RULES

The referee is the highest authority in a match.

YOUTH - 3 minute round, submission only to win.

ADULTS - 4 minute round, submission only to win.

In the case of no submission there will be a 1 minute overtime with the first take down being the winner.

If there is no take down there will be a coin flip to determine choice of position for back control. This will be a 1 minute round.

The winner is determined by either earning a submission or surviving the round.

Matches will be stopped when a competitor cries out or verbally tap out. All matches can be stopped at the referee’s discretion for the safety of all competitors.

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YOUTH

SUPLEX TAKE DOWN TECHNIQUE

SPIKING

SPIKING IS AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION

BODY-SLAM OF ANY TYPE

BENDING FINGERS BACKWARDS

WRIST LOCK

BICEP SLICER

SUBS BELOW WAISTLINE

"CAN OPENER" (KUBI-HISHIGI)

NECK CRANK

If youth applies an illegal technique, the referee will stop the fight and undo the illegal move. No penalty will be given and the match will be restarted by the referee unless the referee understands that the illegal technique is being used to get some advantage in the fight. In this case, penalties can be applied.

When an athlete taps twice with his/her hand on the opponent, ground, or his/herself in a clear and apparent manner.

When the athlete taps the ground twice with his/her foot when arms are trapped by an opponent.

When the athlete verbally withdraws, requesting for the match be stopped.

When the athlete screams or emits noise expressing pain while trapped in a submission hold

When one of the athletes is suffering from cramps, the opponent shall be declared the winner of the match.

When the referee perceives that hold in place may expose the athlete to serious physical injury.

When an athlete is bleeding that cannot be contained after being treated no more than 2 occasions.

When an athlete vomits or loses control of basic bodily functions, with involuntary urination or bowel incontinence.

YOUTH

When bracketing, it sometimes becomes necessary to merge divisions. In doing so, the safety and fairness of the competitors are paramount. The general rule of thumb when merging is one of the following:

• Mix genders (4-11 years old only)

• Move up in age (no more than 2 years)

• Move up in weight (10 lbs)

• Move up in rank (only 1 rank, 4-15 years old only) Aside from merging the genders, it is uncommon to do more than one of the two options listed above. There are exceptions to this rule.

Example: A 9-year-old boy that weighs 64 lbs can be moved to the 10-11 year-old division against a 10-year-old girl that weighs 67 lbs.

When creating divisions, it is common to mix the boys and girls for the kid’s divisions to ensure matches. Boys and girls will not be mixed in the preteen and teen divisions.

Our age groups are broken down into tiny kids, little kids, kids, preteen, and teen. When selecting your proper age category, you should use the one that properly reflects your age on the date of the tournament.

Tiny Kids (4-5 years old)

Little Kids (6-8 years old)

Kids (9-11 years old)

Preteen (12-14 years old)

Teen (15-17 years old)

It is a referee’s duty to summon the athletes into the match area to initiate the match.

It is a referee’s duty to do a final check to make sure requirements – such as attire, hygiene, etc. – are being met. Should an athlete not meet any of the requirements, it is the referee’s duty to determine whether the requirement can be met within a determined amount of time.

It is a referee’s duty to position the athletes in the match area prior to the match.

It is a referee’s duty to ensure both competitors remain safe not using any illegal techniques.

It is a referee’s duty to call a start to the match.

It is a referee’s duty to intervene in a match when deemed necessary.

When the referee stops the fight for any reason, the athletes must maintain their current position to the best of their ability.

It is a referee’s duty to make sure the athletes fulfill their obligation to compete within the combat area.

When 2/3 of the athletes’ bodies are outside the combat area in a stabilized position on the ground, the referee should stop the match and, noting the position of each athlete, restart the match at the center of the match area with the athletes in positions identical to those they were in at the moment of stoppage.

While standing, one of the athletes’ steps into the safety area (unless a takedown attempt has already been initiated), or when 2/3 of the athletes’ bodies are outside the combat area during not-yet-stabilized ground fighting, the referee shall interrupt the match and stand both athletes up in the center of the combat area.

When an athlete has a submission hold in place in the outlying safety area, the referee should not interrupt the match.

When one athlete takes his opponent to the outlying safety area while trying to stabilize a scoring position, the referee shall wait, whenever possible, for an athlete to stabilize the position for 3 seconds before stopping the fight. If this happens, the referee will restart the fight in the center of the combat area.

It is a duty of referees overseeing matches to protect the athlete’s spinal column by positioning themselves behind the youth when lifted off the ground by the opponent, as in the case of a triangle or closed guard

It is a referee’s duty to call an end to the match upon reaching regulation time.

It is a referee’s duty to announce the result of the match.

It is a referee’s duty to raise the arm of the winner of the match and only that of the winner, even in the event of two athletes from the same academy coming to an agreement designating the match result