Kickin It with Elise

USA TAEKWONDO COMPETITION RULES & INTERPRETATION
In force as of January 1, 2015

c USA Taekwondo All rights reserved January 2015
Published by USA Taekwondo Printed in USA

Competition Rules
Article 1. Purpose 1 Article 2. Application 2 Article 3. Competition Area 3 Article 4. Contestant 7 Article 5. Weight Division 10 Article 6. Classification and methods of competition 12 Article 7. Duration of Contest 13 Article 8. Drawing of Lots 14 Article 9. Weigh-in 15 Article 10. Procedure of the Contest 16 Article 11. Permitted techniques and area 17 Article 12. Valid points 18 Article 13. Scoring and publication 19 Article 14. Prohibited acts and penalties 20 Article 15. Golden Point and decision of superiority 24 Article 16. Decisions 25 Article 17. Knock down 26 Article 18. Procedure in the event of Knock down 27 Article 19. Procedure of suspending the match 29 Article 20. Technical Officials 31 Article 21. Instant Video Replay 34 Article 22. Para-Taekwondo 36 Article 23. Deaf-Taekwondo 38 Article 24. Sanctions 39 Article 25. Other matters not specified in the Rules 41
Referee’s Hand Signals 42 Junior Competition Rules 69
Article 1: Purpose 70 Article 2. Junior Safety Rule 71 Article 3. Junior Weight Division 73
Appendix I: Official Letter of Protest 76 Appendix II: Technical Assistant Paper 77 Appendix III: Judges’ Scoring Sheet 78 Appendix IV: Useful Information 79

USA Taekwondo Competition Rules & Interpretation Table of Contents


Article 1	Purpose

1 The purpose of the Competition Rules is to provide standardized rules for all levels of Championships organized and/or promoted by the USA Taekwondo, USAT State Organizations, or/and USAT Local Organizing Committees; the Competition Rules are intended to ensure that all matters related to competitions are conducted in a fair and orderly manner.
(Interpretation)
The objective of Article 1 is to ensure the standardization of all Taekwondo competition nationwide. Any competition not following the fundamental principles of these rules cannot be recognized as Taekwondo competition.

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Article 2

Application

1 The Competition Rules shall apply to all the competitions to be promoted and/or organized by USAT, each State Organization and Local Organizing Committee. However, any Local Organizing Committee wishing to modify some or any part of the Competition Rules must first gain the prior approval of USAT. In the case that a State Organization and/or a Local Organizing Committee violate USAT Competition Rules without prior approval of USAT, USAT may exercise its discretion to disapprove or revoke its approval of the concerned international tournament. In addition, USAT may take further disciplinary actions to the pertinent State Organization or Local Organizing Committee.
2 All competitions promoted, organized, or sanctioned by USAT shall observe USAT Statutes, the Bylaws of Dispute Resolution and Disciplinary Action, and all other pertinent rules and regulations.
3 All competitions promoted, organized, or sanctioned by USAT shall abide by USAT Medical Code and USAT Anti- Doping Rules.

(Explanation#1)
First gain the approval: Any organization desiring to make a change in any portion of the existing rules must submit to USAT the contents of the desired amendment along with the reasons for the desired changes. Approval for any changes in these rules must be received from USAT at least one month prior to the scheduled competition. USAT can apply Competition Rules with modifications in its promoted Championships with the decision of the Technical Delegate after approval of the USAT CEO.

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Article 3	Competition Area

1 The Contest Area shall have a flat surface without any obstructing projections, and be covered with an elastic and not slippery mat. The Contest Area may also be installed on a platform 0.6-1m high from the base, if necessary. The outer part of the Boundary Line shall be inclined at a gradient of less than 30 degrees, for the safety of the contestants. One of the following shapes can be used for Contest Area.
1. 1.1 Square-shape
  The Competition Area is comprised of a Contest Area and a Safety Area. The square-shape Contest Area shall be 8m x 8m. Surrounding the contest area, approximately equidistant on all sides, shall be the Safety Area. The size of Competition Area (which envelopes the Contest Area and the Safety Area) shall be no smaller than 10m x 10m and no larger than 12m x 12m. If the Competition Area is on a platform, the Safety Area can be increased as needed to ensure the safety of contestants. The Competition Area and the Safety Area shall be different colors, as specified in the relevant competition’s Technical Manual.
2. 1.2 Octagonal-shape
  The Competition Area is comprised of a Contest Area and a Safety Area. The Competition Area shall be square shaped and the size shall be no smaller than 10mx10m and no larger than 12mx12m. At the center of the Competition Areas shall be the octagonal-shape Contest Area. The Contest Areas shall measure approximately 8m in diameter, and each side of the octagon shall have a length of approximately 3.3m. Between the outer line of the Competition area and the boundary line of the Contest area is the Safety Area. The Contest Area and the
  Safety Area shall be different colors, as specified in the relevant competition’s Technical Manual.
2 Indication of positions
1. 2.1 The outer line of the Contest Area shall be called the Boundary Line(s) and the outer line of the Competition Area shall be called the Outer Line(s).
2. 2.2 The front outer line adjacent to the Recorder’s Desk shall be called Outer Line #1, and Clockwise from Outer Line #1, the other lines shall be called Outer Lines #2, #3, and #4. The Boundary Line adjacent to the Outer Line #1 shall be called Boundary Line #1 and clockwise from Boundary Line #1, the other lines shall be called Boundary Lines #2, #3, and #4. In case of Octagonal Shape Contest Area, The Boundary Line adjacent to the Outer Line #1 shall be called Boundary Line #1 and clockwise from Boundary Line #1, the other lines shall be called Boundary Lines #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8.
3. 2.3 Positions of Referee and Contestant at the beginning and end of the Match: The position of the Contestants shall be at the two opposing points, 1m from the center point of the Contest Area parallel to Outer Line #1. The Referee shall be positioned at a point 1.5m from the center of the Contest Area toward the Outer Line #3.
4. 2.4 Positions of Judges: The position of the 1st Judge shall be located at a point 0.5m from the corner of the Outer Line #1 and #2. The position of the 2nd Judge shall be located at a point 0.5m outward from the center of the Outer Line #3. The position of the 3rd Judge shall be located at a point 0.5m from the corner of the Outer Line #1 and #4. In case of two Judges setting the position of the 1st Judge shall be located at a point 0.5m from the center of the Outer Line #3 and the 2nd Judge shall be located at a point 0.5m from the center of the Outer Line #1. The positions of Judges may be altered to facilitate media, broadcasting and/or sports presentation.
5. 2.5 Position of Recorder & IVR: Position of Recorder & IVR shall be located at a point 2m from the Outer Line #1. Position of Recorder may be altered to accommodate the environment of the venue and requirements from media broadcasting and/or sports presentation.

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2.6 Positions of Coaches: The position of the Coaches shall be marked at a point 1m or more from the center point of the Outer Line of each contestant’s side. Position of the coaches may be altered to accommodate the environment of the venue and requirements from media broadcasting and/or sports presentation.
2.7 Position of Inspection desk: The position of the Inspection Desk shall be near the entrance of the Competition Area for the inspection of the contestants’ protective equipment.

(Explanation #1)
Elastic mat: The degree of elasticity and slipperiness of the mat must be approved by USAT before the competition.
(Explanation #2)
Color: The color scheme of the mat’s surface must avoid giving a harsh reflection, or tiring the contestant’s or spectator’s eyesight. The color scheme must also be appropriately matched to the contestant’s equipment, uniform and the surface of the Contest Area.
(Explanation #3)
Inspection Desk: At the Inspection desk, the inspector checks if all the materials worn by the contestant are approved by USAT and fit the contestant properly. In case they are found to be inappropriate, the contestant is requested to change the protective equipment.

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<Square-shape>

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<Octagonal-shape>

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Article 4

Contestant

1 Qualification of Contestant

1.1 U. S. Resident or Citizen
1.2 Holder of Taekwondo Dan/Poom certificate issued by the Kukkiwon or USAT
1.3 Holder of Current USAT Athlete Membership

(Interpretation)
The age limit is based on the year, not on the date. For instance, if the Junior Taekwondo Championships are held on June 11, 2013, those contestants born on between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998 are eligible to participate.
2 Contestant uniform and competition equipment

2.1 At the competitions enlisted in USAT Event Calendar, contestant uniform and all competition equipment such as
but not limited to mats, PSS, IVR and protective equipment must be those ones approved by USAT.
2.2 A contestant shall wear a USAT-approved uniform, trunk protector, groin guard, forearm guards, shin guards,
hand protector, sensing socks (in the case of using PSS) and be equipped with a mouth piece before entering the FieldofPlay.Headprotectormustbefirmlytuckedunderleftarmswhenenteringintocompetitionarea.

Head protector shall be put on the head following instructions of the referee before the start of the contest.

2.3 The groin, forearm and shin guards shall be worn beneath the Taekwondo uniform. The contestant shall bring this USAT-approved protective equipment, as well as gloves and the mouthpiece, for his/her personal use. Wearing any item on the head other than the head protector shall not be permitted. Any religious item shall be worn beneath the head protector and inside the Dobok and shall not cause harm or obstruct the opposing contestant.
2.4 Specifications on taekwondo competition uniforms (Dobok), protective equipment, and all other equipment shall be set forth separately.
2.5 Responsibilities of the organizing committee for competition equipment

2.5.1 The Organizing Committee of USAT-promoted Championships shall be responsible for preparing the
following USAT-recognized equipment for the use at the Championships at its own expenses for all related materials, equipment and the related technicians for installation and operation.

 PSS and PSS-related items and equipment – the choice of the PSS company shall be decided by USAT
 Mats
 Headgears
 Other protective equipment as reserve (Sensing socks, hand protectors, shin guards, forearm
guards, groin guards and uniforms)
 Instant Video Replay (IVR) system and its related equipment, including but not limited to
cameras (minimum 3 cameras per court and minimum 4 cameras, including one overhead camera for the semifinals and final); When broadcasting is available, the broadcast feed must be made available at the Video Replay desk for review purpose
 Jumbo screen (for display of competition progress) inside the FOP
 Spectator scoreboards (for display of instant video replay screen; minimum 12)
 Scoreboards at the court (for display of scoring; minimum 4 per court)

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 Other competition equipment not prescribed in this article, if any, shall be described in Technical Manual of USAT.

2.5.2 The Organizing Committee of USAT-promoted Championships shall be responsible for preparing the following equipment and materials, etc. at the training venue at its own expenses.
-  PSS and PSS-related items and equipment
-  Mats
-  Items for first-aid
-  Ice in the baskets
2.5.3 It is the responsibility of the Organizing Committee to obtain approval of USAT on the number of the equipment to be prepared.

3 Anti-Doping Test

3.1 At the Taekwondo events promoted or sanctioned by USAT, any use or administration of drugs or chemical
substances described in USAT Anti-Doping Rules is prohibited. The WADAAnti-doping Code shall be applied
to the Taekwondo competitions of the Olympic Games and other multi-sports Games.
3.2 USAT may carry out any doping tests deemed necessary to ascertain if a contestant has committed a breach of this
rule, and any winner who refuses to undergo this testing or who proves to have committed such a breach shall be removed from the final standings, and the record shall be transferred to the contestant next in line in the competition standings.
3.3 The Organizing Committee shall be responsible for making all necessary preparations for conducting doping tests.
3.4 The details of USAT Anti-Doping Rules shall be enacted as part of the by-laws.

(Explanation #1)
Holder of the nationality of the participating team:
When a contestant is a representative of a national team, his/her nationality is decided by citizenship of the country he/she is representing before submission of the application to participate. Verification of citizenship is done by inspection of the passport.
A competitor who is a national of two or more countries at the same time may represent either one of them, as he may elect. However, after having represented one country in the Olympic Games, in Qualification Tournaments for Olympic Games, in continental or regional games or in world or regional championships Promoted or recognized by USAT, he may not represent another country unless at least three (3) years have passed since the competitor last represented his former country. This period may be reduced or even cancelled, with the agreement of the NOCs and USAT. USAT may take disciplinary actions at any time against the athlete and his Local Organizing Committee that violates this article including but not limited to deprival of the achievements. In case of an athlete aged 16 or less, this article shall not be applied unless there is an appeal from any of the two countries. In case of dispute, USAT shall make evaluation and make a final decision. After the decision, no further appeal shall be acceptable.
(Explanation #2)
One recommended by USAT National Taekwondo Association: Each National Federation is responsible for control of non-pregnancy
and gender and shall ensure that all team members have been given medical exams that show them to be of adequate health and fitness to participate. Also each National Federation assumes full responsibilities for accident and health insurance as well as the civil liabilities for their contestants and officials during USAT-promoted championships.
(Explanation #3)
Mouthpiece:
The color of the mouthpiece is limited to white or transparent. However, obligation to use mouthpiece may be exempted upon submission of the medical Doctor’s diagnosis stating that use of mouthpiece may cause harm to the contestant.
(Explanation #4)
Headgear: The color of headgear other than blue or red shall not be permitted to compete.

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(Explanation #5)
Instant Video Replay System: It is the responsibility of the Organizing Committee to ensure broadcasting feed is provided for Instant Video Replay review for the matches requested by USAT.
(Explanation #6)
Taping: Taping of feet and hands will be strictly checked during the athlete inspection process. The inspector may request the Commission Doctor’s approval for excessive taping.