What constitutes a stalling penalty in wrestling?

A stalling penalty in wrestling is defined primarily by the lack of offensive action from a wrestler. This means that if a competitor fails to initiate an attack or action that could lead to scoring, particularly when they are on their feet, it may be considered stalling. The essence of wrestling involves trying to score points; thus, passivity in attempting to engage the opponent or pursue scoring opportunities is the primary behavior that can lead to a stalling penalty.

While other behaviors, such as excessive movement without scoring, being out of bounds, or ignoring the referee's commands, may also be problematic in matches, they don't specifically capture the essence of stalling as it is defined in the rules. A stalling penalty is fundamentally tied to the idea of actively breaking the competitive spirit by not making attempts to score, distinguishing it from other types of infractions or scenario-driven penalties.