Illegal Techniques
(unless explicitly stated for that division)

• No twisting leg locks (heel hooks or toe locks)
• No neck cranks
• No "Full Nelson" and "Crucifix"
• No twister body locks / spinal cranks
• No muscle destructions submission -- calf cutters and bicep cutters
• No striking of any kind
• No deliberate slamming of an opponent
• No spiking an opponent onto their head
• No eye gouging or fish hooking
• No grabbing the ears
• No hair pulling
• No finger or toe holds 
• No thumbing
• No scratching and pinching
• No kicking
• No biting
• No touching the groin area
• No knees or elbows on face
• No slippery substances allowed on body or clothing
• No use of T-Shirt in the applying of a submission.
• No passivity or fleeing the mat: deliberately or repeatedly moving outside the designated mat area, stalling or refusing to engage with an opponent. Committing 3 fouls in a match results in an automatic disqualification

Good sportsmanship is expected at all times: no spitting, swearing, or disobeying of a referee's verbal command.

The referee has FULL discretion to disqualify a competitor immediately after a serious, dangerous or deliberate foul.


Blood stoppage:

Two minutes will be allowed for a cut to stop bleeding. Medical staff can stop a fight immediately if the injury is determined to be too serious.

Referees:

The referee can stop or restart a match at any time if he considers it necessary for safety reasons. The referee’s decision is final and non-negotiable.

Scoring system:

The league runs using a pool format - competitors will face every competitor in his/her pool. There are no points awarded within a match ... points are only awarded based on the outcome of a match: 3 points for a win (submission), 1 point for a draw (1 point goes to each competitor), and 0 for a loss. At the end of the competition the "per match average points" are tallied for each competitor and entered into the season table. The top 5 place finishers at each Qualifier Event will qualify for the Season Championship Event.

T-Shirt Policy
It is preferred that athletes go without a shirt or wear a rashguard. If, however, an athlete chooses to wear a shirt, it must be tight / snug fitting. Loose fitting t-shirts are a health hazard due to the potential of fingers and toes to get wrapped up in the excess material and will not be allowed.

Decision regarding a t-shirts degree of appropriate tightness will be made by the Bullpen judge and / or a ring referee.

No-Contest (NC) Policy
An athlete must compete in more than 50% of his / her matches for a Per Match Average (PMA) to be calculated and count for placement in a division.

For example, if an athlete is an a pool of 5 competitors, is suppose to compete in 4 matches for the day, wins his two match but gets injured to the point where he can't compete, he is disqualified from placing. His days performs will be calculated as follows:

Match 1: 3 points
Match 2: 3 points
Match 3: NC
Match 4: NC

PMA: 6 / 2 = 3. However, athlete is disqualified for not competing in over 50% of his matches

Same situation, but the athlete wins his first three matches, but is injured to the point where he can't compete in match #4, his days performs will be calculated as follows:

Match 1: 3 points
Match 2: 3 points
Match 3: 3 points
Match 4: NC

PMA: 9 / 3 = 3

If an athlete chooses not to compete, that is not a No-Contest (NC). That is a forfeit and is recorded as a zero (0). A No-Contest (NC) is only recorded when an athlete is physically unable to continue competition.

Coaches credentials
Only coaches that register with the tournament by the time registration closes and sign the coaches responsibilities agreement will receive coaching credentials to the competition floor. For clubs with less than 10 athletes competing, we will only allow 2 formal coaching credentials. For clubs with greater than 10 athletes, we will allow for more credentialed coaches.

Visit the Coaches page for more details and a link to the coach registration form.

Coaches on the competition floor
A coach is only permitted on the competition floor while actively coaching an athlete who is competing. Only one coach per athlete.

Upon the conclusion of the match, the coach is expected to leave the competition floor area and return to the competitors' coral or to the spectators' bleachers. Refusal to do so will result in being escorted out of the event.

Registration - Athletes

All competitors MUST register for the correct ability level and weight categories. At weigh-ins competitors will be given 1 chances to make the weight. It is the competitor's responsibility to show up within their declared weight class.

All pools / brackets will be posted (with a rough schedule) in the main training facility.