General Rules and Competition Guidelines

Tournament Brackets

The American Grappling Federation follows a modified single elimination tournament format.

• Divisions with 5 or more competitors are single elimination until the Semi-finals. Once competitors reach the Semi-finals, those matches are double elimination allowing for a sole third place finalist.
• Divisions with 3 competitors follow this format:
  • Player A against Player B compete in Match 1. Player A wins.
  • Player B (loser of Match 1) competes against Player C in Match 2.
  • If Player C wins, Player C competes against Player 1 for First place. If Player C loses the match, then Player C earns third place, and Player B earns second place. Player 1 earns first place.
• Divisions with only 2 competitors are single elimination.

Depending on the number of competitors participating in a division, it is possible that a single loss could eliminate a competitor's opportunity to compete further in their division.

Divisions

No matter what your weight, age, or rank, the American Grappling Federation has you covered! With well over 2,100 possible weight, age and rank combinations, we are certain we can find a division for you.

When creating divisions, it is common to mix the genders for the Kids divisions to ensure matches. Genders will not be automatically mixed in the Junior and Teen divisions. Juvenile, Adult, Masters, Seniors, or Executives divisions will not be mixed.

Age Groups

Our age groups are broken down into Kids, Juveniles, Adults, Masters, Seniors, and Executives. When selecting your proper age category, you should use the one that properly reflects your age on the date of the tournament.

Kids (4-15 years old and split into 2-year age gaps)

• Tiny Kids (4-5 years old)
• Little Kids (6-7 years old)
• Kids (8-9 years old)
• Pre-Teen (10-11 years old)
• Juniors (12-13 years old)
• Teen (14-15 years old)
• Juvenile (16-17 years old)
• Adult (18+ years old)
• Masters (30+ years old)
• Seniors (40+ years old)
• Executives (50 years old and above)

Masters, Seniors, and Executive competitors are permitted to compete down in age if they wish.

Juveniles are permitted to compete in Adult divisions if they wish.

Ranks

Gi and No Gi

Kids

• White - No Submissions [Ages 4-7 only]
• White
• Grey
  • Grey/White
  • Solid Grey
  • Grey/Black
• Yellow
  • Yellow /White
  • Solid Yellow
  • Yellow /Black
• Orange
  • Orange /White
  • Solid Orange
  • Orange /Black
• Green
  • Green /White
  • Solid Green
  • Green /Black

Juveniles, Adults, Masters, Seniors, and Executives

• White
• Blue
• Purple
• Brown
• Black

You must register for the division you currently hold Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rank in. The only exceptions are as follows:

• Judo Black Belts must register as Blue Belts if they hold no rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
• Competitors who wrestled at the College/University level in the USA, or with a professional record in MMA cannot compete as a white belt and must compete at Blue Belt. Wrestlers outside the United States with experience in National and World Wrestling, Sambo or Pancrase tournaments are also required to compete at Blue Belt if they hold no rank in Jiu Jitsu.
• Yellow, Orange, and Green Belts can enter Juvenile and Adult Blue Belt divisions.

Gi and No Gi Weight Divisions

To help avoid any scale related issues, we allow a 1 lb (0.5 kg) allowance for all competitors. It is advised that if you, or your child, is close to the maximum weight limit, that you register at a higher weight class to avoid disqualification. All weigh-ins are conducted WITHOUT the gi.

Kids

Juveniles, Adults, Masters, Seniors, and Executives (Male)

Juveniles, Adults, Masters, Seniors, and Executives (Female)

Challenger Divisions

The Challenger divisions were created to allow competitors additional opportunities to compete for special awards. There are 2 types of Challenger Divisions: Kids (6-15) and Adults (Juveniles - Executives).

Adults (Juvenile - Executive):

The Challenger divisions for adult competitors were created for those who wish to compete in their age and rank division but also with other weight classes. The adult weight classes for males are divided at 175 lbs / 79.5kgs. Challenger I is for competitors 175 lbs / 79.5 kgs and below, and Challenger II is for competitors above the weight range. This gives competitors the opportunity for more matches, especially for the lighter weights. Typically, lighter weight competitors do not enter in Absolute / Open Class divisions for fear of injury. At AGF we offer the opportunity to compete versus multiple weight classes without extreme weight differences. For those competitors who would like to compete in a division with an extreme weight class difference, they are welcome to enter the Challenger II division.

Kids:

The Kids Challenger Divisions are different from adults. For safety reasons, we do not allow extreme weight differences. Kids are allowed to register in their Challenger divisions for extra matches against opponents of any rank and age, but they are restricted to compete against opponents that are at the same weight class.

To ensure safety for our White belt competitors, White belt only Challenger division are available.

The Challenger divisions are restricted to kids 6-15 years old. Tiny Kids (4-5 years-old) are not allowed to compete in the Challenger divisions.

Match Durations

Gi and No Gi divisions

Challenger Divisions

Scoring

Gi and No Gi Divisions

All Takedowns, High Elevations, Guard Passes, Reversals, Knee on Belly, Mounts and Back Controls must be held for 3 seconds for points to be awarded. No points will be awarded if the person doing the action is caught in a submission. Only after the submission is no longer a threat will stabilizing time be counted for points.

Referees will count the stabilization time by vertically moving their fist from their shoulder to their thigh. If the refs hit their thigh a third time, points will be awarded. If the count never touches the ref's thigh a third time, there is no point awarded

Points will not be awarded for competitors who voluntarily abandon a position and then regain that same position.

Points can be awarded after the end of the match. If the referee has begun to count stabilizing time during the match period, and the clock expires, the points will be awarded to the person controlling their position.

No points will be awarded outside of the mat boundary line. All points must be scored inside the competition ring

Restarts in Gi divisions with a lapel taken out or being used will be left out and restarted with the belt tied and the lapel shall be restarted in the same grips

Tie Breakers

Ties scores will be decided in the following order:

1. The athlete who has the least amount of Penalties wins the match
2. The athlete with the highest point value wins the match.
   Example:

   Red - 4 points (4 Back Control), Blue- 4 points (2 Takedown, 2 Knee on Belly), Red wins because his point value for 4 points was greater than Blue.

3. Last to Score - The last athlete to score wins the match
4. Ride Time - the athlete in dominant position the longest wins the match
5. Most Active - The most active athlete for the longest period of time in the round

Passivity

Passivity penalties will follow these guidelines:

1. It is the responsibility of the athletes to continuously advance their position or seek a submission.
2. Any time a referee considers an athlete to be intentionally hindering the match progression he may call Passivity this includes Mount, Back and Side Control positions.
3. Passivity is when an athlete is intentionally stalling to advance their position, seek a submission, restart a position, return to the mat, to fix a uniform or intentionally unties their belt

Additional Kids Rules and White and Blue Belt Division Rules

All Kids divisions, Juvenile-Executive, White and Blue Belt divisions are not permitted to jump to gain a Guard. They are required to pull to a Guard or climb to the back. They cannot have both soles of their feet leave the ground at the same time to gain a Guard, or jump on the back. These divisions are not allowed to jump on top of any standing opponent for safety reasons. Climbing is allowed to gain standing, weight bearing positions.

Climbing is considered to be forcing a standing athlete to carry additional body weight of an opponent that is grounded through a currently used weight bearing grip.

Kids must pull Guard with a Submission from standing. Standing Submissions are not permitted and will result in disqualification if an athlete taps. If a referee is able to stop the Submission Attack before a tap happens, the submission will not be restarted. The two competitors will start from a Neutral Standing position in the center of the mat and the attacker will be penalized.

Flying submissions are legal versus a seated or grounded position.

All Guillotines, Arm Triangle variations, all shoulder lock submissions (Americanas, Kimuras, Omolplatas) and pulling the head of a Triangle are legal for kids. No joint breaking submissions below the waist are legal for kids' divisions. Submissions stretching the legs apart are legal. Ex, Electric Chair, Banana Split

Hand over mouth suffocation techniques can only be attacked from the Back or Back Crucifix variations and must have one or both arms trapped

Submission

A competitor wins via submission by forcing an opponent to:

• Physically tap two (2) times minimum
  • Tap with hand on an opponent or on the mat
  • Tap with foot on the mat
  • Leaving the mat to vomit during the regulation time period
• Verbally tap
  • Request the referee to stop the match
  • Make any noise that sounds like pain while a match is in progress
  • Crying during a match is a verbal tap

Referee Stoppage

The referee can stop a match when a competitor is caught in a submission that could cause a serious injury.

Coaches Challenge

We realize that even though we train our referees, they are human, and will make mistakes. In order to give a chance for the coaches to challenge a call, we have implemented a rule to help maintain the integrity of the sport. A Coach’s Challenge bean bag will be placed on the chairs or handed to the coaches in the coaching chairs at the beginning of all matches. If a coach feels the need to challenge a call, he can throw the bean bag onto the mat and say, “Coach’s Challenge.”

To help eliminate frivolous disputes, we have the following rules:

• A Challenge bag must be thrown onto the mat. It is not be thrown at the refs or competitors .
• A Challenge can be reviewed once a stop in the action is possible.
• A Challenge can not be called for action earlier in the match. All Coaches Challenges must be immediate.
• The Head Referee, Tournament Director, or any Senior Ref that is available will be alerted of the Coaches Challenge. Once the Challenge Official arrives, the video from the table camera will be reviewed for the official to make a decision.
• All decisions are final after the video is reviewed and the final decision is made.
• The scoreboard will be adjusted accordingly, and the match will resume (if necessary).
• The Head referee will step to the center of the mat and give the final decision after the video review.
• If there is excessive or abused Coaches Challenges the privilege will be revoked from the entire team at the event

Disqualification

There are numerous ways an opponent can be disqualified. The disqualification can be specific to a match or the tournament in general.

Verbal request

If a referee or ring coordinator receives a verbal request from the competitor or the competitor's coach.

Failure to report when bracket is called

If the competitor does not show up when the competitor's name is called, or if the competitor leaves an assigned area by the Pit Coordinator or Ring Coordinator.

Uniform requirements not properly met

Please review the uniform guidelines.

Equipment malfunction

Please review the uniform guidelines.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

These infractions may result in the competitor being disqualified or a warning/penalty being assessed. The fouls are not limited to, but include:

• Striking of any type
• Biting
• Spitting
• Eye gouging
• Groin attacks
• Hair pulling
• Fish hooking
• Small joint manipulation
• Putting fingers in any orifice
• Excessive talking during the match
• Unsportsmanlike conduct from the competitor's coach and or teammates

Rule infractions

These infractions will result in the competitor being disqualified. The fouls are not limited to, but include:

• Slamming - Any intention to cause injury, damage, or concussion to their opponent to escape a submission or points being scored. Shaking an opponent off and the opponent off and the opponent falling to the mat is not a slam.
• Clawing, pinching or twisting of skin
• Use of foul language
• Immoral acts directed towards any member of the staff, crowd or competitor
• Malicious conduct
• Any contact with the referee (medical issues are permitted)
• Interference by a coach
• Attacking an opponent after a match has been stopped
• Performing any illegal submission attempt for that division
• Only 1 coach per competitor is allowed in front of the barricades and must remain in the coach's chair for the duration of the match.
• Performing any illegal submission attempt for that division

Medical issues

Not limited to, but including: cramping, vomiting, loss of bowels, loss of consciousness, or bleeding that cannot be stopped a second time. Bleeding, eye pokes, groin hits, and dislocated fingers or toes are given a maximum of 5 minutes to recover. Competitors may compete in additional brackets after the medical DQ so long as it was not a concussion, spinal injury, or other serious injury. Kids who lose consciousness are medically disqualified and are unable to compete for the remainder of the day.

Fleeing

Any time a competitor flees the competition area to avoid a submission, the penalty is disqualification (DQ). If the competitor flees the mat to avoid being scored upon, the attacking competitor will be awarded 2 points, and the match will begin standing in the center of the mat.

If a competitor's natural method of escaping the submission causes them to leave the competition area, the competitor will not be disqualified, but 2 points will be awarded and both competitors will resume standing in the center of the mat.

Penalties and Warnings

Coaches are not allowed inside the competition area unless they are brought in by staff or there is a medical emergency. Failure to stay in the designated coaching areas will result in a verbal warning the 1st offense, forfeit of 10 team points for the 2nd offense, and disqualification of team points and removal from the tournament for the 3rd offense.

For competitors some infractions do not merit an immediate disqualification. In those situations, a warning will be issued to discourage that infraction from being repeated. Warnings are not limited to, but include:

• Arguing with the referee
• Disengaging from competition (avoiding contact with opponent, fleeing a sweep or takedown, etc.)
• Illegal grips (grabbing inside the opponent's sleeve or pant leg)
• Intentionally removing the gi or belt during a match
• Intentionally pushing an opponent out of bounds
• Passivity
• Athletes have 20 seconds to tie their belts. Upon stopping the match the referee will instruct the competitor that they have 20 seconds to tie or they will be penalized and begin watching their wrist watch

Accruing Penalties

When a warning is issued, the following penalties are applied:

• First Penalty - Verbal Warning, penalty given to scorekeeper
• Second Penalty - 2 points awarded to the opponent, penalty given to the scorekeeper
• Third Penalty - Disqualification

Penalties do not have to be the same infraction in order to accrue. Each penalty may be different or the same but after each infraction the referee will apply the next level of penalties to the match.

Hygiene and Uniform Guidelines

Competitors must follow the uniform and hygiene requirements to be permitted to compete. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

Hygiene Guidelines

• Finger and toenails must be trimmed with no sharp edges
• Finger and toenails must be clean with no dirt underneath them
• Competitors with long hair must have it controlled so that it does not interfere with either the competitor or their opponent. Hair must be restricted above the shoulders.
• Competitor must not have any open cuts or lacerations
• Competitor cannot compete if they have any active skin infections: ringworm, staph, herpes, chicken pox, etc.
• Skin must be dry and not be slippery (no lotions, oils or grease that can cause excess slippage)
• Athletes knowingly infected with the HIV/HBV virus are prohibited from participating in grappling competitons

Uniform Guidelines and Inspection

Upon reporting to the Pit, a competitor will need to remove any clothing or footwear they will not be competing in. Qualified AGF employees will inspect the competitors for proper uniform requirements as well as excessive hair products (no products or styles that can affect the match are allowed), jewelry, trimmed toe & finger nails, hair length (not to exceed shoulders), excessive lotions or greasing and cleanliness.

If a uniform is damaged during a match, the referee will allow a competitor 5 minutes to change the uniform and return to the match. If the period of time exceeds 5 minutes, then the referee will disqualify the competitor.

General allowances

• Cups are not permitted
• Headgear of any type is not permitted
• Eyewear of any type is not permitted
• Mouthpieces are not required
• Wrestling shoes are not permitted
• Elbow/Knee sleeves are permitted but cannot contain any hard plastic/metal or aid in preventing a submission.
• Bobby pins or any metal hairpins are not permitted
• Grappling socks that cover the ball or heel of the foot are not permitted
• Hair that passes shoulder length must be tied or braided

Gi

• Competitor must wear a valid BJJ kimono
• The kimono must not have any tears or loose thread
• The kimono must be clean and be free of any excessive stains and odors
• Any color kimono is permitted, however the top and bottoms must match
• Belt must be intact and in decent shape with no hanging strings
• Pants cannot be shorter than 2 inches above the ankle bone
• Jacket sleeves cannot be shorter than 1 inch from the wrist
• Patches cannot be used in a manner that prevents grips or to cover tears
• Competitors are not allowed to wear t-shirts under their gi
• Rash guards are allowed under the gi

No Gi

• Competitor must wear a rash guard (t-shirts are not permitted)
• Short and long sleeve rash guards are permitted
• Competitors may wear fight shorts, board shorts, spats, or Lycra shorts.
• Kimono pants are not permitted
• Shorts with metal grommets are not permitted
• Shorts with pockets are not permitted
• Shorts with strings are permitted, however the strings must be tucked in and the shorts tied tight so that the shorts do not fall off during a match
• Wrestling singlets are not permitted

Referee Guidelines

• All referees must complete an 85% or higher proficiency on our online exam prior to their 1st Referee trainee event
• AGF will provide a Uniform shirt that is required to be tucked in at the waist, red & blue wristbands.
• It is the referee's responsibility to be in all black pants, all black crew length socks (no ankle socks, no colors on toes & heels or leg skin showing), an all black belt (no colored buckles) and have a wrist watch (any color watch).
• Senior and Head Refs may wear an Approved AGF hat, worn forward, to signify their position and rank
• Wrestling shoes are permitted to be worn but must be removed once outside of the competition area
• All referees must be at the designated points assigned to them by the event director for setup, uniform check, greeting, judging a match and breakdown
• All referees must attend the entire AGF Ref Course given by their event's Head Referee
• Head Referees shall produce an After Action Review to AGF Senior Management after each event to include the punctuality, work ethic, calls challenged and overall evaluation of each referee at their assigned event

Allowed Techniques

Gi - Allowed Techniques

No Gi - Allowed Techniques

JUVENILE - EXECUTIVE

No Gi - Allowed Techniques

TINY KIDS - TEEN