Part IV: Competition requirements

1. Bout/match duration

2. Scoring methodology

1. Scoring
   1. One score will be awarded for each Muaythai skill that strikes against a scoring target without being blocked, guarded against, or infringing the rules.
2. Steps for awarding points
   1. First: An Athlete wins the round when utilising more scoring Muaythai skills than the opponent
      1. A difference of 7 or less scoring Muaythai skills between the athlete is a small margin
      2. A difference of 8–14 scoring Muaythai skills between the athlete is a clear margin
      3. A difference of 15–21 scoring Muaythai skills between the athlete is a total domination
      4. If the Athletes are equal in scoring Muaythai skill, then:
         • Second: An Athlete wins the round when using a more forceful Muaythai skills than the opponents.
3. Non-Awarding Points
   1. Hitting with lack of Muaythai skills;
   2. Hits which are appropriately blocked by the opponent’s (forearms /gloves) or shins/feet;
   3. Hitting with lack of force even when those hits have landed on target;
   4. Throwing the opponent without hitting; and
   5. Hitting while infringing any of the rules.
4. Scoring system
   1. 10 points will be awarded to the Athlete who wins the round, and the opponent proportionately less (9-8-7 respectively).
   2. 10 points will be awarded to each Athlete if they are even in the round.
   3. The Athlete who wins the round by a small margin will receive 10 points, the opponent will receive 9 points.
   4. The Athlete who wins the round by a clear margin will receive 10 points, the opponent will receive 8 points.
   5. The Athlete who wins the round by a total domination will receive 10 points, the opponent will receive 7 points.
   6. When an Athlete receives an 8-count for a Single Show:
      1. the Athlete who receives an 8-count in a round will receive 8 points, the opponent will receive 10 points
      2. the Athlete who receives two 8-counts in a round will receive 7 points, the opponent will receive 10 points
      3. the counted Athlete may receive lower scores if the opponent is winning by a large margin
      4. if both Athletes receive an 8-count, scoring continues as if each count did not occur and the Athlete will lose one (1) point for each Warning received

3. Legal scoring techniques

1. A Muaythai skill is a punch, kick, knee or elbow applied with force and intent to cause effect.

4. Legal scoring targets

1. Target: The Target for Muaythai means, any part of the body except the groin and spine.

5. Illegal scoring techniques

1. Dependant on Athlete Division:
   1. Youth No Head Strikes (NHS) divisions: no head strikes.
   2. C-Class: No elbows to the head, no knees to the head.
   3. B-Class: No knees to the head, no 12-to-6 elbows to the head.
   4. A-Class: All legal strikes allowed.

2. Use of a restricted strike in a given competitive division is considered a foul.

   Restricted Strikes By Experience Classification and Age

   Age Category	A Class	B Class	C Class
   Master 41–55	All legal Muaythai techniques	No knees or 12-to-6 (spiking) elbow to head	No knees or elbows to head
   Seniors 18–40 & U23 18–23	All legal Muaythai techniques	No knees or 12-to-6 (spiking) elbow to head	No knees or elbows to head
   Youth 16–17	All legal Muaythai techniques	No knees or 12-to-6 (spiking) elbow to head	No knees or elbows to head
   Youth 14–15	All legal Muaythai techniques	No knees or 12-to-6 (spiking) elbow to head	No knees or elbows to head
   Youth 12–13	N/A	N/A	No knees or elbows to head
   Youth 10–11	N/A	N/A	No strikes to the head
   Youth 8–9	N/A	N/A	No strikes to the head

6. Illegal scoring targets

1. Illegal Targets: The groin is not a scoring target and intentional strikes against the groin may be considered fouls. Intentional strikes to the spine may also be considered a foul.

7. Scoring fouls/penalties

1. Treatment of Fouls: The Athlete who commits fouls can at the discretion of the Referee be cautioned, warned, or disqualified without warning.
2. Cautions: A Referee may caution with or without stopping a contest. A caution shall be accompanied by the appropriate physical signal for the offense committed. Three (3) cautions of the same type of foul will mandate a warning be issued. An Athlete may receive caution for different types of fouls; for example, the Referee may apply a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. Warnings: If the Referee intends to warn an Athlete for a repeated or serious infraction of the rules they shall stop the contest, send the opponent to the neutral corner, and demonstrate the infringement. The Referee will then lead the Athlete to the centre of the ring and signal to each of the 3 Judges that a special warning has been given.
4. Deduction of Points: If the Referee provides a Warning to one of the Athletes the Judges may award a point to the other competitor. When a Judge decides to award a point to an Athlete in agreement with a Referee Warning they shall place a “W” in the appropriate column against the points of the warned competitor to show that they have done so. The Athlete receiving the Warning will be deducted one (1) point from their total points
5. Disqualifications: For major/dangerous infractions of the rules the Referee may opt to immediately disqualify an Athlete.
6. Types of Fouls:
   1. Biting, head-butting, spitting at an opponent, pressing on opponent’s eyes with the thumb.
   2. Intentionally spitting out mouth guards.
   3. Bending the back of opponent.
   4. Intentionally smothering an opponent by covering the mouth and nose.
   5. Intentionally removing, unfastening, or displacing equipment.
   6. Intending to impact the opponent with canvas using a non-Muaythai technique, such as but not limited to:
      1. tripping an opponent without using a Muaythai skill when making 3 points of contact with the body
      2. throwing an opponent using the hip (Judo or Wrestling techniques)
      3. tackling the opponent’s body or legs
   7. Using the bottom of the foot to trip an opponent.
   8. Hooking or immobilising the opponent legs using calf, ankle or heel of the foot to trip them.
   9. Lifting an opponent by the body.
   10. Locking/hyper-extending of the opponent’s joints in the arms, legs, head/neck or back.
   11. Attacking while holding the ropes or making any unfair use of the ropes.
   12. Falling onto an opponent who is lying on the floor.
   13. Attacking the opponent who is down or who is in the act of rising.
   14. Striking while having any part of the body other than feet touching the floor.
   15. Obstructing an opponent from re-entering the ring.
   16. Completely passive defense by means of double cover and intentionally falling to avoid a hit.
   17. Striking the groin of the opponent, if the Athlete is unintentionally hit by Muaythai skill and unable to continue the fight, the Referee will pause the fight for up to 5 minutes to allow the hit Athlete to take a rest. If Athlete refuses to resume the fight after 5 minutes rest they will be declared as “loser” and opponent will be declared the “winner”.
   18. Holding the opponent’s leg and pushing forward more than two (2) steps in any direction without striking with any one of the Muaythai skills (plowing).
   19. Striking an opponent after the round has ended.
   20. Not following the Referee’s command to “Yoot” (“Stop”) or “Yaek” (“Break”) and take a step back.
   21. Attempting to strike the opponent before the Referee has ordered “Chock” (Fight) following the command to “Yoot” or “Yaek”.
   22. Useless, aggressive, or offensive utterance during the contest.
   23. Assaulting or behaving in aggressive manner towards the Referee at any time.
   24. Applying water to an Athlete by means other than a water bottle or spray bottle.
   25. Use of excessive water during the rest period between rounds causing a delay starting the next round.
   26. Using any kind of forbidden substance acknowledged by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or MTO Anti-Doping Code.

8. Result declarations

1. Win on Points
   1. At the end of a bout, the Athlete who has been awarded the decision by a majority of the Judges shall be declared the winner. If both Athletes are injured, or are knocked-out simultaneously, and cannot continue the contest, the Judges shall record the points gained by each Athlete up to its termination, the competitor with the most points shall be declared the winner.
2. Win By Referee Stops Contest (RSC)
   1. Safety (RSCS): If an Athlete, in the opinion of the Referee is being outclassed or is receiving excessive punishment, the bout shall be stopped and his/her opponent declared the winner
   2. Injury (RSCI): If an Athlete, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit to continue due to injury sustained from legal strikes or other action or is incapacitated for any other physical reasons (For example, joint dislocations, vomiting, profuse nasal bleeding), the contest shall be stopped and the opponent declared the winner.
      1. The right to make this decision rests with the Referee, who may consult the Doctor at the neutral corner. If the Doctor advises to stop the contest, the Referee must follow their advice. It is recommended that the Referee checks the other Athlete for injury also before making this decision;
      2. When a Referee calls a Doctor into the ring to examine an Athlete, only these 2 officials should be present. No seconds should be allowed into the ring or on the apron; and
      3. If the injury should happen in the final round of a gold medal contest, the winner will be decided on majority points scored from all preceding rounds only.
      4. The Doctor shall only examine an Athlete during the rest under direct instruction from the Referee. In such cases that the Doctor advises the contest to be stopped, the Referee shall instruct the Timekeeper to begin the round time. The Referee will then immediately stop the contest and declare the opponent the winner by RSC Injury.
   3. Head (RSCH): When an Athlete has received hard head blows or hits to the head rendering the Athlete defenseless and incapable of continuing the contest. The term RSCH is not to be used when an Athlete is simply outclassed and is receiving too many scoring hits without themselves scoring. Special consideration is paid to Athletes who receive a RSCH
   4. Body (RSCB): When an Athlete has received a hard hit to any part of the body except the head rendering the Athlete defenseless and incapable of continuing the contest
3. Compulsory Count Limit (CCL):
   1. The Referee stops the bout when a prescribed limit of 8 counts has been reached, depending on the age category of competition:
      1. Senior, U23 and Master: 3 counts in the same round or 4 counts in the whole bout.
      2. Youth 16–17: 2 counts in the same round or 3 counts in the whole bout.
      3. Youth 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, and 14–15: 2 counts in the whole bout.
4. Win by Knock-Out (KO):
   1. If an Athlete is “down” and fails to resume competing within 10 seconds, the Athlete’s opponent shall be declared the winner by a Knock-out.
5. Win by Retirement (RET):
   1. An Athlete’s opponent shall be declared the winner when:
      1. The Athlete does not leave their corner after the rest between rounds;
      2. The Athlete does not wish to continue after receiving a count; or
      3. The Athlete’s second surrenders on their behalf.
6. Win by Disqualification:
   1. If an Athlete is disqualified, the opponent shall be declared the winner. If both Athletes are disqualified, the decision shall be announced accordingly. A disqualified Athlete shall not be entitled to any prize, medal, trophy, honourable award or grading, relating to any stage of the competition in which the Athlete has been disqualified; in exceptional cases it shall be open to the Board of Directors (or in their absence, the Jury) to rule otherwise. All such decisions, where not made by the Board of Directors, shall be subject to review and confirmation by it on receiving such report of the incident as it may require.
7. No Contest (NC):
   1. A bout may be terminated by the Referee inside the scheduled duration owing to a material happening outside the responsibility of the Athletes or the control of the Referee such as the ring becoming damaged, the lighting has failed, exceptional weather conditions, etc. In such circumstances, the bout shall be declared “No contest” and in the case of Championships, the Jury shall decide the necessary further action.
8. Win by Walkover (WO):
   1. Where an Athlete presents themselves in the ring fully attired for boxing and the opponent fails to appear after their name has been called out by the public address system and a maximum period of 5 minutes has elapsed, the Referee shall declare the first Athlete to be the winner by a “Walk-over”. Referee shall first inform the Judges to mark their papers, accordingly, collect them and then summon the Athlete to the center of the ring and after the decision is announced, raise the Athlete’s hand as winner.
9. Draw occurs when:
   1. all three Judges score the competition equally (Unanimous Draw);
   2. two Judges score for separate Athletes and the third Judge scores the competition equally (Split Draw); or
   3. two Judges score the competition equally (Majority Draw)

9. Athlete attire and required equipment

1. Gloves:
   1. Athletes shall wear the gloves which the organizer of the competition has provided. The gloves must be red and blue and coordinate with the colour of the Athlete’s corner. Athletes are not allowed to wear their own gloves. For Single Show events, the promoter may provide different colour gloves for the corner.
   2. Specification: The gloves shall weigh 10 ounces (284 grams) the leather/synthetic leather portion shall not weigh more than half of the total weight and the padding not less than half the total weight. The padding of the gloves shall not be displaced or broken. All Athletes in any one contest must wear exactly the same gloves from the same manufacturer, and only clean and serviceable gloves of red and blue colour may be used.
   3. Glove supervision: All gloves, wraps and bandages shall be fitted under the supervision of 1 or 2 knowledgeable individuals appointed for the purpose who will see that all the rules have been carefully observed. They will delegate security duties to ensure that all rules are observed until the Athletes enter the ring.
   4. When to remove gloves: The gloves shall be taken off immediately after the contest is over, after the decision is announced, inside or outside of the ring.
2. An official will inspect the equipment of all contestants prior to competition to ensure that the contestant’s equipment meets minimum standards and is in good repair.
3. Bandages and Hand Wraps:
   1. Hand wraps or surgical bandaging shall be worn by competing Athletes. A hand wrap is a strip of protective fabric, no longer than 2.5 m long and 5 cm wide, and secured by Velcro, used in combat sports to stabilize the hand and wrist, safeguard against injuries, and ensure proper force distribution during strikes. One hand wrap or surgical bandage shall be worn per hand. Wraps may be inspected by an Official at anytime.
   2. One piece of tape shall be permitted to secure the Velcro or bandage at the wrist. No tape is permitted on the hand.
4. Tape:
   1. The use of any kind of tapes- rubber or adhesive plaster as bandages is strictly forbidden. A single strap of adhesive 20 cm (8 inches) long and 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide may be used at the upper wrists to secure the bandages.
   2. Exception for Tape Title Fight Only: Title Fight only, gauze and tape will be allowed in Single Show as long as it is applied to the hand, but must remain 2.5 cm (1 inch) back from the knuckles. A single, flat strip of tape is permitted between each finger. No bumpers or rolled tape is permitted.
5. Tape inspection:
   1. The bandages/hand wraps of the Athlete shall be inspected and initialed by an Official before being provided their competition equipment. The hand wraps may be inspected at any later time by the Referee or Jury, including after a decision has been rendered.
6. Decision reversal:
   1. A decision may be reversed if an Athlete’s bandages or wraps do not adhere to the rules.
7. Head Guard, Shin Guard and Elbow Guard:

   1. The use of the head guard, shin guard, and elbow guards are required in the following classes:

      Class	Shin Guards	Elbow Guards	Head Guard
      A	Optional	Yes	Optional
      B	Optional at 10+ bouts	Yes	Optional at 10+ bouts
      C	Yes	Yes	Yes

8. Head Guard:
   1. The use of the Head Guard is mandatory in all classes of experience and competition except for A Class where it is optional provided both corners agree in a Single Show competition. Head Guard is required for all Youth Class. The Head Guard shall have no cheek protectors, chin guard or face shield. The Head Guard is recommended to be fastened by Velcro. Any Head Guards fastened by buckle shall have the buckle be covered protectively in tape.
   2. Athletes must come into the ring without their Head Guard on. Only after having been presented to the audience, sealing the ring, and Wai Kru has been completed should they put it on. The Head Guard shall be taken off immediately after the contest is over and before the decision is announced.
   3. The Head Guard is not permitted to be removed or undone during a contest unless under the supervision of the Judges or Referee.
9. Shin Guard and Elbow Guard:
   1. Shin Guards and Elbow Guards shall both be made of cloth-covered foam no thinner than 1 cm and no thicker than 2.5 cm. Shin Guards shall provide protection for the shin from below the knee to the ankle, and on the top of the foot from the ankle to the toes. Elbow Guards shall cover approximately 15 cms of the elbow area. Both the Shin Guards and Elbow Guards shall be fastened by Velcro at the top point, and shall be secured by tape prior to entering the field of play.
10. Contests in which a Title is contested in a Single Show:
    1. A-Class Athletes competing for a Title shall forgo the use of Shin Guards, or Head Gear. Elbow Guards are required. Shin Guards and Head Gear and Elbow Guards are required for all Youth Class.
11. Body Protector:
    1. The use of a corner colour coordinated body protector is mandatory for all Athletes competing in the Youth 8–9, Youth 10–11, Youth 12–13, Youth 14–15, and Youth 16–17. It is the responsibility of the Event Host/Promoter of an event to provide body protectors to the Athlete.
    2. The body protector shall consist of a hard foam that covers the chest area, abdominal area, and front and side of rib area of the Athlete. The foam shall be covered in a leather or synthetic leather material, and shall be adjustable in the back with lace ties or Velcro.
12. Body Protector for a Single Show:

    1. Body Protector for Youth 14–15 and 16–17 A-Class for Single show could be removed as long as both Corner’s agree. If one corner requests Body Protector for his/her Athlete, then both Athletes must wear the Body Protector. Body Protector is not required for U23, Senior or Master.

       Body protector requirement by age category and class

       Age Category	A Class	B Class	C Class
       Master 41–55	Not Required	Not Required	Not Required
       Seniors 18–40 & U23 18–23	Not Required	Not Required	Not Required
       Youth 16–17	Optional	Required	Required
       Youth 14–15	Optional	Required	Required
       Youth 12–13	N/A	Required	Required
       Youth 10–11	N/A	Required	Required
       Youth 8–9	N/A	Required	Required

13. Mouth Guard:
    1. Mouth guards shall be worn by all Athletes before the commencement of a round. A mouth guard is a protective device, typically made of durable, shock-absorbing material, worn over the upper teeth to prevent oral injuries during high-impact sports or physical activities. The mouth guard shall be form-fitted/molded to the Athlete’s specific bite.
    2. It is forbidden for an Athlete to intentionally remove their mouth guard during the contest and if the Athlete does so, the Athlete shall be warned or disqualified. If an Athlete has their mouth guard knocked out, the Referee shall take the Athlete to the Athlete’s corner to have the mouth guard cleaned and returned to its proper position. While this is being done, the second is not allowed to talk to his/her Athlete.
14. Ankle Protection:
    1. In tournament format competition no ankle protection (cloth anklet, tape, etc.) may be worn. In Single Show competition, Thai-style anklets are permitted, but no tape will be allowed underneath the ankle support. Thai-style anklets are elasticated fabric supports worn around the lower calves/ankles/top of feet, providing compression and stability to reduce the risk of sprains and injuries during Muay Thai training and competition. Thai-style anklets permitted in Single Shows shall be no longer than 20 cms.
15. Groin Guard:
    1. The use of a groin guard by Athletes is mandatory for both male and female Athletes. Male Athletes shall wear a metal or polycarbonate groin guard. For female Athletes, a polycarbonate or hard foam groin guard shall be worn. In all cases, Groin Guards shall be worn in a way that protects the groin area and shall be secured with laces or straps that (i) attach from the top of the guard around the Athlete’s waist and (ii) attach from the bottom of the guard, between the legs, and attach to the backside of the Athlete’s waist. To observe hygiene, all athletes male and female must provide their own groin protectors.
16. Female Chest Protection:
    1. The use of chest protection is Mandatory for all female Athletes Youth U23, Senior, and Masters where Body Protector are not used, to guard against hematoma formation within soft tissue areas of the breast proper. Each chest protector must pass inspection prior to competition.

    2. Women's chest protection shall be made of hard plastic or a similar hard unbendable material, and shall cover each breast entirely. Chest protection may be in the form of two individual plastic cups shaped into half-spheres, or may be a chest plate of one piece of plastic covering both breasts. In both cases, chest protection must be sized and shaped appropriately for the individual woman athlete, and must be worn underneath the athlete's uniform.

       Chest protection requirement by age category and class

       Age Category	A Class	B Class	C Class
       Master 41–55	Required	Required	Required
       Seniors 18–40	Required	Required	Required
       U23 18–23 Single Show	Required	Required	Required
       U23 18–23 Tournament	Required	Required	Required
       Youth 16–17	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector
       Youth 14–15	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector
       Youth 12–13	N/A	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector
       Youth 10–11	N/A	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector
       Youth 8–9	N/A	Optional with body protector	Optional with body protector

17. Clothing and Dress: Athletes shall be dressed in accordance with the following:
    1. Mong-Kon & Prajiad: Athletes must wear the sacred headband (Mong-Kon) for paying homage before entering the ring. A Krueng-Wrang (Prajiad/arm band) with an amulet or charm may be put on around the upper arm, biceps or waist but must be neatly covered. The Referee may request that a Prajiad is removed if the strings are longer then 5 cm.
    2. Shorts: Muay Thai shorts must be worn for competition. Muay Thai Shorts are typically made from satin or polyester, with a hem at the top of the thigh with side slits to enhance mobility, and with a thick elastic waistband typically between 5 cm and 8 cm. Muay Thai shorts may also include bold designs, embroidered logos, or lettering, reflecting the cultural heritage and individuality of the sport. Any drawstrings must sit inside the shorts during competition.
    3. Tops: If worn, tops or shirts must be close fitting and approved by the Referee as fit for competition. At minimum, a sports bra is required for female Athletes.
    4. Shoes: Athletes are not permitted to wear shoes or socks. Toenails must be trimmed and pass Official inspection prior to competition.
    5. Hair: Hair must be secured so as to not obscure the vision of the Athlete. If possible, hair may be secured with gel, hairspray, or elastic bands. Metal hair accessories are prohibited (such as, no hair pins). Hair must be secured within the head guard so as not to obscure the vision or impede the movement of the Athlete.
    6. Head and body cover: Head and body covers may be worn by Athletes to comply with cultural requirements and shall consist of the following:
       1. A head covering such as a full sport hijab similar to the ResportOn design or an individual skull cap of white or black fabric.
       2. An optional body suit (two piece, tights and upper body) of white or black fabric covering of the legs to the ankles and covering the arms to the wrists.
       3. All garments are to be inspected and approved by an Official prior to the competition.
       4. Note that in international competition, only white fabric may be used.
    7. Facial hair: Beards and moustaches are allowed provided that they do not provide impact protection, do not interfere with competition, and are clean.
    8. Short facial hair no longer than 2 cm is permissible. Athletes with longer facial hair may be asked to secure the facial hair or may not be permitted to compete.
    9. A moustache is permitted insofar as its terminal ends do not extend the angle of the mouth, the moustache hairs themselves, must be less than 2 cm and not extend downwards into the upper lip and mouth area.
    10. Facial sideburns are permitted insofar as the sideburn hairs themselves, must be less than 2 cm.
18. Prohibited dress:
    1. No other object may be worn during the competition. In the case of cultural traditions, some latitude is to be given such that the Athlete or opponent shall not be rendered susceptible to injury which may result from article of dress, amulet, hair style, skin jewel carried by a given Athlete. The final decision will be rendered by the Jury after discussion with the Chief Physician.
19. National Flags:
    1. Country flags are not permitted to be displayed within the field of play.
20. Lineament and Vaseline:
    1. Rubbing lineament is permitted in moderation and may only be used on the body of the Athlete. A reasonable amount of Vaseline is permitted only on the face for the purpose of reducing the risk of cuts. A mixture of Vaseline and lineament is not permitted.
21. Equipment and Dress Infractions:
    1. The Referee shall exclude from the bout any Athlete whose equipment or dress does not conform to the standards set above. In the event of the Athlete’s glove or dress becoming undone during the bout, the Referee shall stop the contest to have it attended to.
22. Presenting for competition:
    1. The Athlete will approach the ring (field of play) wearing the following equipment in a state ready to be used for competition:
       1. Head Gear;
       2. Gloves;
       3. Elbow guards;
       4. Shin guards;
       5. Groin guard;
       6. Chest protection (if used); and
       7. Body protector (if used).
    2. The Mongkon, head guard, and mouth guard shall be held by the Athlete’s Seconds (coaches) in preparation for the contest.
    3. The Athlete shall enter the ring between the 2^nd and 3^rd rope, or 3^rd and 4^th ropes and after having entered the ring will have the Mongkon placed on their head by their Second before presenting themselves to the Jury and Judges. The Athlete, in their corner, will then present themselves to the Referee for their equipment inspection before the Wai Kru.