IAF Rules & Regulations
Setting up / Start of Match
5.3.1 The grip is palm to palm, grip at thumb, thumb knuckle must be visible. Gripped hands should be level on a plain at the forefingers. Free hand will grip the hand peg provided at the table edge.
5.3.2 Back pressure to the extent that it pulls your opponents arm across the marked center of the table will not be allowed. This infraction will be deemed the same as a false start.
5.2.3 Shoulders will be kept square to the table. They may slope to either side before the start.
5.2.4 There will be a hand width between the shoulder and forearm of each competitor as well as
between the chin and hand prior to the start.
5.3.1 The signal given by the Head Referee is “Ready...Go!” in an unspecified cadence. At the end of
the match the referee will say “Stop” and indicate the winner by raising his arm towards him/her.
All effort must be made by the referee that the competitors are aware the match is stopped.
5.3.2 A pin is when any part of the natural wrist line to finger tips, touches or goes below the touch pad
5.3.3 Competitor’s legs can be wrapped around the table leg or braced against an opposite table leg prior to the start of the match, providing they are not interfering with their opponent. Feet can be off the ground during competition and legs can be moved in any fashion as long as they don’t interfere with their opponent.
5.3.4 In the event of an injury during competition, the competitor’s name will continue to be brought forward until he/she has fulfilled the two loss commitment. The match that a competitor was injured in will be regarded as a loss.
5.3.5 There is no time limit during an actual bout. However, if in the estimation of the Head Referee that a competitor is deemed unfit to continue, the match will be stopped.
Section 7 – Warnings
7.1 Any early movement with shoulders, arm, hand or fingers will be a warning
unless competitors are in a referee’s grip. Then it would be a foul.
7.2 If one competitor is causing a delay “locking up” the referee will give the offender
a warning.
7.3 Letting go of the peg will result in a warning being called to the offender, without
stopping the match. If an advantage is gained prior to re-gripping the peg, the match will
be stopped and the offender will be given a foul. Contact with the peg must be above the table. One armed or one hand persons do not have to grip the peg.
Two warnings will equal one foul.
Two fouls, competitor will lose that particular match.
8.1 Fouls
8.1.1 If competitors fail to come to the table in the 60 seconds allotted they will be given a loss. Their
name will be dropped to its proper slot, the same as a loss in an actual bout. If they already have
a loss they would drop out of the tournament for that particular weight class.
8.1.2 Competitor’s shoulder must not cross the “centerline” between pegs during competition. This will
be a FOUL.
8.1.3 Competitor cannot touch any part of their body such as chin, shoulder or head. A foul will be
given
8.1.4 Intentionally pushing of your own hand into an opponents shoulder will result in you getting a
FOUL.
8.1.5 When a competitor starts to put themselves in a “dangerous position”, the referee will caution the
competitor loudly so that the competitor understands the caution. Referee will instruct the
competitor to face their competitive arm, so as to keep the hand, arm and shoulder in a straight
line. Competitors must never force their shoulder inwards, ahead of their arm or hand, towards
the table.
8.1.6 Neutral position is from the starting position to 2/3 if the way down to the pad on losing side of
the table.
8.1.7 30 second rest is permitted after a FOUL.
8.1.8 Foul language, poor sportsmanship or abuse towards an official will result in a FOUL. If it
Continues, competitor will be barred from the tournament.
8.2 Referee Grip
8.2.1 Competitors have 30 seconds to “Grip Up”. If in that time, they have not gripped up, they will be
given a “referee’s grip”. A referees’ grip consists of the following procedure
8.2.2 Competitors’ hands are placed palm to palm by the referee, the thumbs are pushed down by the
Referee, the fingers are wrapped by the referee, first one competitor, then the other. As they are
wrapped referee asks competitor if he/she wants their thumb covered or not. Thumb knuckles
will be showing, forefingers level, wrists straight and arms centered. Competitors are not to move
from this set up.
8.2.3 Examples of movement are fingers re-gripping, back pressure, bending wrists, early start or
elbow lifting off the pad.
8.2.4 Any movement by any competitor will result in a foul being given against the one that moves
8.3 Elbow Fouls
8.3.1 A foul will be given when a competitor’s elbow loses contact with the elbow pad. A competitor is
considered to lose contact with the pad when
8.3.2 The elbow lifts vertically off the pad, no matter how insignificant, as long as there is clearance
between the pad and the elbow. It is not considered an elbow foul if the elbow has lifted off the
pad, but the competitor still has contact with the elbow pad with their triceps or their forearm.
8.3.3 An elbow foul will be called if the competitor is riding on their triceps or forearms and the elbow
extends beyond any side of the elbow pad.
8.3.4 Any foul that occurs simultaneously with a foul by your opponent will be considered coincidental,
the match will be stopped and restarted and no foul will be given.
8.4 Slip Outs
The referee will call one foul for “causing a slip out” when:
8.4.1 You lift your fingers off your opponent’s hand prior to a slippage
8.4.2 You close your fingers as to make a fist inside your opponent’s hand
8.4.3 You’re in break wrist position and you pull your fingers inside your opponent’s hand, therefore you
are unable to hold your grip.
8.5 Straps
8.5.1 Straps will be used when any match ends by way of a slip-out not resulting in a foul. A slip-out
occurs when both competitors have lost complete contact with one another. The official must be
certain of the circumstances preceding the actual slip out before calling a foul. If the official is
uncertain as to who caused the slippage or it was caused by the actions of both competitors, then
straps will be used and no foul will be given.
8.5.2 When straps are employed, the officials will ask competitors to place their elbows to the back of
their respective elbow pads, place their hands palm to palm, fingers extended and thumbs up.
Opposite hand will grip hand peg. In this position the strap can be quickly installed. Only the
official can adjust the strap. Competitors may ask to loosen it or move it if it’s uncomfortable.
The strap cannot be lower than 1" below the natural wrist line.
8.5.3 After the strap is installed, competitors may take their grip and place their elbow to their choice of
position.
8.5.4 If a competitor intentionally slips out during the match in a losing position (losing position is
determined by being more than 2/3 rds. of the way down to the pin pad), the competitor will lose
that particular match. Any intentional slip is an automatic FOUL.
Setting up / Start of Match
5.3.1 The grip is palm to palm, grip at thumb, thumb knuckle must be visible. Gripped hands should be level on a plain at the forefingers. Free hand will grip the hand peg provided at the table edge.
5.3.2 Back pressure to the extent that it pulls your opponents arm across the marked center of the table will not be allowed. This infraction will be deemed the same as a false start.
5.2.3 Shoulders will be kept square to the table. They may slope to either side before the start.
5.2.4 There will be a hand width between the shoulder and forearm of each competitor as well as
between the chin and hand prior to the start.
5.3.1 The signal given by the Head Referee is “Ready...Go!” in an unspecified cadence. At the end of
the match the referee will say “Stop” and indicate the winner by raising his arm towards him/her.
All effort must be made by the referee that the competitors are aware the match is stopped.
5.3.2 A pin is when any part of the natural wrist line to finger tips, touches or goes below the touch pad
5.3.3 Competitor’s legs can be wrapped around the table leg or braced against an opposite table leg prior to the start of the match, providing they are not interfering with their opponent. Feet can be off the ground during competition and legs can be moved in any fashion as long as they don’t interfere with their opponent.
5.3.4 In the event of an injury during competition, the competitor’s name will continue to be brought forward until he/she has fulfilled the two loss commitment. The match that a competitor was injured in will be regarded as a loss.
5.3.5 There is no time limit during an actual bout. However, if in the estimation of the Head Referee that a competitor is deemed unfit to continue, the match will be stopped.
Section 7 – Warnings
7.1 Any early movement with shoulders, arm, hand or fingers will be a warning
unless competitors are in a referee’s grip. Then it would be a foul.
7.2 If one competitor is causing a delay “locking up” the referee will give the offender
a warning.
7.3 Letting go of the peg will result in a warning being called to the offender, without
stopping the match. If an advantage is gained prior to re-gripping the peg, the match will
be stopped and the offender will be given a foul. Contact with the peg must be above the table. One armed or one hand persons do not have to grip the peg.
Two warnings will equal one foul.
Two fouls, competitor will lose that particular match.
8.1 Fouls
8.1.1 If competitors fail to come to the table in the 60 seconds allotted they will be given a loss. Their
name will be dropped to its proper slot, the same as a loss in an actual bout. If they already have
a loss they would drop out of the tournament for that particular weight class.
8.1.2 Competitor’s shoulder must not cross the “centerline” between pegs during competition. This will
be a FOUL.
8.1.3 Competitor cannot touch any part of their body such as chin, shoulder or head. A foul will be
given
8.1.4 Intentionally pushing of your own hand into an opponents shoulder will result in you getting a
FOUL.
8.1.5 When a competitor starts to put themselves in a “dangerous position”, the referee will caution the
competitor loudly so that the competitor understands the caution. Referee will instruct the
competitor to face their competitive arm, so as to keep the hand, arm and shoulder in a straight
line. Competitors must never force their shoulder inwards, ahead of their arm or hand, towards
the table.
8.1.6 Neutral position is from the starting position to 2/3 if the way down to the pad on losing side of
the table.
8.1.7 30 second rest is permitted after a FOUL.
8.1.8 Foul language, poor sportsmanship or abuse towards an official will result in a FOUL. If it
Continues, competitor will be barred from the tournament.
8.2 Referee Grip
8.2.1 Competitors have 30 seconds to “Grip Up”. If in that time, they have not gripped up, they will be
given a “referee’s grip”. A referees’ grip consists of the following procedure
8.2.2 Competitors’ hands are placed palm to palm by the referee, the thumbs are pushed down by the
Referee, the fingers are wrapped by the referee, first one competitor, then the other. As they are
wrapped referee asks competitor if he/she wants their thumb covered or not. Thumb knuckles
will be showing, forefingers level, wrists straight and arms centered. Competitors are not to move
from this set up.
8.2.3 Examples of movement are fingers re-gripping, back pressure, bending wrists, early start or
elbow lifting off the pad.
8.2.4 Any movement by any competitor will result in a foul being given against the one that moves
8.3 Elbow Fouls
8.3.1 A foul will be given when a competitor’s elbow loses contact with the elbow pad. A competitor is
considered to lose contact with the pad when
8.3.2 The elbow lifts vertically off the pad, no matter how insignificant, as long as there is clearance
between the pad and the elbow. It is not considered an elbow foul if the elbow has lifted off the
pad, but the competitor still has contact with the elbow pad with their triceps or their forearm.
8.3.3 An elbow foul will be called if the competitor is riding on their triceps or forearms and the elbow
extends beyond any side of the elbow pad.
8.3.4 Any foul that occurs simultaneously with a foul by your opponent will be considered coincidental,
the match will be stopped and restarted and no foul will be given.
8.4 Slip Outs
The referee will call one foul for “causing a slip out” when:
8.4.1 You lift your fingers off your opponent’s hand prior to a slippage
8.4.2 You close your fingers as to make a fist inside your opponent’s hand
8.4.3 You’re in break wrist position and you pull your fingers inside your opponent’s hand, therefore you
are unable to hold your grip.
8.5 Straps
8.5.1 Straps will be used when any match ends by way of a slip-out not resulting in a foul. A slip-out
occurs when both competitors have lost complete contact with one another. The official must be
certain of the circumstances preceding the actual slip out before calling a foul. If the official is
uncertain as to who caused the slippage or it was caused by the actions of both competitors, then
straps will be used and no foul will be given.
8.5.2 When straps are employed, the officials will ask competitors to place their elbows to the back of
their respective elbow pads, place their hands palm to palm, fingers extended and thumbs up.
Opposite hand will grip hand peg. In this position the strap can be quickly installed. Only the
official can adjust the strap. Competitors may ask to loosen it or move it if it’s uncomfortable.
The strap cannot be lower than 1" below the natural wrist line.
8.5.3 After the strap is installed, competitors may take their grip and place their elbow to their choice of
position.
8.5.4 If a competitor intentionally slips out during the match in a losing position (losing position is
determined by being more than 2/3 rds. of the way down to the pin pad), the competitor will lose
that particular match. Any intentional slip is an automatic FOUL.