Sambo India Association [SIA]

SPORT SAMBO RULES

Article 21. The Contents of SportSambo Contest

In the course of a SportSambo contest it is permitted to apply throws, hold-downs, painful holds (Arm locks and Leg locks) and other attacking and defensive actions in definite positions of the contestants.

I. Contestants Positions

Standing - such a position when the contestant touches the mat with his both feet only (is standing on his feet).
Ground - such a position when the contestant touches the mat with any part of the body except his feet.

In Ground position as well as while falling down after the throws or switching to Ground contest, the player can find himself:

on his back - in such a position when he touches the mat with his shoulder blades or rapidly (without stopping) rolls over on his back; "bridge" position when the contestant with his back to the mat touches it with his feet and the head only, is equal to the position "on the back"
on a side - in such a position when the contestant touching the mat with one shoulder blade and his back at the shoulder level makes and angle up to 900 to the mat; a "half bridge" position when the contestant finds himself with his back to the mat and touches it with his feet, the head and a shoulder is equal to the "on a side" position;
on the chest or the stomach - in such a position when the contestant touches the mat with his chest or stomach and his back at the shoulder blades level makes and obtuse angle to the mat;
on the buttocks or the waist - in such a position when the contestant touches the mat with one (or two) buttock or with his small of the back (waist);
on the shoulder - in such a position when the contestant touches the mat with his shoulder joint or a shoulder pressed to his body;
on his knees (a knee) - in such a position when the contestant touches the mat with his knees (or a knee) and may sit on his calves without touching the surface of the mat with his buttocks;
on the hands (a hand) - in such a position when the contestant touches the surface of the mat with his hands or the forearms (a forearm).

Standing fight - both contestants are in "Standing" position.
Ground fight - one or both contestants are in "Ground position".

II. Throws

A throw is such a contestant's action with the grip that makes his opponent lose the balance and fall down on the mat touching it with any part of the body except his feet, that is finds himself in one of the "Ground" positions. Counter throw is a throw when a defensive player responding to the opponent's attack seizes the initiative and applies the throw himself changing the character or the direction of the attacker's falling down.
Only the throws that are applied by the contestant from standing (before the opponent's falling down) shall be scored.
It is considered that the throw is applied by the attacker from standing position without falling down if during the throw (from its start to the very end) he keeps his "Standing" position. The throw is considered to be applied with the attacker's falling down when applying the throw he switches to one of the "Ground" positions or leans on his lying opponent to keep his balance. Any turns over as well as the throws applied by the contestant who is in "Ground" position are not evaluated.
Depending on the attacker's initial positions the following throws are distinguished:

throws of the opponent who is in standing position; of the same value are the throws when the attacker in the course of the throw shifts the opponent who is in one of "Ground" positions to Standing one or completely lifts him off the mat above his own waist and turns him over horizontal axis while throwing;
throws of the opponent who is on his knees or hands with his turning over horizontal axis; of the same value are the throws of the opponent who is in one of the "Ground" positions with his complete lift off the mat but lower than waist line and turning him over horizontal axis.
The opponent's lift off and dropping him to the same position without turning him over is not scored. In any case the throws ending with the opponent's falling down on his hands are not evaluated.

III. Painful Holds (Arm locks and Leg locks)

A painful hold is considered when the opponent's arm or leg is locked in Ground position and it makes possible to apply the following actions: bend over (Lever), twisting a joint (Knot), pinching the tendons or the muscles (pinch) thus forcing the opponent to give up. The start of the painful hold is considered after the attacker grips the opponent's extremities at a certain place to make him feel the pain or overcome his defensive hold. 60 sec. is given for these actions.
It is allowed to start the application of the painful hold when the defensive contestant is in "Ground" position; the attacker may stay in standing position.
The application of a painful hold shall be stopped if the defensive player assumes the "Standing" position and lifts the attacker's body (shoulders) off the mat.
The application of the painful hold on the leg shall be stopped as soon as the defensive fighter assumes the "Standing" position.

IV. Hold-down

A hold-down is a hold by means of which the attacker during a certain period of time forces his opponent to lie down on the mat on his back and presses his body with his own body weight (or presses the opponent's arms clasped to his body).
Counting out the time starts with the moment when the attacker presses his body (chest, side, back) to the opponent's body and fixes it in the position "on shoulder blades"
The hold-down ends when the player who was under the hold-down switches to positions "on the chest", "on the stomach" or "on the buttocks" (but not "on the waist") when the angle between his shoulder blades and the mat is over 900, when he pushes the attacker up off his body or when the attacker switches to the painful hold.

Article 22. Start And End Of The Bout

Competitors are called to step up to the mat to conduct the bout.
Before the start of the bout the contestant who was called first (red dress) shall take his place in the red corner of the mat and his opponent (blue dress) - in the blue corner. After the introduction, by the referee's gesture they come to the middle of the mat and shake hands. Then they make a step back and by the referee's whistle start the bout.
The bout ends by the sound of the gong (sound signal) but not by the referee's whistle.
After the end of the bout the competitors return to their respective corners they occupied before the start of the bout. To declare the results the referee calls the players to the middle of the mat, takes both contestants' wrists, then lifts the winner's hand up (see appendix 15), after that the contestants shake hands and leave the mat.

Article 23. Course and Duration of the Bout

The duration of the bout shall be as follows:

- for seniors and juniors (men) - 5 minutes;
- for seniors over 60 years of age - 3 minutes;
- for seniors and juniors (women) - 4 minutes;
- for cadets, schoolchildren and kids (boys and girls) - 4 minutes;
- for veterans (men) - 4 minutes;
- for veterans (women) - 3 minutes.

Counting out the time of the bout begins at the first sound of the referee's whistle. The time of breaks is not included in the actual time of the bout.
In extreme situations it is allowed to include the time of breaks, not accompanied by the referee's gesture "Stop the time!", in the actual time of the bout (except semi-finals and finals) if it is stipulated in the Regulations of the competitions.
In the course of the bout the contestants shall not leave the mat without the referee's permission.
If it is necessary, the contestant may leave the mat with the referee's permission to put his dress in order.
In case of an injury the contestant is given not more than 2 minutes in the course of bout. The medical assistance is rendered directly on the mat (edge of the mat)

Article 24. The Number of the Bouts

In case the competitions last one day the number of bouts for seniors shall not exceed 9. If the competitions last over one day, the number of bouts per day shall not exceed 5. For juniors, cadets and schoolchildren the corresponding standards shall not exceed 7 bouts in one day competitions and 4 for those of many days.
The rest period in between the bouts shall not be less than 10 minutes for seniors and juniors and not less than 15 minutes for schoolchildren and youth.

Article 25. The Outcome and Evaluation of the Bout

The bout can result in the victory of one of the fighters and the defeat of the other or in the defeat of both contestants.
The victory can be (see the table of results and scoring in the bout):

Total;
by Superiority;
on Points;
Technical;
on Warnings;
by the opponent's elimination from the bout for passivity.

No.	Results of the bout	Classification points
No.	Results of the bout	winner	looser
1.	TOTAL VICTORY (ahead of time!)
	a) Total throw	4	0
	b) painful hold;	4	0
	c) by Great Superiority	4	0
	(12 points and over difference)
	d) the bout can't be continued (refusal, injury, time limit for medical help exceeded);	4	0
	e) opponent's disqualification for breaking the Rules	4	0
2.	VICTORY BY SUPERIORITY
	(8-11 points advantage)
	- the loser has got technical points;	3,5	0,5
	- the loser has no technical points	3,5	0
3.	VICTORY ON POINTS
	(1-7 points advantage)
	- the loser has got technical points;	3	1
	- the loser has no technical points;	3	0
4.	TECHNICAL VICTORY
	a) under the equal number of points and the absence of "A" evaluations:
	- by the number of technical points;
	- the loser has got technical points;	3	1
	- the loser has no technical points;	3	0
	b) under the equal number of points and "A" evaluations:
	- by the number of "A"	3	1 or 0
	- by the quality of technical points;	3	1
	- by the last technical evaluation;	3	1 or 0
	c) under only "A" evaluations:
	- by the number of "A"	2	0
	- by the last "A".	2	0
5.	VICTORY ON WARNINGS
	(with the absence of technical points and "A" evaluations and equal number of warnings):
	- by the last evaluation declared to the opponent.	2	0
6.	ELIMINATION OF THE OPPONENT FOR PASSIVITY
	(ahead of time!):	4	0
7.	ELIMINATION OF BOTH CONTESTANTS for passivity or DISQUALIFICATION OF BOTH CONTESTANTS for breaking the Rules (ahead of time!)	0	0

In case of contestant's elimination from the competitions by the doctor's decision directly before the bout or for being over 1,5 minute late for the bout, his opponent is scored 4:0 with the time 0,00 (victory by the opponent's elimination before the bout ).

Article 26. Total Victory

1. Total victory is awarded:

for the Total throw;
for the painful hold;
for Great Superiority of one of the contestants;
for the opponent's elimination from the bout (according to art. 30, p. 1 a, b);
for the opponent's elimination from the competitions in the course of the bout (according to art. 30, pp. 3, 4 a, b, c).

Total throw is considered such a throw without the attacker's falling down as a result of which the defensive player from "Standing" position falls down on his back or rolls over his back rapidly (without stopping).
The painful hold is scored if one of the contestants gives a submission signal.
The submission signal is given in a loud voice "Yes!" or by clapping twice the mat or the opponent's body with the hand of foot.
Any exclamation from the contestant taken under the painful hold is considered to be a "give up" signal (except the case foreseen by art. 34, p. 2).
If in the course of the bout one of the contestants scores 12 (and over) points more than his opponent, the bout is stopped and the contestant is awarded the victory by Great Superiority.
With the Total victory the winner is scored 4 classification (positive) points, the loser gets 0.

Article 27. Victory By Superiority and On Points

If after the end of the bout one of the contestants has got 8 to 11 points of advantage this contestant is awarded the victory by Superiority. The winner gets 3,5 positive (classification) points.. The loser gets, or doesn't, 0,5 positive points depending on whether he has got or hasn't any technical points by the end of the bout.
If after the end of the bout one of the contestants has got 1 to 7 advantage points, he is awarded the victory on Points. In this case the winner may not have any technical points.
The winner gets 3 positive points, the loser gets 1 positive point if by the end of the bout he has got technical points or 0 if no technical points.

Article 28. Technical Victory

With no "A" evaluations in the bout and in case of the equal number of points (the tie) after its end, the victory goes to the contestant who has got more point points for technical actions. The winner gets 3 positive points, the loser – 1 point if he has got any technical points by the end of the bout or 0 if no technical points.
With "A" evaluations in the bout in case of the tie after its end, the victory goes to the contestant who has got more "activities".
If the contestants have got the equal number of activities, the victory is awarded to the one who has accumulated more points for technical actions, and in case of technical points tie - goes to the one who applied the holds of better quality (more holds evaluated as 4 and 2 points).
In case all the evaluations of both contestants are equal, the victory is awarded to the one who was the last to apply the evaluated hold in the course of the bout (1, 2, 4 points or "A").
With the technical points the winner gets 3 and the loser 1 positive point if he has scored technical points by the end of the bout or 0 if he has not.
With evaluations "A" only and no points after the end of the bout the Technical victory goes to the contestant who has got more "activities" and in case of the tie - to the one who got the "A" evaluation last. In this case the winner gets 2 and the loser 0 positive points.

Article 29. Victory on Warnings

If by the end of the bout both contestants have not scored any technical points or "A" evaluation and have the equal number of warnings, the victory goes to the one who got the last evaluation for the warning declared to his opponent.
In this case the winner gets 2 positive points, the loser - 0.

Article 30. Elimination and Disqualification

The contestant is eliminated from the bout by the decision of the Chief official and his opponent is awarded the Total victory:

At the second attempt to apply the prohibited hold;
In case the contestant exceeds 2 minutes allowed for medical service intervention.
In this case the winner gets 4 positive points, the loser - 0. The bout is considered ended ahead of time and its time is stated in the score sheet.

The contestant is eliminated from the bout by the Chief official decision after two warnings when it is necessary to declare him the third warning for stalling if the three officials of the bout are of the united opinion or if the opinion of the officials' majority is supported by the Chief official. In this case his opponent is awarded the victory ahead of time.
The contestant is eliminated from the competitions by the Chief Official if he can not continue the competition by the doctor's decision because of some disease or an injury he got in the course of the bout. His opponent in this case gets 4 positive points and the eliminated one - 0 (in classification he takes the place in accordance with his result by the time he was eliminated.
The contestant is eliminated from the competitions by the Chief official (is disqualified):

when he does not step up on the mat during 1,5 minute after the first call;
for the rude and unethical behavior concerning his opponent, participants, officials and spectators, for the refusal to shake hands with the opponent or doing it tactlessly (incorrectly);
for the application of a prohibited hold as a result of which his opponent gets an injury and by the doctor's decision can not continue to compete;
for the deception of officials.
In this case the eliminated contestant gets 0 positive points (in classification he gets neither individual, nor team placing). His opponent is scored 4 positive points.

Article 31. Evaluation of Holds

1. The holds of the attacker the application of which has brought him the Total victory, are evaluated by points. The quality and, respectively, the evaluation of the hold, depends on:

in what starting position the attacker was before the throw;
whether he applied the throw with or without falling down;
in what starting position the defensive fighter was before the throw;
on what part of the body he fell as a result of the opponent's throw.

4 points are awarded:

for the throw from Standing position with the attacker's falling down when his opponent falls on the back;
for the throw from Standing position without the attacker's falling down when the opponent falls on his side;
for 20 second hold-down.

2 points are awarded:

for the throw from Standing position with the attacker's falling down when the opponent falls on his side;
for the throw from Standing position without the attacker's falling down when his opponent falls on the chest, stomach, buttocks, waist or shoulder;
for the throw without falling down when the opponent, who was on his knees or hands before the throw, falls on the back;
for over 10 second incomplete hold-down;
for the second warning declared to his opponent.

1 point is awarded:

for the throw with falling down from Standing position when the opponent falls on his chest, stomach, buttocks, waist or shoulder;
for the throw with falling down when the opponent, who was on his knees or hands before the throw, falls on his back;
for the throw without falling down when the opponent, who was on his knees or hands before the throw, falls on his side;
for the first warning declared to his opponent.

"Activity" ("A") is awarded:

for the throw from Standing position without falling down when the opponent falls on his knee (knees);
for less than 10 minute incomplete hold-down evaluated once in a bout.

The attacker falls down	Starting position of the defensive contestant
	Standing			on his knees or hands
	Attacker applies a throw from Standing position
	without falling down	Without falling down	with falling down		with falling down
On the back	Total throw	4 points	2 points		1 point
On a side	4 points	2 points	1 point		-
On the chest, stomach, buttocks waist or a shoulder	2 points	1 point	-		-
On the knee (knees)	"A"	-	-		-

For the attacker's unsuccessful throw with his falling down on his buttocks, chest, stomach, waist, side or back, his opponent is not scored any points unless he counter-attacks.
If the defensive fighter in his counter-attack could not change the character and direction of the attacker's falling down and fell himself in the direction of his throw, the attacker's throw is considered applied.
Hold-down applied by the contestant in the course of one bout can't be evaluated over 4 points in the sum. That is why if a complete hold-down is applied all the points scored prior to that or "activity" for the incomplete hold-down are annulled. Besides, "activity" for the incomplete hold-down is annulled in case the evaluated as 2 points incomplete "hold-down" is applied.
When the bout is interrupted by the request of the contestant who is under the hold-down, his opponent in case he didn't break the Rules is scored as follows:

4 points - if 20 seconds and over are left from the start of the hold-down to the end of the bout;
2 points - if it is less than 20 seconds but over 10 sec left to the end of the bout;
Total Victory - if the wrestler taken under the hold-down gives the submission signal.

Article 32. Stalling (Passivity)

Stalling is considered to be:

a) intentional stepping off the mat in Standing position or crawling off in Ground position;
no real attempts to apply holds in Standing position;
imitation of attacks (false attack); to assume exclusively the defensive posture in Standing combat;
stalling from the holds in Standing position;
switching to Ground positions with no real attempts to apply a hold;
obvious pushing the opponent off the mat.

Article 33. Fight at the Edge of the Mat

"Off mat" position (beyond the edge of the mat) is considered to be if:

In Standing fight one of the contestants steps off the mat with his foot;
In Ground position one of the fighters is off the edge of the mat with the half of his body up to the waist line or shoulder blades and buttocks.

In the bout the "off mat" position is defined by the referee and in case of a dispute - by the majority of the three officials.
If the contestants find themselves in the "off mat" position, by the referee's whistle they shall return to the middle of the mat and resume the bout in Standing position. Without the referee's whistle a contestant shall not stop fighting at the edge of the mat and invite his opponent to the middle. The opponent has the right to apply a hold if there was no whistle.
The throw (counter-throw) started on the mat is also evaluated if it ends off the mat in protection zone. The throw started in the "off mat" position is not scored.
It is permitted to apply a hold-down or a painful hold started on the mat while one of the contestants contacts the central fighting zone of the mat.

Article 34. Prohibitions and Illegal Holds

1. In Sport Sambo competitions it is prohibited:

to throw the opponent on the head, throw with the painful grip ("Knot", "Lever") and throw the opponent while falling down on him heavily with the whole body:
to apply strangle holds, squeeze the opponent's mouth and nose thus preventing his breathing;
to strike blows, scratch and bite;
to apply any painful hods on the spine, twist the neck, squeeze the opponent's head with the arms or legs or press it to the mat, cross the legs on the opponent's body;
to rest the hands (arms), legs or the head against opponent's face;
to press any part of opponent's body from above by the elbow or the knee;
to apply holds on opponent's fingers and toes;
to apply Arm Bar (bringing the opponent's arm behind his back); painful holds on hands;
to twist the opponent's foot by the heel and apply "knots" on the foot;
to apply "Lever" of the knee, overbending the leg contrary its natural bend;
to apply painful holds in Standing position;
to apply painful holds by jerks.

If officials do not notice the application of the illegal hold, the victim is allowed to give the signal in a voice or by the gesture.
The false signal is considered and penalized as an illegal hold.
The following actions are also prohibited:

to grasp the opponent's shorts or the sleeve of the jacket from inside;
to grasp the edge or the covering of the mat.
to break deliberately the sports uniform by taking the arm from the sleeve of the jacket, roll up the jacket sleeves and so on.

Article 35. Cautions and Warnings

Violations of the Rules for which the contestant at fault can be declared a caution, a warning or can be eliminated from a bout or competitions are considered to be (see article 30):

appearing late to the mat;
application of the illegal hold;
rough fighting;
violation of discipline;
talking during the bout;
stalling and other prohibited actions;
leaving the mat without the referee's permission including the intervention of medical service;
representative's, coach's or other team mates' prompting alongside with unethical behavior near the mat (for violation of art. 9, pp. 5, 6).

The contestant can be declared only one caution in the course of the bout.
The referee has the right to give the contestant a caution without the agreement with other members of the officiating team.
For coming to the mat over 30 sec later after the first call the contestant is declared a caution, for being late for over 1 min - the first warning.
With the violations of the Rules stated in p.1 e, f, g. a caution is declared first, then a warning for the
If a contestant, taken under a painful hold or the hold-down, has crawled off the mat, he is immediately declared the next penalty for the intentional fleeing the mat: the first, the second warning or elimination from the bout.
With the violations of the rules stated in 1, b, c, d the warning is declared without the preliminary caution.
In one bout the contestant can not be declared more than one warning for the application of an illegal hold. Every contestant can be declared only two warnings in one bout.

Article 36. Definition and Declaration of the Results of the Bout

Total victory is awarded:

if the contestant's technical action is evaluated as a Total throw by not less than two officials of the officiating team;
if the contestant successfully applies a painful hold.

The Victory by Great Superiority, Superiority, on Points or Technical is defined by the mat chairman in accordance with the records in a score sheet of the bout corresponding to the contestants' evaluations declared in the course of the bout.
A contestant (or both contestants) is eliminated from the bout by unanimous decision of the three officials or by the majority of voices with the permission of the Chief official (or his deputy).
Elimination from the bout or competitions is declared after the agreement with the Chief official (or his deputy).
The result is declared as follows:

Total victory by Great Superiority: "For... minutes... seconds by Total throw (painful hold, Great Superiority)... from... team won the bout (the winner's and his team's names);
if no Total victory: "... (the name) from the... (winner's team) won the bout by Superiority (on Points);
if the contestant is eliminated from the bout: "For... minutes... seconds because of the opponent's elimination the victory goes to... from... team (the name and the winner's team);
if both contestants are eliminated from the bout or competitions: "Both contestants (players) are eliminated from the bout (competitions) and they are declared defeated with the time...minutes...seconds".

Article 37. Protests

The protest may be submitted because of the rough violation of the Rules during the officiating of the bout or when unordinary situation occurs.
The procedure to submit a protest is as follows:

verbal protest is submitted to the Chief official by the team representative directly in the course of the bout stating the article and point of the Rules that was violated;
after the end of the bout the written protest shall be submitted;
the protest concerning some unordinary situation (breaking of Regulations, order of weigh-in and pairing, misinformation on the part of the official persons, and so on) shall be submitted immediately after it happens in the written form, so that the Board of Officials will be able to make the decision with the minimum harm for the course and results of the competitions;
the protest shall be accompanied by the sum of money set by FIAS (for national competitions - set by the National Sambo Federation).

Consideration of Protests

in case the protest deals with the breaking of the Rules while officiating the bout it is considered by the Chief official and the three officials of the bout in question and also the representatives of the concerned parties (with no right to discuss the protest);
considering the protest dealing with an unordinary situation, the persons involved in the violation of the Rules shall b e present.

The decisions on the protest are taken:

concerning the bout - immediately after the discussion by the Chief official, the bout is resumed after that;
concerning other reasons - during the time that makes it possible to correct the mistakes with the minimum damage for the course and results of the competitions;
the Chief Official makes the final decision and the persons involved shall be informed about it;
in case the protest is upheld the accompanied sum of money shall be returned to the person submitted the protest.