RULES

Future Stars (Kids): 4 Minutes

• First 2 Minutes - No Points

• Last 2 Minutes - Points Scored

Future Stars (Teens): 6 Minutes

• First 3 Minutes - No Points

• Last 3 Minutes - Points Scored

Sub Spectrum (Adults & Masters): 6 Minutes

• First 3 Minutes - No Points

• Last 3 Minutes - Points Scored

Sub Spectrum (Advanced Absolute Finals): 8 Minutes

• First 4 Minutes - No Points

• Last 4 Minutes - Points Scored

Overtime:

• If the match is tied at the end of regulation, athletes will be restarted (on the feet) in the center of the mat for an un-timed sudden death overtime where the first point or points scored will determine the winner of the match.

• Positive points will only be awarded during the second half of the match.

• Point scoring attacks must be initiated during the point scoring period to count. Attacks initiated during the unscored portion of the match and completed during the scored portion of the match will not count.

• If you are in a point scoring position when the point scoring period begins, no points will be awarded. There must be an advancement of position during the point scoring period for points to be scored.

• All scoring positions must be held for a minimum of 3 seconds in order for the points to be awarded.

Simple Scores:

• Guard Pass: 3 Points

• Mounted Position: 2 Points

• Back Control (Both Hooks or Body Triangle): 3 Points

• Takedown (Ending In The Guard or Half Guard): 2 Points

• Sweep (Ending in The Guard, Half Guard, or Turtle): 2 Points

• Knee on Belly: 2 Points

Combination Scores:

• Full Takedown (Ending Passed The Guard): 5 Points

• Full Sweep (Ending Passed The Guard): 5 Points

• Guard Pass (Directly to Mount or Knee On Belly): 5 Points

Guard Passes:

• Guard Pass points will be awarded when the top player has cleared all entanglements from the bottom player’s lower body and has pinned at least one of the bottom players shoulder blades to the mat.

• Guard Pass points will be awarded if the bottom player remains on their side and is no longer attempting to escape or turtle.

Mounted Position:

• Mount points will be awarded when the top player is sitting on the bottom player’s torso (face up or face down) with two knees or one knee and one foot on the mat.

• Mount points will be awarded for reverse mount as long as it satisfies the requirements listed above.

• The top player must be clear of any entanglement on the lower leg in order to be awarded Mount points.

Back Control:

• Back Control points will be awarded when the attacking player achieves both hooks (heels between the defending player’s thighs) or body triangle and has connected their hands around the defending player’s torso.

• Crossed ankles will not score points.
  

Takedowns:

• Takedown points will be awarded when a standing player’s attack forces their opponent’s back, butt, or side to the mat.

• If a takedown is initiated and the defending player turtles, the top player must cover the hips of the turtled player with at least one of the defending player’s knees on the mat for 3 seconds before Takedown points will be scored.

• Takedown points will be awarded for the top player if the turtled player concedes to their back or side while defending a takedown.

• The top player must be clear of any submission threat and maintain the top position for 3 seconds prior to Takedown points being awarded.

Sweeps & Reversals:

• Sweep Points will be awarded any time the bottom player reverses the position and maintains the top position for 3 or more seconds.

• Sweep Points will be awarded for the following reversals:

  • Bottom Mount or Back Taken —> Top Guard (Closed, Half, Open, etc.)

  • Bottom Side Control —> Top Guard (Closed, Half, Open, etc.)

  • Bottom Side Control —> Top Side Control will be scored as a Full Sweep (5 Points)

• Sweep points will not be awarded if the top player initiates a submission attack and ends up in the bottom position.

• If the bottom player initiates a sweep and the top player responds with a submission attack, sweep points will be awarded once they have cleared the submission threat and controlled the top position for 3 seconds.

• If the bottom player initiates a sweep and the top player turtles in defense, the sweeping player must cover the hips of the turtled player with at least one of the defending player’s knees on the mat for 3 seconds before Sweep points will be scored. Again, if the turtled player concedes to their back or side, Sweep points will be awarded for the top player.

• A sweeping player must be clear of any submission threat and maintain top control for 3 seconds prior to Sweep points being awarded.

Knee On Belly:

• Knee On Belly points will be awarded when the top player, clear of any entanglement from the bottom’s players lower body, places a knee or shin on the bottom player’s stomach with their opposite knee fully off the mat.

• Top player must have at least one of the bottom player’s shoulder blades pinned to the mat for points to be awarded.

• Points will not be awarded if the bottom player is on their side.

• Either knee (inside or outside) is eligible to score.

Referees may issue a warning for any of the fouls listed below prior to taking a point. If the foul is deemed egregious or unnecessary, the referee may issue a negative without prior warning.

Negative points will be reflected as “penalties” on the scoreboard, but functionally they are negative points meaning they will deduct from the competitor’s point total.

Guard Pulls:

• Illegal guard pulls will be subject to penalization (read below)

• In order for a guard pull to be considered legal, athletes must satisfy one of the following:

  • Have a secure grip established with both hands when pulling guard.

  • OR Initiate an earnest attack that results in a purposeful connection within 3 seconds of pulling guard.

Guard Pull Penalization:

• If a guard pull does not satisfy one of the above listed criteria and the guard pulling athlete remains on the mat for 3 seconds, the referee will stop the match, issue a warning, and restart the competitors standing in the center of the mat.

• If the same player pulls guard again without satisfying one of the above listed criteria and remains on the mat for 3 seconds, takedown points will be scored for the opponent. If this occurs during the unscored portion of the match, the referee will issue a penalty to the offending player.

  • Following an illegal guard pull, the referee will call “Caution!” and begin a countdown from 3. If the guard pulling player remains on the mat at the end of the 3 second countdown, the above listed warnings or points will be enforced.

• In the case of a double guard pull, no points will be scored for coming on top.

• If there is no significant action during the 10 seconds following a double guard pull, the referee will ask the athletes to restart standing.

Stalling / Fleeing:

• 3 consecutive retreating steps from an opponent’s guard will result in a negative.

• Refusal to engage or progress position will result in a negative.

• Obvious attempts to play the edge of the mat will result in a negative.

• Intentionally fleeing the mat to defend a non-submission attack will result in a negative.

Behavior:

• Failure to comply with the orders of the referee will result in a negative. More egregious offenses may result in an immediate disqualification.

Wardrobe:

• Gripping the inside of the opponent’s Gi sleeves or pants will result in a negative.

• Gripping an opponent’s No-Gi attire will result in a negative.

• A third negative point of any kind will result in a disqualification.

• Aggressive and unnecessary behavior towards referees, staff, competitors, coaches, or fans will result in a disqualification.

• Intentionally fleeing the mat to avoid a submission will result in a disqualification.

• Any instances of the following will result in a disqualification:

  • Striking, biting, spitting, eye gouging, pulling hair, scratching, pinching, fish hooking, small joint manipulation**, and applying pressure to or squeezing an opponent’s groin.

• Intentionally spiking an opponent on their head or neck will result in a disqualification.

• Failure to release a submission following the referee’s order to stop will result in a disqualification.

• Attempting an illegal technique for your skill level (see techniques allowed below) will result in a disqualification.

• “Greasing” will result in a disqualification.

• ** Small joint manipulation is defined as anytime an opponent grips 3 or fewer fingers and 4 or fewer toes. Competitors must grip all 4 fingers and all 5 toes when making a grip on an opponent’s hand or foot.

Referees and officials reserve the right to refuse a competitors participation for violating any of the below-listed conditions. In the case of a violation, referees and officials will ask the competitor to change their uniform. If the competitor is unable to change their uniform and return to the mat to compete within 6 minutes, the competitor will be disqualified from competing in that match.

REQUIRED

• Athletes are required to wear a rashguard or elastic (form-fitting) top of any color when competing. This applies to Gi and No-Gi divisions.

• Athletes are required to wear underwear underneath their uniforms. Again, this applies to Gi and No-Gi divisions.

• For No-Gi divisions, athletes are required to wear shorts (without pockets, zippers or any kind of plastic/metal) OR "spats" or form-fitting tights to cover the lower body. Shorts must not extend below the knee.

ALLOWED

• Athletes may wear shorts (without pockets, zippers, or any kind of plastic/metal) over any "spats" or form-fitting tights.

• Athletes may wear soft pads or braces on their joints. Pads and braces containing metal, plastic, and velcro are not allowed.

• Athletes may wear thin layers of athletic tape on their joints.

NOT ALLOWED

• Athletes are not allowed to wear any kind of jewelry, hairpins, shoes, socks, or groin protectors.

• Athletes are not allowed to compete shirtless.

GI SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

Referees or officials may ask a competitor to change for the following reasons, specific to Gi divisions.

• The belt is clearly too long or short.

• An abundance of patches prevents a competitor from gripping the Gi.

• The Gi is visible tattered, torn, wet, or unclean.