SUB LEAGUE/GROUND WARRIOR RULES & DIVISIONS

1. Submission (physical and verbal)
2. Referee stoppage (medical or rule infringement)
3. Corner/coach stops fight

Submissions and takedowns depend on age and skill level. Please see the complete listing of allowed and disallowed holds and takedowns for each division below.

Note the shift in ages for the Youth Divisions (now ages 5-12) and Teen Divisions (now ages 13-17). Previously ages 5-13 and 14-17, respectively.

Disallowed unless explicitly stated for that division:

• No twisting leg locks (heel hooks or toe locks). Exception: Heel hooks and reaping are allowed in elite no-gi divisions.
• No reaping
• No neck cranks
• No “Full Nelson”
• No twister body locks / spinal cranks
• No muscle destruction submissions. Exception: Calf and bicep cutters are allowed in brown-black belt and advanced-elite no-gi divisions.
• No striking of any kind
• ZERO tolerance on slamming. Slamming to escape the guard and various submissions from the guard may result in competitor being immediately disqualified. Note: Takedowns are not considered slamming, unless intent to injure is determined by the referee. It is the competitor’s responsibility to deliver opponent safely to the mat.
• 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 or 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 inserting of fingers inside pat cuffs or sleeves for grip. Additionally, no inserting of foot into opponent’s belt to hold, push, or lift opponent.
• No use of rash guard/shirt in applying submission
• No passivity or fleeing the mat: deliberately or repeatedly moving outside the designated mat area, stalling or refusing to engage with an opponent are considered a foul. Committing four (4) 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 commands.
• The referee has FULL discretion to disqualify a competitor immediately after a serious, dangerous, or deliberate foul.

The following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Slamming opponent
• Egregious application of forbidden action
• Fleeing mat to avoid submission
• Arguing with the referee
• Unsportsmanlike conduct against other competitors, referee, coach, or public

• Leg Locks are ILLEGAL in all Youth and Teen divisions with the following exceptions – straight ankle locks are legal for Teen blue belts and Teen advanced no-gi.
• Straight ankle locks are legal for all adult belt levels and no-gi divisions; turning in direction of foot not under attack is allowed for brown-black belts and advanced-elite no-gi divisions only.
• Straight knee bars are legal for brown-black belts and intermediate-advanced-elite no-gi divisions only.
• Figure 4 toe holds are legal for brown-black belts and advanced-elite no-gi divisions only.
• Heel hooks are legal for elite no-gi divisions only.
• Note: Reaping (crossing your leg from outside in over your opponent’s hip or thigh while attacking a foot) is illegal in all divisions (with the exception of elite no-gi divisions).

• In no-gi, no crushing or squeezing neck with hands or forearm. In gi, no crushing or squeezing neck with hands or forearm without choke (grip on gi required).
• No pulling on head to finish Triangle choke (straining the neck) except in junior blue belt.
• Where Guillotines are allowed: No standing Guillotine chokes. Must not try to finish choke standing. Attacking athlete must sit back to the ground in a safe manner. No throws while holding Guillotine (must have head and arm for throws).
• No lock inside closed guard with legs compressing kidneys or ribs. No jumping guard.
• For safety reasons, once a correct position for an arm lock or choke has been achieved, the referee may immediately stop the fight without waiting for the lock to be applied fully. This allows young competitors to learn the basics of submission grappling and Jiu Jitsu in a safe environment.
• The third stoppage for crying in the same match will be treated the same as a medical stoppage. Additionally, yelling out may be considered a verbal tap (in all divisions).

Regulation Match Times:

• Youth gi and no-gi matches consist of one 3-minute round.
• Teen gi and no-gi matches consist of one 4-minute round.
• Adult/Master white and blue belt gi matches consist of one 5-minute round.
• Adult/Master purple, brown, and black belt gi matches consist of one 6-minute round.
• Adult/Master beginner and intermediate matches consist of one 4-minute round.
• Adult/Master advanced and elite matches consist of one 6-minute round.

The number of matches in a day that an athlete will have is determined by the number of competitors in the entire division and how that breaks down into pools. It is our goal to get an athlete three to five matches in a day.

Tie-breaker Match Times:

In the case of a division tie, when two or more athletes’ per match averages tie for first place, the “tied” athletes may compete in additional matches. These matches will be half the length of the division’s regulation match time. Additionally, Sub League reserves the right to either tie-break, or not tie-break, second and third place ties.

• Stopping a match when out of bounds is at the discretion of the referee – considering safety of position, interference of other matches, etc.
• Competitors who move onto or outside the ring border when standing can (at the discretion of the referee) be restarted standing in the center of the mat.
• If competitors move outside the ring while in an established ground position, the action may be frozen and moved back to the center of the mat, in position.
• If competitors move outside the ring area, while in a scramble, the athletes will be brought to the center of the ring and restarted standing.
• If a take down or throw occurs with throwing athlete having both feet in bounds the take down will be relocated to center of the ring.
• If any part of the throwing athlete’s feet or foot are outside of ring during throw then athletes may be restarted standing.
• Deliberately or repeatedly moving outside the ring area will be considered stalling and penalized accordingly. Athletes will not escape submission by fleeing the ring.

Hygiene:

At weigh-ins, all competitors will be checked for communicable diseases, not limited to but including ring-worm, staph, herpes, and impetigo. If a competitor is deemed to have a communicable disease, they will be disqualified. Shoes must be worn AT ALL TIMES, except when on competition mat. Competitors found barefoot in restrooms may be disqualified. Disqualification is non-refundable.

Protective Gear:

• Protective mouth guards are highly recommended for all competitors.
• Use of any foot gear, headgear, hair pins, jewelry, cups (genital protectors), or any other protector fashioned of hard material that may cause harm to an opponent or the athlete him/herself is forbidden. Also forbidden is the use of eyewear and/or eye protectors, even if they are made for sports practices.
• The use of joint protectors (knee, elbow braces, etc.) that increase body volume to the point of making it harder for an opponent to grip the Gi are also forbidden.
• Guage holes must be taped; participation is at your own risk.

Gi Attire:

A clean solid-colored Jiu Jitsu uniform (white, royal blue, black or pink) is required to compete in the Gi divisions. The fabric of the pants and jacket (including the lapel/collar) must all be the same color. Uniform jacket must have a four finger space at cuff and sleeves within 3 inches of wrist. Pants must be within 3 inches of ankles. Adult male competitors are not allowed to wear clothing under the Gi jacket. Athletes must wear undergarments: The use of thong-type undergarments is not permitted; only brief-type undergarments may be worn (immediate disqualification will occur if it is discovered that competitor is not wearing proper undergarments during a match).

No-gi Attire:

Board shorts/fight shorts that are above the knee (with no pockets or with pockets entirely stitched shut) or tights are required lower body attire (gi pants are not allowed). No buttons, zippers, drawstrings or anything that could scratch opponent allowed. Upper body must be covered by rash guard (tight fitting compression shirt). Tank tops and t-shirts are not allowed. Athletes must wear undergarments: The use of thong-type undergarments is not permitted; only brief-type undergarments may be worn (immediate disqualification will occur if it is discovered that competitor is not wearing proper undergarments during a match).

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.

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

The referee will call you to the mat. Wait at edge of mat until directed by referee.
You may only talk to the referee for Medical or Uniform issue; such as my pants are
coming off, or I am bleeding.

The referee will use four main Portuguese commands that each competitor needs to know:

1. COMBATE (com-ba-tchee)
   This is the start/restart of match.
2. PAROU (pa-row)
   This means stop. When referee gives this command, athletes should hold their
   position and maintain all grips until directed by the referee to move. Failure to
   comply may result in a penalty.
3. LUTE (lu-tchee)
   This means that one or both athletes have been called for stalling and are being given a penalty. Referee will point at you or touch your shoulder if you cannot see the referee. DO NOT STOP the match when you hear this word. It is simply a notification that you have been given a penalty for a stalling.
4. FALTA (fal-tah)
   This means an athlete has been called for a penalty for doing something illegal that does not warrant a disqualification. Referee will point at you or touch your shoulder if you cannot see the referee. DO NOT STOP the match when you hear this word. It is simply a notification that you have been given a penalty for a rule infraction.

Weigh-ins take place in the Bullpen just prior to competing (wearing full competition attire). Competitors have only one opportunity to make weight. Competitors weighing more than the maximum weight listed for their division will be DISQUALIFIED and will NOT be allowed to compete. Disqualification is non-refundable. Over weight competitors will NOT be moved to another weight division.

The Ground Warrior Submission Challenge runs in a pool format — competitors will face every athlete in their pool. There are no points awarded within a match. Scores are awarded based on the outcome of a match.

Scores awarded after REGULATION matches are as follows:

• 3 for a win (submission)
• 1 for a draw (1 goes to each competitor)
• 0 (zero) for a loss

At the end of the competition, the “per match average scores” are tallied for each competitor. An athlete must compete in more than 50 percent of their matches for a Per Match Average (PMA) to be calculated and count for placement in a division.

Division Tie-breakers

In the case of a division tie, when two or more athletes’ per match averages tie for first place, the “tied” athletes may compete in additional “tie-breaker” matches. During the tie-breaker matches, if no submission is acheived, the referee(s) will decide the outcome of the match (no longer recognizing draws). The referee(s) decision is based on the competitors’ legitimate submission attempts, positional dominance, and overall match control.

Scores awarded after TIE-BREAKER matches are as follows:

• 5 for a win (by submission)
• 3 for a win (by referee’s decision)
• 0 (zero) for a loss

Sub League reserves the right to either tie-break, or not tie-break, second and third place ties.

A No-Contest (NC) is recorded when an athlete is physically unable to continue competition. If an athlete is in a pool of 5 competitors, is supposed to compete in 4 matches for the day, wins his first 2 matches, but gets injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last 2 matches, he is disqualified from placing. His day’s performance will be calculated as follows:

• Match 1: 3 Points
• Match 2: 3 Points
• Match 3: NC
• Match 4: NC
• PMA: 0 (zero)

Same situation, but the athlete wins his first 3 matches, then is injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last match, his day’s performance will be calculated as follows:

• Match 1: 3 Points
• Match 2: 3 Points
• Match 3: 3 Points
• Match 4: NC
• PMA: 9/3=3 Points

Note that if an athlete must discontinue a match due to an unintentional, non-negligent injury incurred during said match, that match is scored as a loss (zero) and counts towards his or her Per Match Average.

If an athlete chooses not to compete, that is not considered a No-Contest (NC). That is a forfeit and is recorded as a zero (0). If an athlete is disqualified during a match (i.e. for committing foul(s)), they also receive a zero (0). For example, the athlete wins his first 3 matches, then either chooses not to compete in his last match or is disqualified during his last match, his day’s performance will be calculated as follows:

• Match 1: 3 Points
• Match 2: 3 Points
• Match 3: 3 Points
• Match 4: 0 Points
• PMA: 9/4=2.25 Points

Divisions with only two people will compete best two out of three matches.

In a 3-person division, if one competitor is injured during the first round and cannot continue, the two remaining competitors will restart the division in a best two out of three matches format.

Coaches must pre-register by the Thursday before the event in order to receive free admission (one free coach entry for every five athletes competing). See the Coaches page to register and for more details.

In the pursuit of safety and fairness, in all female-designated divisions, athletes must register and compete in the division that aligns with their sex assigned at birth.