Welcome to Tournament Season for Wrestling!

We wanted to put together this FAQ to provide you with some information about tournaments.  If you have any more questions, please send them along and we will add them to this list.

**Registration**

Absolutely NO walk in registrations. All registration MUST be completed by 10PM the night before the scheduled event.

Registration links can be found on the RIWA tournament event page as each event's registration opens.

• 8U Boys, 10U Boys, 12U Girls, and 15U Girls Divisions
  Weigh-ins - 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
  Wrestling Starts at 9:00 AM
  
  12U Boys, 15U Boys, 8U Girls, and 10U Girls Divisions 

• All Tournaments EXCEPT Johnston Tournament on December 14th
  Weigh-ins - 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  Wrestling Starts at 12:30 PM
  
  

• Johnston Tournament on December 14th, 2025 ONLY
  Weigh-ins - 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM
  Wrestling Starts at 01:30 PM

Question: When are the tournaments happening this year?

Answer: The Official Site of Rhode Island Wrestling

• Check out the website linked above. They do a good job keeping it updated.

2025-2026 Tournament Schedule

November 30: Middletown
December 7: North Providence
December 14: Johnston

January 4: Westerly
January 11: South County
January 18: PCWC
February 1: Warren

February 15: Coventry  

February 22: Warwick PAL
March 1: RIWA Kids State Tournament

Question: How do I sign up for a tournament?

Answer: This is not always the easiest process!  It is important to set aside some time. You will need your child’s USA Wrestling Card Number to create an account. Our team's name is “South County Waves” when you get to that menu.

You can find your child's USA Membership number at this website when you login.

You can register at either of these websites:

-USA Wrestling

- Flo Arena

Question: When you register there will be information about what time to arrive for that age weigh ins.  

Can you describe what happens in a wrestling match?

Answer:

• Come to the mat with your headgear on.

• Check in at the table at the mat, they will ask your name and tell you what color ankle band to wear.

• Matches are 3 periods long, unless someone gets pinned, then the match ends.  

• The length of the period differs by age but can range from 1-2 minutes.

• ALWAYS SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF THE MATCH!

• Note to parents: emotions can run high- I would say about 50% of wrestlers cry when they lose. Think about how your wrestler best needs to be consoled when emotions are high. I find it is best to give them space to calm down and talk to them when they are calmer.  

Question: What can I expect at a tournament?

Answer:

• Always bring CASH (entry fee, snack bar, etc.)

• There is food typically, including hot food.

• It is a L-O-N-G day 🙂. Pack food:) 

• Your child will typically wrestle anywhere from 2-5 matches, with three being typical. 

• Your child will typically wrestle others that are within 5-6 lbs of your child’s weight.

• There are medals for the top three placers in each bracket.

Question: How do the weight classes work?

Answer:

• Wrestlers weigh in upon arrival.

• The coordinators will make brackets

Question: What is “Mighty Mights”?

Answer:

• Mighty mights starts at 8:30 sharp!!!!  Please arrive early; 8:00 gives you time to get into venue, get your gear on, meet with coaches and team, register at head table (if you can't find it, ask someone; they like to hide this table.) Cost is $10 dollars per kid. Bring exact change as they usually don't have it for some reason or will have to wait for change.  As always, things can change that are out of my control. Matches are usually 30 seconds and you usually get 3 to 4 matches. Total run time for Mighty Mights is 20-30 minutes and you're free to leave after that if there are no older siblings wrestling.

• Mighty Mights is designed for 6U (6 years old and under) that are not yet eligible for 8U and for first year 8U wrestlers not yet ready to compete. 

• If your child is competing in Mighty Mights there is NO ONLINE registration. This year you pay $10 cash when you arrive at the head table.  You DO NOT have to weigh in.

• They have a referee but they do not keep an official score. The refs do a great job helping our littlest wrestlers learn how to take position on the mat. 

• There is no “winning” and “losing” in Mighty Mights and at the end everyone gets a medal:)

Question: What’s a good way to help my wrestler the night before a tournament?  During a tournament?

Adults- before tournament day make sure to…

Answer:

1. Make an account  for Flo Arena(it is free, don’t get confused and get the paid version). The day of the tournament you use this app to know what mat your wrestler is on and it keeps track of the results

2. Treat the night before like a school night. 

   • Get extra sleep

   • Prepare the food you’ll need for the next day

   • Make sure singlet and other clothes are ready.

3. Gear you will need to be eligible to wrestle: Singlet,Headgear(make sure they don’t fall off or are to loose,Wrestling shoes. 

4. Make sure wrestlers nails are cut. They do a nail and skin check at weigh ins

Arrival at Tournament:

• Wear singlet under your clothes

• Go weigh in 

• Find your team 

• Warm up 

After Tournament:

• Shower!!!

• Talk about successes and set goals for next tournament