HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TIE BREAKING CRITERIA
When a high school dual meet ends with both teams on the same score, the NFHS tie-breaking system decides the winner. The criteria are applied in order until one of them separates the teams.
The criteria, in order
Each criterion is checked in turn. The first one that produces a difference decides the dual.
| Order | Criterion |
|---|---|
| a | Opponent penalised more team points for flagrant misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct |
| b | Opposing head coach penalised more team points for coach misconduct |
| c | Opposing wrestlers penalised more match points for unsportsmanlike conduct during a match |
| d | More matches won, including forfeits |
| e | More falls, defaults, forfeits and disqualifications combined |
| f | Fewer forfeits given up |
| g | More technical falls |
| h | More major decisions |
| i | More total match points from first points scored |
| j | More near-fall points |
| k | More takedowns |
| l | More reversals |
| m | More escapes |
| n | Opponent penalised more points for stalling |
| o | Opponent warned more often for stalling |
| p | Opponent penalised more for all other infractions, such as false starts |
| q | If nothing above separates the teams, a flip of a disk decides it |
Recording the result
The winning team is awarded one team point. The score is recorded with the letter of the criterion that broke the tie — for example, Team A 16, Team B 17, criterion e.
Why it matters during the dual, not after
Most of these criteria depend on things that happen early: who took the first points, how many takedowns were scored, whether a fall was recorded rather than a decision. By the time a dual is tied, the tie-break has already been decided by matches that finished an hour earlier.
Takedown Scoring and Stats calculates the tie-breaking criteria continuously, starting with the first match of the dual. A coach can see which criteria their team currently wins and which they do not, while there are still matches left to wrestle.
For coaches
Takedown handles scoring, video, statistics, weight and roster management for high school and college programs on iPad. Schedule a demo or see pricing.
More wrestling resources
How to score a wrestling match · High school scoring symbols · All resources
Tie-breaking criteria are set by the NFHS and can change between seasons. Confirm against the current NFHS Wrestling Rules Book.