Rules and Code of Conduct
Officials
Time keeper: The person responsible for keeping track of the timed rounds.
Referee: The official responsible for making sure that the match proceeds in an orderly fashion consistent with the goals of the event. Referees are the final authority during match play. Referees have no authority outside of match play. A referee’s responsibilities include:
Ensuring both fighters follow the set rules of conduct for the match.
Ensuring a fair and safe match
Protecting the physical well being of the fighters while keeping the match moving.
Other duties are in service of the above and can be expanded.
Judge: The official(s) responsible for the scoring in the match and are the final authority on the outcome of the match. Judges decisions are subject to referees only during match play. If a judge deducts points for breach of rules or conduct, judges are bound to adjust the scores accordingly. Judges responsibilities include:
Keeping track of hits and point values for the fighters.
Keeping the score tally to determine the winner
Keeping track of illegal hits and notifying the referee when necessary.
Deciding through deliberation when the hits or events during matchplay are too close to call or are in question.
To aid the referees in their responsibilities during match play.
General rules
The following are the general rules for conduct during any type of match. Additional limitations can be decided upon before the match begins but none of the following can be suspended during competition.
- Fighters must heed the judges and referees decisions at all times.All action must stop when a ref or judge calls for it. Judges and referees will separate the fighters if needed. If a fighter is stopped by an official after the point has ended 7 times in a row, they are penalized one point. Fighters may also be deducted points for not respecting the official’s decisions.
- All legal targets must be armored or padded. If a fighter hits an illegal (non protected) target during the match 3 times, they will be penalized one point. If they do not heed the officials warning and hit illegal targets again, they will be penalized 3 points for each hit above three. 3 hits=1 point 4 hits=3 points 5 hits= 3 point etc.
- Legal targets are decided upon before the match begins. Targets cannot be added or subtracted in the middle of a match.
- Illegal targets include: groin, back of neck, lower spine. These targets are NEVER legal as they can cause serious injury or death if struck with sufficient force.
- If the fighters land simultaneous hits, they will cancel each other out regardless of their point value. Judges can stop the match if they perceive “fireballing”- a strategy where a fighter will take low scoring hits to land a larger scoring hit or decisive blow that would have been impossible if they were trying to protect themselves. If a fight is stopped for fireballing, the fighters are separated, given a warning, and finally deducted points if necessary.
- Ring outs will be penalized on a three warning system. 3 ring outs will result in a deduction of points, or the awarding of points to the opponent in the event that one has no points. Points deducted shall not exceed 3.
- Weapon drops/disarms will not be penalized by themselves but require a follow up attack by the opponent. The match does not stop unless one can capitalize and score or prevent the other fighter from retrieving their weapon for 30 sec. If the 30 sec limit is breached, 5 points will be awarded. When one fighter scores on the unarmed opponent, 5 points will be awarded and the action stopped while the fighters reset.