RULEBOOK
©
Any reproduction of this document without
the consent of the NAGA or Kipp Kollar is strictly prohibited.
101.1
Governing Rules
101.2
Group Members
101.3
Registration Period
101.4
Sanction Fees
101.5
Classes of competition
101.6 Restricted participation
102.1
Contestant Guidelines
102.2
Ring Names
102.3
Shaking of Hands
102.4
Medical Aptitude
103.1
Mouthpiece
103.2
Protective Cup
103.3
Breast Protector
103.4
Ear Protector
103.5
Shoes
103.5
Clothing
103.7
Personal Cleanliness
103.8
Jewelry
103.9
Barrettes, etc.
103.10
Foreign Substances
104.1
The Mat
104.2
Mat Care
104.3
Equipment
105.1
Administration
105.2
Promoter
105.3
Coordinator
105.4
Arbitrator/Commissioner
105.5
Chief Referee
105.6
Referee
Notes
on Universal Precautions
105.
7 Judges
Notes
on Decision-making
105.8 Winning The Contest
105.10
Scorekeeper
106.1
Weight Classes
106.2
Length of the Match
106.3
The Draw
106.9
Ratings Points
106.10
Championships
Conduct
Subject to Disciplinary Action
107.1
Conduct Subject to Disciplinary Action
107.2
Fraud
107.3
Inappropriate/Improper Conduct
107.4
Doping/Drug testing
108.1
Hearings and Appeals
108.2
Statute of Limitations
108.3
Filing
108.4
Appeals
INTRODUCTION
(Back to the TOP)
Grappling
is as old as humankind. The creation story of numerous cultures centers on it.
The Japanese trace their origin to a wrestling match between Takeminakata no
Kami (representing man) vs. Takemikaza no Kami (representing God). In the 32nd
chapter of Genesis (Old Testament) Jacob wrestled an angel (he lost).
And in the United States, in Plymouth, the founding fathers wrestled
braves from the friendly Massasoit tribe, as an early exercise in strong-arm
diplomacy.
Formal
wrestling contests have been held as far back as the record of formal contests
extends. In 648 BC, wrestling was first held in the Olympics. 56 years later the
nearly unlimited Pankration event was inaugurated, with only biting and eye
gouging prohibited (in Sparta, even these were allowed). Sometime in the 7th
century BC, the Greeks separated upright and ground wrestling into two events.
Whereas
previously the matches were continued until a throw, the new rules created a
sport played to submission, which was then indicated by raising the index
finger, rather than the now customary sound of one hand tapping. Thus were
codified two of the three great traditions in grappling-throwing and submission.
The third tradition is of course pinning.
Beginning
in 352 BC, fist instruments, the Meilichai, Spharai, and eventually the fully
metal, even jagged-edged Cestus debuted, and in the West, the sport descended
into blood, and eventually oblivion, for well over 1,000 years.
The
dominance evidenced by taking a man to the ground is plain to all. And the
dominance revealed by putting a man on his back and holding him there is clear
even at a mammalian level (animals characteristically attempt to put their
adversary on its back, exposing the weak underbelly). While a number of sports
have maintained the great practices of throwing and pinning, until very
recently, no event has single mindedly emphasized the great tradition of
submission. Submission, over throwing or pinning, has now proven its value
beyond dispute in Mixed Martial Arts competitions.
The
North American Grappling Association
(hereafter referred to as NAGA) is devoted to the promotion in the United States
and Canada of grappling contests centered on submission. It also stands willing
to provide assistance to, and communicate for mutual benefit with, individuals
and groups promoting realistic, submission-oriented contests worldwide.
While
submission is the desired end of a NAGA contest, there is a common thread
running through each tradition of wrestling, be it throwing, pinning, or
submission, and that is the control of the opponent. As will be explained in
detail, in the absence of a submission, control, among other qualities, will be
recognized as a criterion in deciding upon a winner.
Submission
grappling, ideally done, provides a contest that is a genuine test of practical
unarmed fighting ability, is practical to host, is as safe as inherently
possible, and has appeal to a broad base of fans. The purpose of the NAGA shall
be to foster, develop, promote, and coordinate such recreational and competitive
submission grappling opportunities for all member athlete and supportive
participants, and to supervise such other grappling matters that come within
this purview.
These and the following additional purposes shall be consistent
with the provisions of Title II, Sections 202 and 203 , of the Amateur
Sports Act of 1978, Public Law 95-606.
1.
To coordinate those programs and activities which contribute to the
development of individual skills during local, regional, national, and
international programs and activities regardless of race, creed, age, or
national origin.
2. To resolve disputes and grievances involving participating groups and individuals.
101.1
All NAGA competitions will be conducted in accordance with the NAGA rules
detailed herein.
101.2
NAGA group members agree to abide by all NAGA official rules, regulations, and
policies. Group members wanting exceptions to the rules can submit them in the
form of a petition to the Governing Board. The exceptions must be made clear to
all competitors.
101.3
Registration period: January 1 through December 31 annually.
Year
2000 Fees = $0
101.4
Classes of competition
NAGA
recognizes the following classifications. The event promoter will use these as a
guide to organizing the contestants into divisions that best fit the mix of
entrants at his event. These should be publicized beforehand, but may be changed
as necessary on contest day, if there is an unusual make up the contestants in
some aspect. Competitors are divided according to the following criterion: age,
weight, sex, and skill level.
I.
Age
A.
The recognized age categories are: 7 and under, 8-10, 11-12 Boys, 11-13 Girls,
14-16 Girls, 13 & 14 Boys, 15-16 Boys, 17-34, 35-45, 45 +
The
Legal age rule.
1.
All competitors will have the option of competing in the same division all year
long establishing a legal age for the competition year, instead of their
chronological age. However, all contestants will always be allowed to compete in
the division dictated by their chronological age but once this decision is made,
it cannot be reversed for the competition year. A competitor's legal age is
their age on June 30th of the current year.
The
following are two examples of how this system works:
Example
#1: Joseph Jitsu, birth date: March 17, 1982
Joe turns 17 years old before the legal age cutoff of June 30th. If he wants to, he can begin the year competing as an adult since on June 30, 1999 he will be 17 years old. However, if Joe chooses to compete in the 15-16 year old division at the beginning of the year, he must move up to the adult division after his birthday on March 17th.
Example
#2: Stan Gable, birth date September 21, 1982
Stan
turns 17 years old after the legal age cutoff of June 30th. If he wants to he
can compete all year long in the 15-16 year old division, since on June 30, 1999
he will be 16 years old.
3.
The purpose of this rule is to permit a competitor to compete in one division
all year long so that every competitor has an equal opportunity to be Number 1
with out being penalized by their birth date. The legal age rule is only
relative if yearly competitor rankings by age are tabulated.
II.
Weight.
Players
will be divided into any of several different categories, depending upon the
number of players in the division.
1.
If there exist two weight divisions, Women’s cutoffs are:
Lightweight
(to
124.9)
Heavyweight
(125 plus)
1.
If there exist two weight divisions, Men’s cutoffs are:
Lightweight
(to 174.9)
Middleweight
(175+)
2.
For all other categories, the cutoffs are:
Fly
Weight (139.9 lbs. & Under)
Light
Weight (140 to 154.9 lbs.)
Middle
Weight (155 to 174.9 lbs.)
Heavy
Weight (175 to 199.9 lbs.)
Super
Heavy Weight (200 + )
III.
Sex.
Contestants
are further divided by sex. Female competitors can petition the Commissioner to
compete in the men’s division if there is an exceptional circumstance. In
addition, in some of the youth divisions, boys may be paired with girls if there
are insufficient entrants to justify a separate division.
IV.
Skill Level.
Depending
upon the number of contestants expected to enter a given division, or upon the
number of players present in actuality, the division may be grouped with all
skill levels, or it may be divided into Novice/Beginner, Intermediate, and
Advanced.
A.
Novice/Beginner is a player who has less than one year of experience. Anyone who
has competed in a wrestling match cannot enter this division.
B.
Intermediate is a player who has one to two years’ experience.
C. Advanced players have over two years experience.
AN
ASIDE ON:
Skill
level divisions.
Grouping
by skill level is a difficult issue. Martial arts have traditionally grouped by
belt level. No corresponding common grades exist in the various grappling
disciplines. Amateur boxing is divided into Novice (traditionally 0-10, now
often 0-5 fights) and Open divisions (6+ fights). This formula might even work
counter productively in grappling, causing people to limit their contests, an
undesired action. Further, a player with a great deal of experience, but little
contest experience could enter and unfairly dominate a novice division.
The
current division into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, while imperfect,
appears to be the best choice at the moment. It is clearly subject to abuse
however. For it to work, and for the sport to prosper, players and their coaches
must honestly chart that player’s experience, from the date of the first
grappling lesson. All involved must further understand the absurdity of
calculating how often a player trains, and correspondingly trying to bend the
rules. Only train once a week? Well three years training should be about once!
didn’t train last summer? Well two years is about one then!
The
division you enter is calculated from the date of your first formal exposure to
grappling in a class or instructional situation. If you haven’t been training
regularly, well, you should have!
Your
instructor of record may be asked to verify your length of training, and
subsequent division.
Chief
among the difficulties facing organized competitive grappling in this regard is
a very unfortunate tendency on the part of many athletes to misunderstand the
object of sport. The object of sport is not to win, it is to challenge yourself,
to find out how good you are, against the best you can reasonably meet. Some,
perhaps many in the martial arts community are so misunderstanding of this point
that they are content, and even delighted, to have many wins against inferior,
inexperienced opponents. This is an unfortunate reality.
Every
athlete in NAGA should have as their goal to compete against the best, as soon
as prudently possible. To strive for anything less is contrary to everything
that the sport stands for.
We
further hope that with the continued growth of the sport, the problem of people
understating their levels of expertise will fade as experience levels will
become clear from previous events.
ASIDE
ENDS
101.6
Restricted
participation.
Several criteria are characteristically used to restrict athletes from
participating in amateur events. Each of these will be addressed.
I.
Professional Athletes.
As long as the athlete enters the appropriate division, professional fighters
are welcome to compete in NAGA events. Where possible, these individuals will be
given a bye in the initial round, allowing the less experienced players to
compete against each other in the initial round.
II.
International Athletes.
Athletes of all nations are allowed, and indeed are encouraged to compete in
NAGA events.
III.
Incarcerated athletes.
Individuals incarcerated in a penal institution are eligible to register and
participate in informal NAGA programs. Inmates are not authorized to
compete/participate in official events.
IV. Medical Restrictions are noted in a following section
NAGA
Contestants (Back
to the TOP)
102.1
Competition for both adult male and female grapplers shall be conducted in
compliance with all NAGA Technical rules, specific to male, female, and/or both:
I.
Adult male grapplers shall be limited to participation between male grapplers,
and adult female grapplers shall be limited to participation among females. All
grapplers must be registered under their own name, and compete in their
respective age, skill, and weight categories.
II.
Exceptional female grapplers can petition the Commissioner to compete in the
male division. This may be granted in limited circumstances.
102.2
Ring names or nicknames. All grapplers must enter and compete in all
contests under their own name.
102.3
Shaking of hands. As a sign of good sportsmanship, grapplers may shake hands
before the contest, and after the decision is announced.
102.4
Medical Aptitude.
I.
Annual physical. It is recommended that grapplers undergo an annual physical by
a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO). The purpose of
the annual physical is:
A.
To reduce the risk of serious injury to a player before participating in the
sport of grappling.
B.
Annual physical screening may identify a medical problem with the grappler that
has gone undetected and may surface at a later date.
C.
Personal physicians have a better background on grapplers’ medical history.
D.
Reduce liability factor.
E.
Exemplify concern for the medical fitness of the athlete.
II.
Prohibited conditions and/or conditional circumstances.
A.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (AIDS). Any grappler known to have a positive
HIV test shall be prohibited from competing in the sport of grappling. Note: All
athletes are encouraged to receive an annual HIV test.
B.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Any grappler known to have active Hepatitis B Virus
shall be prohibited from competing in the sport of grappling.
C.
A competitor may be disqualified from competition that has on their face, either
orbital or oral, a lesion that is an active herpetic lesion (fever blister or
cold sore).
D.
Vision. The wearing of glasses in competition is prohibited. Any grappler may be
permitted to wear soft contact lenses. If the lens comes out and the grappler
cannot continue, the grappler will lose by RSC (Referee Stops Contest). Any
grappler with an ocular pathology that may result in permanent vision
dysfunction shall be disqualified.
E.
Deaf and/or mute grapplers are eligible to compete. They should make their
condition known to the referee, who will takes steps in his conduct to make his
commands and other duties clear to the deaf and/or mute player.
F.
Cuts and abrasions. No athlete shall be allowed to take part in any contest if
said player has a dressing (bandage, band aid) on a cut, wound, abrasion,
laceration, or swelling. An athlete can compete if an abrasion is covered with
Colodion. A cut occurring during a match in an advancing tournament should be
evaluated in regard to the elimination of the player from the tournament. If the
player is barred from competing further, the other player, regardless of the
outcome in the match thus far, should advance if the cut was accidental. If the
cut is due to a foul, the fouling player will be disqualified.
G.
Senior Division entrants are encouraged to take an annual physical examination,
covering
the elements below. Senior contestants are restricted from competing if they
have any of the following elements present:
1.
No history of diabetes, blood pressure, or chest pain;
2.
Blood pressure more than 145/90;
3.
Graded exercise EKG;
4.
Normal eye examination by an ophthalmologist.
H.
Female grapplers are restricted from competing if they suffer from any of the
following cases:
1.
Confirmed pregnancy; suspected pregnancy must be confirmed or denied before
starting or continuing grappling;
2.
Painful pelvic disease states such as symptomatic endometriosis;
3.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding of undetermined etiology;
4.
Recent secondary amenorrhea of undetermined cause;
5.
Recent breast bleeding;
6.
Recently discovered breast masses; and
7.
Recent breast dysfunction previously not present.
I.
Banned substances. NAGA subscribes to the International Olympic Committee's
(IOC)
NAGA Attire and Equipment
(Back
to the TOP)
103.1
Mouthpieces. Each competitor must wear a custom-made or individually fitted
mouthpiece during a match.
I.
An example of custom made is the "dentist-molded," and the
individually fitted is the clear boiled mouthpiece.
II.
The purpose of the mouthpiece:
(A)
To reduce potential jaw and teeth injuries by allowing the grappler to
"set" their jaw, particularly during takedowns.
(B)
To reduce the possibility of cuts to the inside of the mouth, or on the opposing
player’s person.
103.2 Protective cup (male). All male players, of all ages, to protect against injuries to the groin, must wear a protective cup, prudently one with a tuck under design.
103.4
Ear Protector. Grapplers have the right to wear a headgear. The ear cover
should be as soft as possible. In the case of a harder headgear, players are
expressly forbidden to use the hard surface against their opponent.
103.5
Shoes. Athletes may at their discretion wear shoes designed for grappling.
They must be of soft material without cleats or heels. Common examples are
western wrestling shoes or Russian Sambofki. Under no circumstances can players
wear street shoes.
103.6
Clothing.
I.
The purpose of a special costume for grappling is to protect the grappler, to
allow movement without restriction, to eliminate hazards to an opponent, to give
style to a grappler’s appearance, and to provide for all techniques available
to the grappler. Players can choose to wear the characteristic clothing from any
recognized grappling discipline, including, but not limited to:
A.
A freestyle-wrestling singlet
B.
A Judo gi, either top or bottom or both
C.
A Jiu Jitsu Kimono.
D.
A Kurtka from Sambo.
E.
Full length tights, bike shorts, or Speedos from the Modern Japanese and
professional grappling fields.
F.
Players can also simply wear regular shorts.
II. A bare torso is allowed. Female athletes must wear a sports bra at a minimum.
III.
Clothing can contain information on the wearer’s gym or sponsor. Ideally the
clothing presents an appearance that is athletic in nature. Athletes are
requested not to wear shirts that would indicate frivolity, or a lack of
seriousness on the part of the wearer. Shirts that are obscene or offensive are
explicitly disallowed from competition.
IV.
Apparel cannot have zippers, straps, buckles, metal, or any aspect that may
cause injury.
V.
All players should understand that clothing can be used both to and against
their advantage. In this process, it is very easy for T-shirts to become torn.
It is strongly suggested that several T-shirts be brought to the competition if
one is decided to be worn.
Players dressing and grooming without an understanding of the uses of clothing
in grappling do so to their disadvantage.
103.7
Personal cleanliness is mandatory.
103.8
Players cannot compete wearing any jewelry. In a special case where a piece
of jewelry cannot be removed, it must be taped or otherwise rendered harmless.
103.9
Barrettes and hairpins are not to be used to secure hair. Hair may be
secured using rubber bands or other soft banding devices.
103.10
Application of foreign substances to the body.
I.
Lubricant. The use of any type of grease/Vaseline on the body is prohibited. The
purpose of the prohibition against grease:
A.
Grease interferes with the application of many submission and control
techniques, creating an exhausting and uninteresting stalemate situation.
B.
Grease, after contact with the ground, collects dust and dirt that can be ground
into vulnerable portions of the body, including the eyes.
II.
Analgesic. The use of any type of analgesic on the body is prohibited. The
purpose of the prohibition against analgesic:
A.
Analgesic can cause severe irritation to the eyes, and even to the skin
generally.
B.
Analgesic, when distributed liberally, can interfere with the application of
many
submission
and control techniques, creating an exhausting and uninteresting stalemate
situation.
C. Analgesic, when distributed liberally, can after contact with the ground, collect dust and dirt that can be ground into vulnerable portions of the body, including the eyes.
The
Mat and Mat Implements (Back
to the TOP)
104.1
The mat. Historically, factors influencing the specifications of mats have
been the following: the provision of more space to wrestle with fewer
interruptions, the shape of the competition area to encourage fewer
interruptions (it is hope that a circular mat provides less opportunities to
leave the area than does
a square), the protection of the athlete, and expense and availability.
I.
The mat surface shall be any of several materials and thicknesses that are in
use for any established grappling discipline. This includes Judo tatami and
ensolite wrestling mats. The mat shall be as large as possible, given the
constraints of the space in question. Among others, the following contest
surfaces are recognized.
A.
Wrestling
B.
Judo.
C.
Sambo
II.
If the contest takes place on an elevated surface, means must be available to
protect the players from falling off. Protective barriers include ring ropes and
a cage.
A.
The elevation must be no more than four feet.
B.
In a ring or cage, the support posts must be padded sufficiently to
prevent injury from the contact expected during the normal execution of a match.
104.2
Mat care. The mat should be washed down with a 10 percent household bleach
solution prior to the event.
104.3
Equipment.
A.
Chairs and clipboards/tables for judges, announcers, timekeepers, medical
personnel, administration, media, etc.
B.
Score cards if used, plus extra copies of scorecards. Extra pens and clipboards,
if used.
105.1
Administration. Officials who are responsible for and/or enforce NAGA
policy, rules, regulations, etc. must be registered. For each event the
following positions must be met, at a minimum:
A.
Promoter
B.
Event
Coordinator
C.
Arbitrator/Commissioner
D.
Chief
Referee
E.
Other
referees as necessary
F.
Judges
as necessary
G.
Time/score
keepers as necessary
H.
Announcer
105.2
Promoter. The promoter is responsible for the entire event. The
responsibilities include: securing a suitable site for the event; securing all
necessary equipment and articles for the event; securing the participation of
the appropriate officials; publicizing the event to the grappling community
before hand; publicizing the event to the local general media, and to the
national martial arts media after the event; collecting all entry and spectator
fees.
105.3
Event Coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for the overall
maintenance of the event.
105.4
Arbitrator/Commissioner. The Commissioner is responsible for defining and
updating all of the rules for the NAGA Submission events. The Commissioner, or
the arbitrator, who acts as his stand in, oversees all ruling made at the
tournament, and is responsible for
and does help to document those rules.
105.5
Chief Referee. The Chief Referee will handle the most difficult divisions
and matches, in concert with the Coordinator. He/she must exemplify the
responsibilities of the referee as detailed in 105.5.
105.6
The Referee.
I.
The primary concern of the referee is to ensure the safety of the grapplers.
II.
Dress. Referees in all NAGA sanctioned competitions shall be dressed in a
vertically striped black and white shirt, dark trousers, preferably black, and
dark heelless shoes, preferably dark. No metal or other badges, watches,
earrings, necklaces, rings (other than a wedding ring), large buckle or other
solid objects may be worn.
III.
Duties. The referee shall officiate on the mat and shall:
A.
See that the rules and fair play are strictly observed.
B.
Maintain control of the contest in all its stages.
C.
Prevent a weaker competitor from receiving undue and unnecessary punishment.
D.
Check the attire of the players.
E.
Indicate to the competitor suitable explanatory signs, gestures. or verbal
description of any infringement of the rules.
F.
At the end of the contest shall announce the winner of the contest by raising
the athlete’s hand or otherwise making clear the outcome.
IV.
Powers of the referee
A.
To terminate immediately a contest when an opponent has submitted.
1.
Towards this end, the referee is encouraged before the contest to reiterate to
the players the importance of submitting in as obvious a manner as a possible.
Whether the submission is indicated by tapping wither hand or foot or verbally,
or both, it must be absolutely as clear as possible. A good standard is that the
player should submit in such a fashion that the entire audience understands what
has happened. To put it simply "TAP BIG."
2.
The referee is encouraged to maintain a physical proximity to a contest in a
near submission situation such that movement of the aggressive contestant can be
physically stopped if necessary.
B.
To terminate, at any stage, a contest considered to be too one sided.
C.
To terminate, at any stage, a contest in which one athlete has received an
injury on
account
of which the referee and/or medical personnel decides the contest should not
continue.
D.
To terminate, at any stage, a contest in which the referee considers the
grapplers not in earnest. In such cases, the referee may disqualify one or both
competitors.
E.
To caution a grappler or to stop the grappling during a contest and administer a
warning to a grappler for fouls or for any other reason in the interests of fair
play or to ensure compliance with the rules.
F.
The referee can at his discretion stop the players in place, with the
admonishment that they must remain with the situation of advantage or
disadvantage unchanged, or he can return the grapplers to standing in the center
of the mat (there is no standard ground or
starting position for a NAGA event. The referee can also move both
grapplers to a better location on the mat, maintaining the relative positions of
advantage or disadvantage.
Among
the situations that may warrant this are:
1.
Grapplers are out of bounds.
2.
Grapplers are exhibiting no activity.
3.
Uniform is so out of adjustment that the players lend a poor image to the sport.
4.
Grapplers cautioned for illegal hold.
5.
To check for potential injury.
G.
To disqualify a grappler who fails to comply immediately with referees orders or
behaves towards referee in an offensive or aggressive manner at any time, before
a winner has been announced.
H.
To disqualify a coach, or assistant coach, who has infringed the rules and, if
the coach or assistant does not comply with the referees orders, the associated
grappler.
I.
With or without warning to disqualify a grappler for committing a foul.
J.
With or without warning to disqualify a grappler for unsportsmanlike conduct,
which occurs when a player behaves in such a manner that a reasonable onlooker
might question the character of the players in the sport.
K.
To stop the bout temporarily, in the case of an injury, at the request of the
grappler, to have the injury adequately evaluated.
L.
To render a decision to one grappler, either alone, or with two corner judges if
the size and availability so determines that arrangement. If possible, the
referee will solely control the match, and the three corner judges will render
the decision.
IV.
Cautions. A referee may caution a grappler. A caution is in the nature of advice
or admonishment given by the referee to a grappler to check or prevent
undesirable practices or less serious infringements of the rules. To do so, the
referee will not necessarily stop the contest, but may avail of a suitable safe
opportunity during a match to admonish a grappler for an infringement of the
rules.
V.
Warnings. If a grappler infringes the rules but does not merit disqualification,
the referee shall stop the contest and shall issue a warning to the offender. As
a preliminary to a warning, the referee shall order the grappler to stop. The
warning shall be shall be clearly given and in such a way that the grappler
understands the reason and the purpose of the warning. Specifically, the referee
will get the complete attention of the offending party by pointing and looking
directly at said grappler, where upon the infringement will be made clear.
VI.
Dress Infraction. The referee shall exclude from competition any grappler who
does not wear a cup protector (males) and mouthpiece or who is not clean and
properly dressed. In the event a grappler’s attire becomes undone, the referee
can stop the contest to have it tended to. In the case of a mouthpiece becoming
dislodged, the referee can stop the contest to allow the player to reinsert the
mouthpiece. Under no circumstances is a player to voluntarily eject the
mouthpiece. So doing is subject to a warning, as is explained further in the
section on fouls.
VII.
Replacing a referee during a bout. If a referee becomes incapacitated or is
otherwise unable to competently officiate, the timekeeper shall stop the clock,
and the next available neutral referee shall be instructed to control the match,
and order grappling to resume.
VIII.
Referees may, at their discretion, call medical personnel onto the mat during a
match to examine a potentially injured grappler. After asking for medical
personnel's advice, the referee must abide by that individual’s decision.
IX.
The referee, upon noticing any bleeding, shall give the command to stop.
The referee or mat side medical personnel will clean the area with a
gauze pad. If the area continues to bleed, the referee and or medical personnel
will decide if the contest should continue.
A.
If the player who is bleeding received the injury in the normal course of play,
that player will be deemed unfit to continue, and will lose the match.
B.
If the player received it as a result of a foul, the offending player will lose
the contest. The player who won due to the foul will be given the opportunity to
continue if his injury is such that, although the bleeding cannot be immediately
stopped, it is quite likely that it will not present a problem in a subsequent
match.
IMPORTANT
ADVISORY ON UNIVERSAL PRECUATION WITH BODY FLUIDS, ESPECIALLY BLOOD:
(1)
Do not share sterile gauze pads or towels when dabbing or wiping fluids from a
grappler’s face or body.
(2)Referees
and all event personnel must wear protective barriers, such as latex gloves, for
touching any surface or body or other area contaminated with blood ort body
fluids.
(3)
Areas exposed to blood must be washed with a solution of household bleach and
water in accordance with CDC guidelines.
(4)
Referee and other event staff must wash their hands with soap and water
immediately after exposure to blood.
END OF ADVISORY
X.
The referee shall inspect the grapplers to ensure that no foreign substance has
been applied to their person.
XI.
Fouls.
A.
Cautions, warnings, disqualification. The grappler who does not obey the
instructions of the referee, acts against NAGA rules, grapples in any
unsportsman-like fashion, or commits fouls, can at the discretion of the referee
be cautioned, warned, or disqualified, in any order. A referee may, without
stopping a contest, caution a grappler at some safe opportunity. If the referee
intends to warn a grappler, said referee shall stop the contest and will clearly
communicate the infraction. A referee, having once administered a warning for a
particular foul (i.e. hair pulling), cannot subsequently issue a caution for the
same offense. A
third caution for the same type of foul will require that a warning be issued.
Only three warnings may be given to the same grappler in one contest. The third
warning brings automatic disqualification. If a referee believes a foul occurred
which he did not observe, he can stop the action and solicit opinions from the
judges or other mat side NAGA personnel.
B.
Types of fouls
1.
No striking of any kind is permitted. This includes but is not limited to
headbutts, strikes with either an open or a closed hand, elbows with any part of
the elbow or forearm, kicks with the knee, shin, or any part of the foot. A
strike is defined as any movement with the limb or body that is designed to
administer immediate pain upon contact. Thus a player can with all available
rapidity grab another player by the neck, However, if that action appears,
either by design or reasonable unintended consequence, to be immediately painful
due to the force of the action, then that is deemed a blow, and is illegal.
2.
No attacks are permitted to the front of the windpipe. Non-explosive, defensive
pressure may be applied to the throat to effect an escape.
3.
No attacks are permitted to the groin. Non-explosive, defensive pressure may be
applied to the groin to effect an escape.
4.
No pressure of any kind may be applied the opponent’s eye. This includes but
is not limited to the fingers, chin, and elbow.
5.
No small joint submissions can be applied to either the fingers or the toes. The
fingers and toes can be grabbed for purposes of control or escape, but at least
four digits must be manipulated at once. In no circumstances can a submission be
applied to the fingers or toes, not even all at once.
6.
No fish hooks may be attempted.
7.
No biting is allowed, either offensively or defensively. If a player has secured
a lock or is applying pressure across the other players face, the second player
is responsible for keeping his teeth together in such a way that his teeth do
not apply pressure to the opponent’s skin.
8.
Submission. The
purpose of a submission is not injury but concession.
a.
Players must apply holds in such a way as to cause their opponent to submit, but
not to instantaneously injure the joint in question.
b.
While NAGA recognizes both the responsibility of the defending player to protect
him or herself by submitting appropriately, and the often hair‘s breadth of
difference in the reasonable application of hold during a heated contest, the
referee will take care to observe the appropriate application of the hold.
c.
Explicitly, the referee can disqualify a player, even after he has secured a
submission, if the hold causes genuine injury, and was applied recklessly or
with malice. In this case, obviously, the losing player will not continue.
d.
Even in the absence of an injury, the referee can caution, warn, or even
disqualify the offending player.