Sparring Club Session Rules
These are the recommended session regulations for local clubs in our network. However, regulations may vary slightly from club to club. Check with club organizers with any questions regarding session rules and regulations.
PRE-REGISTRATION & RSVP REQUIRED
No walk-ins or guests are allowed. RSVP is required for each session and all attendees must either be registered members of SparringClub.com or must submit signed registration forms to club organizers prior to the date of the sparring session. Chest Protector may also be required for some club sessions. Check the event description for details. If you don't have access to gear, contact other members to see if you can arrange to share or borrow.
MANDATORY PROTECTIVE GEAR
• Headgear and Mouthpiece • Boxing gloves (men: at least 12oz | women: at least 8oz)
• Shin Guards
• Protective cup
A Chest Protector may also be required for some club sessions. Check the event description for details. If you don't have access to gear, contact other members to see if you can arrange to share or borrow.
*Boxing gloves are strongly preferred. Thickly padded open-finger gloves (must be approved) can be used if your style depends heavily on open palm techniques. Nails must be cut. You must take caution to avoid unintentionally poking or scratching.
DRESS CODE
• No jewelry (necklace, earrings, etc.)• You must wear common athletic apparel
• No shoes allowed on matted surfaces
• Only low-top, light-weight athletic shoes are allowed, where shoes are permitted
ILLEGAL MOVES
• No attacks to groin area.• Light knees and elbows only, where agreed upon by both partners.
• No strikes intentionally designed for locking or hyper-extending joints.
• No strikes to the back of the head or the spine.
• No head butts.
• No standing submission holds (i.e., "choke hold").
Use of boxing gloves will prevent the following:
• No eye gouging, biting, or hair pulling.
• No fish hooking or putting fingers in mouth or nose.
• No strikes to (or grabbing of) the throat.
• No manipulation of the fingers or toes.
• No grabbing or use of props (i.e., weapons, ropes on boxing ring, etc.).
OTHER RULES
• All matches are one-on-one (no weapons). • 15-second limit on clinching, then you must separate.
• Restraint and caution must be shown when attempting to take down or responding to a take-down. No Head-first lunges allowed. Before the match, sparrers must announce and consent to takedowns being allowed. Otherwise, no takedowns allowed.
• If one or both sparrers go to the ground in a non-grappling match, they must break and return to standing after 10 seconds.
• Sparrers must stop and safely back away promptly when the round ends or when ordered to "Break" by a volunteer referee.
• Sparrers must follow the instructions of designated referees (1-2 volunteers per match).
• Before a match begins, a referee must clearly communicate and sparrers must acknowledge the specific terms of the match (number of rounds, contact level, match type).
• Always show restraint, especially by holding back on follow-up attacks after landing a solid blow.
• Immediately and safely withdraw from your partner if he/she shows any signs of injury or inability to coherently defend him/herself.
• If you feel any sharp pain, dizziness or other sign of possible injury or distress, safely withdraw from your partner and call "Stop" to signal the need for a break.
• Regardless of reason, any sparrer can end the match by calling "Stop" and safely drawing away.
• Intelligently protect yourself at all times, even when withdrawing from your partner or when the round ends.
• There is no scoring or declaration of a winner.
• No celebrating, trash talking, bragging, or other unsportsmanlike behavior.
• Any person(s) engaged in a verbal dispute or expressing anger or malicious intent will be required to leave the session immediately and will be barred from attending future sessions until their case has been reviewed by group organizers.
• Any person showing negligence in exercising control and restraint will be warned and, if the behavior persists, barred from participation.
Violations
Accidentally performing any illegal strikes or breaking any of these rules earns you an automatic warning. Any member committing multiple violations will not be allowed to continue sparring during that session and may be asked to leave. Solid strikes to the spine or back of head, directly to the groin, or other severe infractions will result in immediately ending the match. Severe violations or instances where a member shows a pattern of negligence or violating rules may result in the suspension or permanent banning of the violator, especially if it is believed that the violation was intentional.
Injuries
If any participant appears to be injured, the match will be stopped and the injured participant will not be allowed to spar again during that session. A first aid kit will be available for minor cuts, bumps, and scrapes. No medical services or instruction of any kind will be provided to members by other members unless they are a licensed medical professional. It is solely the responsibility of the injured participant to immediately seek proper medical attention.