⚡ Quick Answer
Novice Division
For wrestlers with limited experience (typically 0-2 years). Great for building confidence and learning fundamentals.
Open Division
For wrestlers of any experience level. More competitive, includes experienced wrestlers and club athletes.
What Are Wrestling Divisions?
Wrestling tournaments group competitors to create fair, competitive matches. Beyond weight classes, many tournaments offer experience-based divisions to help newer wrestlers compete against others at similar skill levels.
The two most common divisions are Novice (sometimes called "Rookie" or "Beginner") and Open (sometimes called "Varsity" or "Advanced").
Why Divisions Matter
- ✓Fair competition: New wrestlers aren't immediately matched against multi-year veterans
- ✓Confidence building: Early wins help wrestlers fall in love with the sport
- ✓Development focus: Novice divisions emphasize learning over winning at all costs
- ✓Safety: Reduces risk of injury from extreme skill mismatches
🌱 Novice Division
Who Should Enter Novice?
- • Wrestlers in their 1st or 2nd year of competition
- • Athletes new to folkstyle (even if they have freestyle/greco experience)
- • Wrestlers who haven't placed at major tournaments
- • Anyone looking to build confidence before moving to Open
Typical Novice Eligibility Rules
Rules vary by tournament and organization, but common criteria include:
Time-Based
- • Less than 2 years of wrestling
- • First year at current age division
- • Started after a certain date
Achievement-Based
- • No state tournament placement
- • Less than X career wins
- • No placements at major events
⚠️ Important: Always check the specific tournament's rules! Novice definitions vary significantly between organizations and events.
🏆 Open Division
Who Should Enter Open?
- • Wrestlers with 3+ years of experience
- • Anyone who has "aged out" of novice eligibility
- • Wrestlers seeking higher-level competition
- • Club wrestlers and travel team members
- • Anyone preparing for state or national competition
What to Expect in Open
Higher Skill Level
Open divisions include club wrestlers who train year-round, multi-sport athletes with natural ability, and wrestlers with years of competition experience. Expect technical wrestling and fewer "easy" matches.
Larger Brackets
Open divisions typically have more entries, meaning more matches to place. This is good for development—win or lose, you get more mat time.
Better Competition = Faster Improvement
While losses may come, wrestling better opponents accelerates development. You learn more from a competitive loss than an easy win.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Novice | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Experience Level | 0-2 years | Any experience |
| Competition Intensity | Lower | Higher |
| Bracket Size | Usually smaller | Usually larger |
| Best For | Building confidence | Maximum development |
| Path to States | Sometimes separate | Direct path |
| Typical Winners | Quick learners | Experienced veterans |
When Should You Move from Novice to Open?
This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Here are signs your wrestler is ready for Open competition:
✅ Ready to Move Up
- • Consistently winning in Novice brackets
- • Has placed at multiple tournaments
- • Matches feel "too easy"—not being challenged
- • Understands positions and has reliable techniques
- • Wants harder competition
- • Coach recommends the move
⏳ Maybe Wait
- • Still learning basic positions
- • Gets frustrated by losses
- • Hasn't wrestled a full season yet
- • Enjoys the current competition level
- • Coach suggests more Novice experience
- • Confidence is still building
💡 The MatMetrics Perspective
At MatMetrics, we believe in seeking quality competition for development. Wrestling tougher opponents—even if it means more losses—accelerates improvement faster than staying comfortable.
That said, confidence matters too. A wrestler who loses every match may lose their love for the sport. The goal is finding the right challenge level—pushed but not crushed.
Special Cases & FAQ
Can you enter both Novice AND Open at the same tournament?
Sometimes! Many tournaments allow "double entry" where you can compete in both divisions. This is great for getting extra mat time. Check the tournament rules—some prohibit this.
My kid wrestles freestyle in summer. Does that count toward Novice eligibility?
It depends on the tournament's rules. Some count all wrestling experience, others only count folkstyle. USA Wrestling events often have separate eligibility criteria.
What if there's no Novice division at a tournament?
You'll compete in Open. This is actually common at larger, more competitive tournaments. It's a good test to see where your wrestler stands against all competition levels.
Are there divisions between Novice and Open?
Some tournaments offer an "Intermediate" or "JV" division for wrestlers who've outgrown Novice but aren't ready for elite Open competition. These are less common but worth looking for.
Do high school wrestlers have Novice divisions?
Not usually. High school wrestling is typically "Open" only, with JV and Varsity as the main divisions. Novice/Open is more common in youth and middle school wrestling.
Other Division Types You'll See
Beyond Novice and Open, tournaments may offer other divisions:
Age Divisions
Based on birth year:
- • 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U (youth)
- • Junior, Cadet, Junior (USA Wrestling)
- • Freshman, JV, Varsity (high school)
Style Divisions
Different wrestling styles:
- • Folkstyle (scholastic)
- • Freestyle
- • Greco-Roman
Gender Divisions
Separate brackets:
- • Boys / Men
- • Girls / Women
- • Mixed (smaller tournaments)
Special Divisions
Less common:
- • Exhibition (practice matches)
- • Adaptive (modified rules)
- • Masters (adult recreational)