Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule is being amended to reduce unnecessary
regulatory restrictions.
(1) The
promoter is responsible for ensuring that all statutes and rules promulgated by
the office are strictly observed and carried out, including using only licensed
individuals at all contests.
(2)
The referee and/or the office shall decide all questions arising out of a
contest not specifically covered by the statutes and these rules. In all other
respects, wrestling shall be subject to the statutes and rules governing this
sport.
(3) Wrestler's Equipment.
(A) A wrestler will be clothed in clean
apparel.
(B) A wrestler may wear
two (2) pair of trunks, one (1) over the other.
(C) If a wrestler wears shoes, they shall be
fitted with soft tops, soft smooth soles, soft laces and equipped with eyelets
only.
(D) A wrestler may not have
any grease, lotion, or foreign substances on the body.
(E) A female wrestler must wear trunks and a
top.
(F) The inspector present at
the event may disallow the use of inappropriate attire or disqualify a
wrestling participant for the lack of appropriate attire.
(4) Contestants shall have their fingernails
trimmed closely.
(5) Ring Barrier.
(A) A ring is enclosed within a barrier which
shall be erected between the ring and the seating area in the arena.
(B) The barrier shall be at least:
1. Six feet (6') away from the ring;
and
2. Four feet (4') away from the
first row of the seating area.
(C) The ring barrier shall conform to the
following requirements:
1. Be constructed of
metal or other shatterproof material;
2. Be designed to prevent a wrestler from
exiting through the barrier into the seating area during a contest;
3. Be built to a height of at least forty-two
inches (42") from the floor of the arena; and
4. Be stable.
(D) The ring barrier shall be approved by the
office or the office's representative before its use during a
contest.
(6) Time
Limits.
(A) A wrestling match may have a
maximum time limit of sixty (60) minutes.
(B) The office may authorize any other time
limit.
(7) A timekeeper
shall begin the beginning of the time limit of a contest upon the referee's
signal and shall sound the bell at the referee's command.
(8) Conduct of Wrestling Contest.
(A) A wrestling contest will be determined
by-
1. One (1) fall; or
2. Two (2) out of three (3) falls.
(9) Scoring a Fall.
(A) A fall is scored by a wrestler when the
wrestler's opponent has both shoulders touching the mat for a count of three
(3) seconds.
(B) The referee shall
signal the wrestler scoring a fall by immediately slapping the mat.
(10) Breaking.
(A) A wrestler:
1. Shall break a hold when instructed by the
referee;
2. Failing to break upon
instruction by the referee, the offending contestant shall be given a count of
ten (10) to release the hold; and
3. Failing to release the hold after the
count of ten (10), the offending contestant shall be disqualified and the
opponent shall be awarded the match by the referee.
(11) When any part of a
contestant's body is touching the ropes or is outside the ropes or if, in the
judgment of the referee, the contestant is no longer able to properly protect
him/herself, the referee shall call time and the contestants at once shall
release any holds and return to the center of the ring to standing positions
and resume the bout.
(12)
Disallowed Activities.
(A) The following
actions are disallowed:
1. Inhibiting
breathing by covering the nose and mouth at the same time; and
2. Unsportsmanlike or physically dangerous
conduct.
(B) A wrestler
continuing to engage in prohibited activities after sufficient warning may be
disqualified by the referee.
(C) No
wrestling contestant may use a foreign object(s) or prop(s) with the deliberate
intent to lacerate himself or herself, or one's opponent. No animal blood or
human blood, other than that of the wrestling contestants that is incidentally
introduced during a match, may be used as a prop or special effect in any
wrestling match. Vials, capsules, or any vessel containing a gel substance
appearing to be or simulating blood may be used as a prop or special effect
during a wrestling contest so long as the container cannot cause lacerations
upon breakage. The intent to use a foreign object(s) or prop(s) during a
wrestling match must be disclosed to the office prior to any wrestling contest
and be subject to the approval of the inspector present at the event. This
shall include any vial, capsule, or container holding a gel substance that is
meant to simulate blood.
(13) Refusal or Inability to Continue.
(A) If a wrestler refuses or is physically
unable to continue a match, the match shall be ended and the decision awarded
to the wrestler's opponent.
(14) Tag Team Wrestling.
(A) "Tag Team Wrestling" means a contest
between two (2) teams each composed of two (2) or more wrestlers.
(B) The time limit for this type of contest
shall be a maximum of sixty (60) minutes.
(C) A team shall be awarded a fall when a
member of the team scores a fall against a member of the opposing
team.
(D) A two (2)-minute rest
period may be permitted between falls.
(E) A tag team contest shall be conducted as
follows:
1. The contest will begin with one
(1) wrestler from each team inside the ring while the respective partners
remain outside the ring on the apron;
2. The wrestler(s) outside the ring may not
enter the ring unless a fall is scored or his/her partner has tagged his/her
hand;
3. In order to be eligible to
receive a tag, the wrestler's partner shall be outside the ring on the apron in
the proper corner with both feet on the ring apron and only receive the tag
over the top ring rope;
4. When the
tag is made, the wrestler making the tag shall leave the ring as the partner
enters the ring;
5. Only two (2)
wrestlers from opposing teams are permitted to be in the ring at any one (1)
time;
6. After the scoring of a
fall, a wrestler may relieve the partner;
7. If a wrestler is unable to continue, the
wrestler's partner may continue the contest alone;
8. The referee may call time after an injury
to permit the injured wrestler to be removed from the ring; and
9. Release the rope provided in the team
corner until officially tagged by the partner.
(15) The referee shall warn a team of any
disallowed conduct and may disqualify a team for persisting in disallowed
conduct after a warning.
(16) A
wrestler may have a second who:
(A) Shall
remain in the wrestler's corner outside the ring enclosure; and
(B) The referee may immediately eject from
the ring area any second engaging in disallowed activities after sufficient
warning.
(17) Referee.
(A) The referee conducts the contest and
enforces the regulations of the office;
(B) The referee's decision on any matter,
whether arising under these regulations or not, is final; and
(C) Referees assigned to officiate a contest
shall:
1. Be properly attired thirty (30)
minutes before the scheduled time of the opening contest; and
2. Remain attired and available until all
matches have been concluded.
(18) Responsibility of Promoter.
(A) A promoter shall be responsible to the
office for the conduct of its representatives and employees, including
officials and contestants affiliated with the event.
(B) The promoter shall be responsible for
conducting the wrestling contest in a safe, peaceable, and orderly
fashion.
(C) Violation of the
office's regulations by a representative or employee of the promoter, including
officials and contestants affiliated with the event, may be grounds for
disciplinary action against the promoter.
*Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996 and
317.015, RSMo 1996.
