competitors.

Wrestling’s Nordic system

Though the elimination and repechage format is the most frequently used system, sometimes fans will come across an alternate competition format called the Nordic system.

The Nordic system is generally used when a particular weight category has less than six wrestlers competing.

Under the Nordic system, the wrestlers fight each other in a round-robin format. After all the matches are over, the wrestlers are ranked according to the number of victories. The top three win medals.

If two wrestlers are tied with the same number of wins, the wrestler who won the head-to-head bout between the two is ranked higher.

If more than two wrestlers are tied with an equal number of victories, the group, from bottom to top till the final two wrestlers remain, will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order of importance.

1. The fewest classification points (Four classification points are allocated to wrestlers for the victory by fall, default, forfeit or disqualification in the Nordic tournament system)

2. The fewest victories by fall

3. The fewest victories by technical superiority

4. The fewest technical points scored in the competition

5. The most technical points conceded in the competition

6. The highest number of draws

The final two, again, will be ranked according to the result of their head-to-head bout.

Unlike the knock-out and repechage format, only one bronze medal is awarded in the Nordic round system.

The two-pool system

Barring the elimination and repechage and the Nordic system, a third competition format, called the two-pool system, exists in wrestling and is sometimes used in select competitions.

The two-pool system is rare and is generally seen when there are between six to seven competitors involved.

In this format, the wrestlers are divided into two groups and the competitors in each group face each other in a round-robin format. They are ranked according to the criteria followed in the Nordic round system.

After the group standings are established, the top wrestler from the first group faces the runners-up from the second group in the semi-finals. The top wrestler from the second group, similarly, takes on the second-placed team from the first group in the other semis.

The two semi-final winners then fight for the gold medal. The losing semi-finalists compete for the bronze.