The challenge is the action through which the coach is allowed, on behalf of the wrestler, to stop the action and request the jury of appeal and the refereeing body to watch the video evidence in case of a disagreement with the call. This possibility only exists during competitions in which the video control is formally established by UWW and the Organizing Committee.

The coach must request the challenge by throwing a soft object on the mat, immediately after the refereeing body has awarded or failed to award points to the contested situation. If the wrestler disagrees with the coach's decision, the sponge is returned and the match continues.

The organizers also have the obligation to use the UWW competition management system and to project the video on a big screen (1 per mat minimum) that must be visible from the entire venue. This screen can be either a plasma screen or a white board used with a projector.

In case of a major technical problem which would not allow the review of the contested action, the refereeing body's initial decision will be enforced and soft object thrown by the coach should be given back.

Specific points

Each wrestler is entitled to one (1) challenge per match. If after reviewing the challenge the jury of appeal modifies the decision in favor of the wrestler who requested for challenge, then the challenge can be used again during the match by the concerned wrestler.

If the jury of appeal confirms the decision by the refereeing body, the wrestler loses the challenge and his opponent will receive one (1) technical point.

The mat chairman shall demand to stop the match to review the challenge as soon as the situation on the mat becomes neutral.

In case of dispute between the refereeing body and the coach, the refereeing body is allowed to refuse a challenge only after the approval of the Jury of Appeal. The mat chairman and/or the referee cannot decline a challenge by them self.

No challenge can be requested for penalties given as a result of passive wrestling or in the event of a fall, being understood that the fall must be confirmed by the mat chairman further to the decision of either the referee or the judge (challenge request for illegal attacks or counter - attacks, action just between the last seconds and the end of the time, before the fall should be accepted). If there are less than 30 seconds remaining in a Freestyle bout and the refereeing body agrees unanimously that one of the wrestlers is passive, they may issue 1 point for fleeing-the-hold. Should this point determine the winner of the match, the other wrestler may request a challenge.

No challenge can be requested after the end of the regular time of a period, except when the points are added to the scoreboard after the referee's whistle or in case action occurred just before the time is over. The coach has 5 seconds from the time the questioned score is posted on the official scoreboard to request a challenge.

The coach requesting the challenge must do so from his seat, without stepping on the mat or approaching the judge's or the mat chairman's table.

After having reviewed the action, the Jury of Appeal renders its decision first. The Jury of Appeal intervenes and renders its decision in all cases. A unanimous decision by the Jury of Appeal will be final and may not be discussed. If the members of the Jury of Appeal disagree, another review of the action will be requested. Then the majority decision of the Jury of Appeal and the refereeing body will prevail.

It is not possible to request a "counter challenge" once a final decision has been made by the jury of appeal.

As mentioned in the article about the Jury of Appeal, they are allowed to request a consultation (please refer to the article 22)