National Team
Qualification

 
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Pathway To Excellence

How can I be a part of USA Wrestling’s Women’s Freestyle Program and make a World or Olympic Team?

Many Olympic and World team athletes have come through the development system. We encourage you all to get involved and step on the path to success! Check out the current WFS National Team.

Below are the different levels of the USA women’s program. How do I get my child or athlete started in the sport? How do I assist her in developing into an elite level athlete? Below is the developmental pathway from U15 to Senior level wrestling.

Middle school and high school programs compete in folkstyle wrestling. Women’s collegiate programs compete in Freestyle wrestling. Freestyle is the Olympic style of wrestling. It is important to expose athletes to this style if they plan to compete in college and at age group national events. The rulebook can be found on the USA Wrestling website. 

All UWW and USAW ages and weights can be found here:

Age and Weight Categories

Development National Teams are determined at Women's Nationals in the following age divisions.

U15 Level (13-15yrs)
*If you are 12 years old you must be turning 13 within the calendar year.

Age Group: Born between January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2011

Weight Categories: 29-33kg / 36kg / 39kg / 42kg / 46kg / 50kg / 54kg / 58kg / 62kg / 66kg


Training Opportunities:  

Where to get started? 

  • Local middle school and high school teams in your area

Competition Opportunities: 

  • Events for all age groups and levels can be found at USA Wrestling Events

  • Freestyle Events recommended:  (qualifications may vary in each state) 

- Freestyle State Championships - please check your state USAW website for info

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championship (UWW weight categories) 

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals  (USAW weight categories) 

- Girls HS Showcase

How does an athlete qualify for Team USA?

U15 Pan-American Championship Team 

  • Team Selection Procedures:  USA Wrestling | Paths to the Podium (themat.com)

  • Location: San Salvador, El Salvador

  • National Development Camp

  • U15 Pan-American team members  will be invited to various national development camps between October and March. Second and third placed U15 athletes do not qualify for these camps.  Athletes will be responsible for their flights, room and board for development camps.

U17 Level (14-17yrs) *If you are 13 years old you must be turning 14 within the calendar year.

Age Group:  Born Between January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009

Weight Categories:  40kg / 43kg / 46kg / 49kg / 53kg / 57kg / 61kg / 65kg / 69kg / 73kg 

Training Opportunities:

Where to get started? 

  • Local Beat the Streets Organization -  BTS programs 

  • Local middle school and high school teams in your area.

  • Summer wrestling camps (Various camps in your area)  

  • State training sites / camps available locally. Contact your state associations (follow the Find a Club link).  

  • High school graduates can continue competing in college. There are over 100 women's college wrestling programs that provide academic or athletic scholarships. Collegiate Women's Wrestling Programs 

  •  US Olympic Training Center EAP Program for high school seniors or gap year athletes. EAP Criteria

Summer Camps: 

  • National team camps are closed to National team members. Please see the criteria at the bottom of the document. 

  • Please check with women’s college programs for summer camps. 

  • Please reach out to your state director or USAW state website. 

Competition Opportunities: 

  • Freestyle Events recommended:  (qualifications may vary in each state) 

- Freestyle State Championships - please check your states USAW website for info

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championship (UWW weight categories) 

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals  (USAW weight categories) 

-Girls HS Showcase


How does an athlete qualify for Team USA? 

U17 World Championship Team 


U17  Pan-American Championship Team *World Team Members have the option to compete here.

Youth Olympic Games

  • Team Selection Procedures TBD

  • N/A 2024. Next Games: October 2026. 

  • Location: Senegal


U17 National Team:  

  • The top 3 placements at each weight category. 

  • #1 athlete will qualify for full funding at the U17 World Championships. To receive full funding the athlete must participate at a Championship prep Camp. 

  • #1 athlete will qualify for full funding at the U17 Pan-Am Championships. 

  • #2 athletes will qualify for full funding at the Championship Prep Camp. 

  • #3 athletes will receive an invitation to the Championship Prep Camp if spaces are available. Partial funding will be available. 

  • U17 National Team Athletes will be invited to National development camps between October and March. Athletes will be responsible for their flights and USAW will cover room and board for camp.

  • U17 National Team Athletes will qualify for partial funding to an international winter tour based on participation at the national team camp.

USAW National Team Camps: 

A Championship Camp is a camp held during the summer months preparing athletes for either the Pan-American Championship or the World Championship in their given age group. These camps are closed to everyone except National Team athletes.

A National Development Camp is open to the national team athletes first. These camps are held between October and March to develop technique, tactics, and general knowledge.


U20 Level (17-20 yrs) *If you are 16 years old you must be turning 17 within the calendar year.

Age Group:  Born between January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2007

Weight Categories:  50kg / 53kg / 55kg / 57kg / 59kg / 62kg / 65kg / 68kg / 72kg / 76kg

Training Opportunities:

Where to get started? 

  • WCAP: US Army’s World Class Athlete Program https://www.armywcap.com/ 

  • Other service academies (RTC’s) to inquire: West Point Academy and Air Force Academy 

  • Titan Mercury Wrestling Club - TMWC

  • New York Athletic Club - NYAC NYAC Wrestling


Summer Camps: 

  • National team camps are closed to National team members. Please see the criteria at the bottom of the document. 

  • Please check with women’s college programs for summer camps. 

  • Please reach out to your state director or USAW state website. 

Competition Opportunities: 

  • Freestyle Events recommended:  (qualifications may vary in each state) 

- Freestyle State Championships - please check your states USAW website for info

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championship (UWW weight categories) 

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals  (USAW weight categories) 

- College/University opens 

How does an athlete qualify for Team USA? 

U20 World Championship Team 

U20 Pan-American Championship Team 

U20 National Team:  

  • The top 3 placements at each weight category. 

  • #1 athlete will qualify for full funding at the U20 World Championships. To receive full funding the athlete must participate at a Championship prep Camp. 

  • #1 athlete will qualify for full funding at a summer international tour in preparation for World Championships.

  • #2 Athletes will qualify for full funding for the U20 Pan-Am Championships. To receive full funding the athlete must participate at a Championship prep camp. 

  • U20 National team athletes will be invited to National development camps between October and March. Athletes will be responsible for their flights and USAW will cover room and board for camp.

  • U20 National team athletes will qualify for partial funding to an international winter tour based on participation at the national team camp.

USAW National Team Camps: 

A Championship Camp is a camp held during the summer months preparing athletes for either the Pan-American Championship or the World Championship in their given age group. These camps are closed to everyone except National Team athletes.

A National Development Camp is open to the national team athletes first. These camps are held between October and March to develop technique, tactics, and general knowledge.

U23 Level (18-23 years) *If you are 17 years old you must be turning 18 within the calendar year.

Age Group:  Born between January 1, 2001- December 31, 2006

Weight Categories:  50kg / 53kg / 55kg / 57kg / 59kg / 62kg / 65kg / 68kg / 72kg / 76kg 

Post High School or College opportunities include: 

  • WCAP: US Army’s World Class Athlete Program https://www.armywcap.com/ 

  • Other service academies (RTC’s) to inquire: West Point Academy and Air Force Academy  

  • Titan Mercury Wrestling Club - TMWC

  • New York Athletic Club - NYAC NYAC Wrestling

       -  US Olympic Training Center Resident Program Resident Program criteria


Competition Opportunities: 

  • Events for all age groups and levels can be found at USA Wrestling Events

  • National Freestyle Events recommended:  

- 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championship (UWW weight categories) 

- Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier – Senior FS, W, & GR (Olympic weights only)

- College/University opens

How does an athlete qualify for Team USA? 

U23 World Team 

U23 Pan-American Championship Team *New event added for this age group 2024

U23 National Team:  

  • The top 3 placements at each weight category from Women’s Nationals. 

  • National Champion will qualify for full funding to a Senior National Team Camp. 

  • U23 National Team Athletes will be invited into select Sr National Team Camps during the year, funding for camps will vary.

Senior Level (18 years and up) *If you are 17 years old you must be turning 18 within the calendar year.

Age Group:  Born January 1, 2006 or before

Weight Categories:  50kg / 53kg / 55kg / 57kg / 59kg / 62kg / 65kg / 68kg / 72kg / 76kg 

There are 10 weights contested each year except in an Olympic year. The 6 weights contested in an Olympic year are bolded. 

Training Opportunities:

  • WCAP: US Army’s World Class Athlete Program https://www.armywcap.com/ 

  • Other service academies (RTC’s) to inquire: West Point Academy and Air Force Academy  

  • Titan Mercury Wrestling Club - TMWC

  • New York Athletic Club - NYAC NYAC Wrestlin


How does an athlete qualify for Team USA? 


USA Olympic Team 

  • Team Selection Procedures:  USA Wrestling | Paths to the Podium 

  • The champion in each weight category at Olympic Team Trials  will be the representative for Team USA. 

  • Location: Paris, France 

  • Team USA must qualify each weight category for the Olympics from a list of tournaments set by UWW.

How to qualify for wrestling at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained

Sr World Championship Team 


Sr World Cup Team 

  • The World Cup Competition includes the top 8 teams from the World Championships. The teams are separated into 2 pools of 4, the winner of each pool will wrestle for the World Cup Team Championship. The competition is a dual meet format.

  • Team Selection Procedures TBD

  • N/A in 2024. Next World Cup November of 2025. 

Sr Pan-American Championship Team 

Sr Pan-American Games Team:  

  • N/A in 2024. Next Games will be held in 2027.

  • Team Selection Procedures TBD 

Sr National Team:  

  • The top 4 athletes at each weight category from the Olympic Team Trials every 4 years. (6 weights)

  • The top 1 athlete at each weight category from the World Team Trials in an Olympic year. (4 weights)

  • The top 3 athletes at each weight category from the World Team Trials in non-Olympic years.  (10 weights)

  • Each Sr National Team member receives a monthly stipend from USAW / USOPC.

  • Current WFS National Team through May of 2024. 

National Team Camps: How does an athlete qualify for camp?

National Team Staff will send email invitations in the following order as spaces are available. 

Senior Camp Criteria: Spaces are limited 

Senior National Team Camp / Olympic Team Camps: 

  1. Olympic Team Members

  2. Olympic training partners

  3. Senior National Team members 2024

  4. U23 National Team members 2024

  5. U20 World Team Members 2024

Development Camp Criteria: Spaces are limited 

  1. U17 and U20 National Team members 2024 

  2. U17 and U20 World Medalists 2022-2024 

  3. U15 Pan Am Team Member 2024

  4. Top 3 from USMC Junior and 16U National Championships 2024

  5. All Americans from Women’s Nationals 2024

  6. All Americans from USMC Junior and 16U National Championships 2024

Coaches 

  • To apply as a USAW volunteer please fill out  USA Wrestling 2021-2024 Coaching Application. National Team staff will review applicants and references. 

  • Athletes competing for Team USA at United World Wrestling Events are allotted 1 coach credential for competition.  All costs associated with personal coaches are at their expense. You must register through USA Wrestling Staff only. You must have a valid UWW Coaching License to receive a credential.

  • All coaches must have a valid USA Wrestling Membership, Background Check, and Safe Sport Certification.

  • Other avenues for coaches  Coaching Opportunities - Division I Women's Wrestling (d1womenswrestling.com)

  • Please consider utilizing the USAW Coaches Education program including the “Teal Certification” designed for those coaching girls and women. Coaches Certifications

*Important to note all email communication will be sent to the email listed on the coaches or athlete’s USAW membership profile. Please make sure the email listed is correct and checked often.

USA Wrestling Event Schedule 

Find all events at https://usawrestlingevents.com/national_regional 

National Team Schedule: Located in the Women’s Wrestling section

USA Wrestling on Social Media

How to Find out more about USA Wrestling?  Go to our website: http://www.themat.com 

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United World Wrestling

United World Wrestling (UWW) is the Governing body for the sport of wrestling around the world. To find out more about UWW.  Go to their website:  www.uww.org