Official Regulations

Competition Rules

The official rules and regulations governing all Slapfight Championship bouts.

Official Rules & Regulations

A standardized framework governing competition structure, safety protocols, officiating standards, and regulatory compliance for SlapFIGHT events.

1. Purpose

These rules establish a standardized framework for the conduct of SlapFIGHT competitions, ensuring:

  • Athlete safety
  • Fair and consistent enforcement
  • Clear officiating standards
  • Regulatory compliance

2. Governing Authority

SlapFIGHT Championship is regulated by Extreme Sport USA, an independent regulatory commission for slap fighting in the United States.

Extreme Sport USA is responsible for:

  • Event sanctioning and regulatory oversight
  • Enforcement of rules and safety standards
  • Coordination with state athletic commissions and regulatory authorities in applicable jurisdictions

3. Eligibility & Medical Requirements

3.1 Eligibility

  • Minimum age: 18 years
  • Competitors must be licensed where required

3.2 Medical Requirements

  • Pre-contest physical examination conducted by licensed medical personnel
  • Hearing assessment
  • Post-contest medical evaluation
  • Ringside physician and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) must be present

3.3 Safety Compliance

  • No competitor shall compete within sixty (60) days of a prior contest without doctor approval
  • Competitors must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Random drug testing may be conducted

3.4 Training Requirement

All competitors must complete mandatory training prior to competition to ensure the ability to deliver legal and safe strikes and to properly receive strikes.

4. Weight Classes

Competitors shall compete within the following divisions:

Lightweight

Welterweight

Middleweight

Light Heavyweight

Heavyweight

Super Heavyweight

4.1 Catchweight Contests

Contests outside standard weight classes may be approved by Extreme Sport USA and/or the applicable regulatory authority.

4.2 Weigh-In Requirements

  • All competitors must weigh in at a designated time prior to competition
  • Competitors must meet the contracted weight limit
  • Failure to make weight may result in contest cancellation, reclassification, or penalties

5. Match Structure

5.1 Format

  • Contests are conducted using an alternating striking format
  • Competitors alternate delivering one strike per round
  • Each round consists of one strike per active competitor

5.2 First Slap

  • A coin toss determines the first striker
  • A competitor who fails to make weight shall strike second
  • If all competitors fail to make weight, the coin toss result applies

5.3 Rounds

Contests shall be conducted over:

  • Five (5), Seven (7) or Ten (10) rounds
  • Two additional rounds available to decide a close match
  • Competitors are allotted sixty (60) seconds between strikes for recovery
  • An additional sixty (60) seconds shall be granted following a Clubbing or Stepping penalty

6. Slap Execution and Defense

6.1 Striker Requirements

  • Strikes must be delivered with an open hand, with fingers and thumb not spread
  • Feet must remain planted and parallel at shoulder width
  • The striker shall perform two (2) preparatory wind-ups on the counts of "one (1)" and "two (2)" and must deliver the strike on the count of "three (3)" immediately following the final wind-up
  • Strikes must be delivered in accordance with referee direction

6.2 Defender Requirements

  • Feet must remain planted and parallel at shoulder width
  • Hands must remain behind the back
  • No movement is permitted prior to contact
  • The defender shall not tuck the chin; the referee may verify compliance by placing a hand between the competitor's chin and chest

7. Legal Target Area

Permitted

  • Side of the face (cheek area)
  • Above the chin
  • Below the eye

Prohibited

  • Eyes
  • Throat
  • Back of the head

8. Fouls (Warnings/Penalties)

Clubbing, Stepping, and Flinching are the only recognized fouls.

8.1 Foul Definitions

Clubbing
  • Contact to the face beyond the wrist band boundary
  • The heel of the hand may make contact but shall not extend past the chin
  • Illegal wind-up
  • Striking outside the legal target area
Stepping
  • Any movement of the feet during strike execution
  • Feet must remain in a shoulder-width stance
  • Pivoting
Flinching
  • Any pre-contact movement by the defender that affects the delivery or impact of the strike
  • Minor natural reactions that do not affect the strike are permitted

9. Penalties & Enforcement

9.1 Infraction System

Each foul is tracked independently and enforced using a progressive system:

  • 1st First infraction: Warning
  • 2nd Second infraction: Penalty
  • 3rd+ Each additional infraction: Additional Penalty

A second infraction, and each subsequent infraction of the same foul, results in loss of the competitor's strike in the following round.

9.2 Referee Authority

The referee maintains full authority over enforcement.