Don't Defer the Choice in the Second Period; Build Momentum Instead

After watching several high school matches lately, I've noticed that the majority of coaches are instructing their wrestlers to defer the choice in the second period.  I am not convinced that is always the best choice.  In fact, in many cases, I think it is the WRONG choice.  It's definitely the wrong choice to do it out of habit, which so many wrestlers and coaches seem to be doing.

For those who don't know to what I am referring when I talk about deferring, here is a quick summary--the rest of you can skip the following paragraph.

In folkstyle wrestling, the style wrestled in high schools and colleges in the U.S., wrestlers begin the first period of a three-period match in a neutral position on their feet.  In the second and third periods, wrestlers have choices as to begin the period their feet or in a top or bottom position.  A coin toss determines which wrestler has the choice of position in the second period.  In the third period, the other wrestler will have the choice of starting position.  A wrestler who wins the coin toss in the second period can choose the starting position or defer the choice to his or her opponent and then have the choice in the third period.

Let me create a few scenarios to suggest why I think deferring the choice in the second period is a bad idea.

Scenario 1:  You have scored a 2-point takedown late in the first period and you are winning 2-0.  A low scoring period may mean you are pretty evenly matched with your opponent.  If you defer and your opponent picks bottom and earns a 1-point escape, the score is now 2-1.  He or she has momentum and confidence from a closer score.  On the other hand if you choose bottom and escape, you lead 3-0.  Your opponent would have to take you down (to make the score 3-2) and turn you or let you escape (which would make the score 4-2) and take you down again to even tie the score.

Scenario 2: You have scored a 2-point takedown and your opponent has earned a 1-point escape in the first period to make the score 2-1.  This is similar to scenario 1, except that if your opponent chooses bottom and escapes, he or she has tied the score and has confidence and momentum.

Scenario 3: You are losing.  Your opponent has taken you down (late in the first period) and you did not escape.  If you give the opponent the bottom position, he or she can easily build a 3-0 lead early in the second period.

All these assumptions and scenarios assume that you would not turn the opponent from the top position in the second period or other factors (like riding time advantage--in college) are not a factor.  Sometimes an opponent may take the top position in the second period.  This is somewhat rare, however.  My observation has been that in most high school matches (where they don't have advantage time) the bottom guy is rarely getting ridden for an entire period when the wrestlers are evenly matched. A bottom-position choice in the second period usually ends up in an escape, for evenly matched wrestlers, where there is no riding time to be earned.

Anything you can do to build momentum and increase your lead going into the third period will play against your opponent's confidence and wear him or her down mentally.  By the same token, any time you can do things to keep the score closer if you are losing will be helpful.

Here are some times when it makes sense to defer the choice:

1. You know your opponent well.  Maybe he or she is a tough rider and you don't want to be on the bottom at all in the match.  You might defer in the hopes the opponent will choose bottom in the second period and look for an escape.  In that case you might be able to choose neutral in the third period.
2. You have a lead of four or more points at the end of the first period and know your opponent would have to escape and take you down, just to get to within one point of your lead.
3. Your are wrestling in college and want to build up some advantage time (that will be worth an additional point at the end of the match) while wearing down your opponent.

Never underestimate the psychological power of momentum in a match.  As you dominate every position and build the score, not only do you discourage your opponent (and make it easier to earn a pin), but future opponents who watch you will take notice.  And that will give them something to think about...