rules & Guidelines

Referee Guidelines:

  • The referees first responsibility is to ensure the safety of both competitors. 

  • The referee will then try to ensure that the right competitor wins each match. 

  • Referees will make mistakes. This is a grassroots competition. Feedback will be noted; however, the referee’s decision is final. 

  • There will be one coach allowed per child mat side.

  • Coaches are expected to remain calm and avoid raising their voice.

  • Coaches are not permitted to direct comments are the referee or the other competitor. If this occurs, the match will be stopped, and the coach will be given a warning.

  • After two warnings, a DQ may be issued by the referee at the next offence.

     

- Points -

We will be following the IBJJF points system

2 points - Takedowns, Sweeps, Knee on belly

3 points - Guard passes

4 points - Mount, Back & Back mount

Advantages will only be scored in Juvenile matches.

Legal Submissions (4-15 year olds) –

  • Rear Naked Choke

  • Cross Collar Chokes, including Paper Cutter style chokes.

  • Triangles 

  • Armbars

  • Kimura/Americana 

Legal Submissions (Juvenile divisions) –

  • Choke with Spinal Lock (Such as the arm triangle, the Ezekial and Guillotine Choke,)

  • Straight Foot Lock,

  • Ezekial Choke,

  • Front Guillotine,

  • Omoplata,

  • Triangle Pulling the Head,

  • Arm Triangle are all permitted.

- Technique Guidelines (illegal techniques) –

  • Single Leg –

    Head Outside Singles are not permitted and should be reset to Head Inside 

  • Closed Guard/Back –

    Compression techniques (like the Body Triangle and Kidney Crush) are not permitted. The competitor should be asked to open their legs and be reset back to Closed Guard/Back

  • Lockdown –

    is permitted, if there is no control over the secondary leg. Competitors aged 13 and up are permitted to control the second leg.

  • Straight Ankle Lock –

    Competitors are allowed to hold the position, if they are on bottom and not applying pressure (for example in Single Leg X). They should let go once they bring their opponents hips to the mat – the match can be stopped, and the competitor asked to let go. 

  • Chokes Putting Pressure on the Spine –

    Such as the arm triangle, the Ezekial and Guillotine Choke, are not permitted for competitors under the age of 15. Competitors are allowed to hold the head but will be asked to let go once they lock their hands and so are deemed to be applying pressure. Examples of legal head controls are the collar tie and the cross face .

  • Omoplata –

    is an illegal submission. It also cannot be used to sweep. If a sweep occurs because of an Omoplata, competitors will be reset to the position that the sweep resulted from.

  • Juvenile –

    Choke with Spinal Lock, Straight Foot Lock, Ezekial Choke, Front Guillotine, Omoplata, Triangle Pulling the Head, Arm Triangle are all permitted.

– Safety –

  • This includes tapping for the child once a submission has been applied. The referee should not wait for the child to tap. As we progress from Kids, though to Teens and Juveniles, more time will be allowed for the competitor to defend the submission.

  • Whenever an illegal technique has been used, referees should stop the match and reset to the last safe position.

– Outcome –

  • The referees should aim to have as few matches as possible end in DQ. Whenever possible, referees should favour resetting the match to a safe position, rather than ending the match. 

  • If an illegal technique results in a tap, the referee will then have no choice but to use DQ, however. 

– Mistakes –

  • Feedback is welcome and will be used to inform decision making in future events.

  • However, abuse toward referees and other members of staff will not be tolerated, and referees’ decisions cannot be overturned. 

- Organisation Guidelines –

  • There will an allowance for Weight on the day of 1kg and anything above the allowance we will try to re-bracket the competitor into a bracket that has not yet started.

  • If we are unable to match a competitor into a high bracket a DQ will be issued for missed weight.

  • Our organisation aim to encourage children and parents to attend competitions regularly at a grassroots level and we have found that the jiu jitsu parent community and young athletes are not yet familiar with competition procedures, along with coaches having an abundance of responsibilities outside of weight management and registrations.

  • Most kids & teens competing are first time attendees at our events currently and as such mistakes are going to happen, we feel that the challenge of competition and the experience gained is what will help bring the sport forward in our area.

  • We are not a National or International federation, our aim is to create a regular, consistent, youth competition infrastructure within the area so that our young competitors have an opportunity to test themselves and improve.

  • Do not expect these allowances at any other competitions.We do plan to reduce this allowance over time as the parents and kids become more familiar with the sport i.e. as the event becomes more regular.

  • Competitors must weigh in with Gi and Belt on and shouldn’t attempt to weigh in until their name appears on the screen beside the warmup area. Competitors should be at the venue at least 30 minutes before their first match.

  • There will be no allowance for No Shows. Any child that isn’t checked in by the time their match is called will be disqualified.

  • There will be allowances made for children who are checked in but not present in the bullpen.