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YOUTH WRESTLING TOURNAMENT SERIES
Compete. Get ranked. Earn your place on the RAF main stage.
START YOUR RUN
The best wrestlers in the world already compete in RAF. Now the next generation has a path to get there.
Introducing RAF NEXT GEN — a national youth wrestling tournament series built for the next wave of athletes rising through the sport. Wrestlers compete at events tied directly to RAF weekends, build rankings over time and earn the opportunity to qualify for marquee championship events contested on the RAF main stage.
Same weekends. Same environment. Same spotlight.
- Full bracketed competition
- Age divisions - 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U
- 47 total weight classes
- Saturday: Weigh-ins
- Sunday AM: Opening rounds + placement matches
- Sunday PM: Finals
For registration quesitons and support email compete@realamericanfreestyle.com
THE CHAMPIONSHIP JOURNEY
For parents and coaches
faq
No. RAF NEXT GEN is open to wrestlers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a first-year competitor or a national champion, you’re welcome to compete.
All RAF NEXT GEN events are contested in Folkstyle.
RAF NEXT GEN uses USA Wrestling age divisions, which are determined by birth year.
The inaugural RAF NEXT GEN event will be co-ed. Dedicated girls divisions for 12U and 15U will be added as the series expands.
Athletes must compete in at least 2 of 5 qualifying events to be eligible for the Main Stage Championship.
Points are earned based on tournament finish, and the athletes with the highest point totals will advance to the Main Stage.
Tiebreakers are determined in the following order: 1) Highest individual tournament finish, 2) Point differential, 3) Number of RAF NEXT GEN events competed in.
The Main Stage Championship is the culminating event of each RAF NEXT GEN season.
After five qualifying tournaments, the top point earners in each division advance to compete on the RAF Main Stage alongside the sport’s biggest stars.
The first Main Stage Championship is scheduled for December 2026.
RAF NEXT GEN events take place alongside RAF weekends throughout the year.
Each season consists of five qualifying events, followed by a Main Stage Championship event.
Future championship events are expected to align with major wrestling participation windows, including summer break and winter break.
Yes. International athletes are welcome to participate.
For registration assistance, please contact info@usawrestling.org.
Athletes who miss weight will be moved into the next available weight class.
RAF NEXT GEN is designed as a recurring national tournament series. The current format includes five qualifying events followed by a Main Stage Championship, with additional events and divisions expected as the platform grows.
RAF NEXT GEN is the official youth pathway to wrestling’s new main stage.
Athletes earn points, build rankings, and compete for the opportunity to qualify for championship competition alongside the biggest names in the sport.
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