Register for events at https://avasports.smoothcomp.com/.

• Check-in at the front door for a verification stamp.
• Ensure you’re weighed in and cleared to compete.
• Be at your mat number 30 minutes before your match time, monitor the match schedule closely, and head to your assigned mat promptly to avoid disqualification.

• A chair is provided for each competitor’s coach in the barricaded area.
• One coach is allowed per three competitors.
• Coaches should register via the provided link on the Smoothcomp event page.

• Competitors can weigh-in on the event day or the day before, without the gi. There’s a 1kg allowance.
• If a competitor fails to make weight, they have another chance before their division starts. If they still fail, they’ll be disqualified.
• Special Note for Parents and Coaches: Children’s weights can fluctuate due to growth. Therefore, it’s crucial to monitor their weight daily for two weeks leading up to the event to ensure they make the correct weight class.

Safe Weight Management Guidelines

Purpose

AVA Submission Grappling is committed to ensuring athlete safety and fair competition by discouraging unsafe weight-cutting practices. These guidelines provide a structured approach to weight management while maintaining performance, health, and safety.

1. Recommended Weight Management Practices

• Plan Ahead – Athletes should monitor their weight well in advance of competition to avoid last-minute drastic cuts.
• Hydrate Properly – Maintain consistent hydration throughout training and competition preparation.
• Gradual Weight Adjustment – If weight loss is necessary, it should be done gradually over weeks, not days.
• Balanced Nutrition – Follow a diet that supports training, recovery, and overall health.

2. Weight Cut Limits

To minimize health risks, athletes should adhere to the following maximum weight cut recommendations:

• Weigh-in within 3 hours of competition → Maximum 1% body weight reduction.
• Weigh-in 8+ hours before competition → Maximum 2% body weight reduction.
• Weigh-in the day before competition → Maximum 3% body weight reduction.

3. Weigh-In Procedures

• Weigh-In Options – Competitors can weigh in on the event day or the day before, without the Gi.
• 1kg Allowance – A 1kg weight allowance will be applied for all divisions. This is to account for the inaccuracy of home scales that are not calibrated.
• Second Weigh-In Attempt – If a competitor fails to make weight, they will have another chance before their division starts. If they still fail, they will be disqualified.
• Special Note for Parents and Coaches – Children’s weights can fluctuate due to growth, so it’s crucial to monitor their weight daily for two weeks leading up to the event to ensure they make the correct weight class.

4. Prohibited Practices

The following extreme weight-cutting methods are strictly discouraged:

• Severe dehydration through excessive sweating, sauna use, or diuretics.
• Extreme caloric restriction leading to energy depletion.
• IV rehydration post weigh-in to recover from excessive weight loss.
• Deliberate fluid restriction before weigh-in to artificially lower weight.

5. Athlete Responsibility & Enforcement

• Athletes are responsible for managing their weight safely and making responsible choices.
• Coaches should guide athletes in healthy weight management and discourage extreme cutting practices.
• Event staff and medical personnel reserve the right to assess athletes showing signs of severe dehydration and take necessary action.

These guidelines ensure that AVA Submission Grappling maintains a safe, fair, and professional competition environment while promoting responsible weight management practices.

Competitors

• Competitors must demonstrate respect and sportsmanship, treating opponents, referees, and event officials with dignity at all times.
• Inappropriate gestures or behavior directed at anyone, including opponents, coaches, parents, or officials, are strictly prohibited.
• Competitors are required to wear clean, appropriate attire specific to their division (Gi or NoGi).
• Clothing with offensive language or imagery is not allowed.
• Maintaining composure and emotional control is essential. While passion is encouraged, aggressive behavior is unacceptable.
• Regardless of match outcomes, competitors should acknowledge their opponents’ efforts with professionalism and humility.
• Referees’ decisions must be respected. Any appeals should be directed to officials respectfully and will be addressed accordingly.
• Verbal remarks toward referees during matches are prohibited.
• Violating the code of conduct may result in disqualification, loss of awards, or further disciplinary actions, including potential bans from future AVA events.

Parents and Spectators

• Parents play a supportive role and are expected to encourage effort and a positive attitude in young competitors.
• Displays of disrespect or inappropriate gestures toward anyone at the event are unacceptable.
• Attire with offensive language or imagery is not permitted.
• Parents and spectators must respect the opponents, their families, and their coaches, focusing on the skills demonstrated rather than personal criticism.
• Cheering should be positive and avoid behavior that disrupts or interferes with the competition.
• Demonstrating fairness and respect by acknowledging both competitors is essential for fostering a positive environment.
• Verbal remarks toward referees during matches are prohibited.
• Concerns or questions should be communicated directly with tournament organizers or officials in an appropriate manner.
• Violations of this code may result in removal from the venue and possible bans from future AVA events.

Coaches

• Coaches must model respect and sportsmanship, emphasizing these values to their students and peers.
• Any form of inappropriate gesture or behavior toward opponents, coaches, parents, or officials is not allowed.
• Coaches are expected to wear appropriate attire free of offensive language or imagery.
• A thorough understanding of tournament rules is required, and coaches must ensure their students are equally informed to maintain a safe and fair environment.
• Coaches should encourage camaraderie by supporting and acknowledging the efforts of all athletes, including those of opposing teams.
• Sportsmanship should guide all actions and interactions. Unsportsmanlike conduct or aggression will not be tolerated.
• Verbal remarks toward referees during matches are prohibited.
• All concerns should be addressed to tournament organizers or officials in a respectful and professional manner.
• Failure to adhere to the code of conduct may result in removal from the venue or additional disciplinary actions, including exclusion from future AVA events.

• In our commitment to fairness, athletes with significant experience in other grappling sports are not permitted to compete as white belts. This includes, but is not limited to, judo black belts, freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestlers, and both professional and amateur MMA fighters.

• Refunds minus a 5% service fee and credits are available through self-service until the normal registration deadline. From the normal registration deadline until the late registration deadline, ONLY coupon credits will be provided as compensation.
• Refunds and credits will not be available AFTER the late registration deadline.
• Refunds and credits will not be issued for no-shows or withdrawal from participation due to sickness, injuries, or bereavement AFTER the registration closing date, regardless of supporting evidence.

• Athletes must register and compete based on their biological sex determined at birth.
• Any attempts to bypass or violate this policy may lead to extended suspensions or potential bans from all AVA-sanctioned events.

• 2 Athletes: Best of three matches
• 3-5 Athletes: Round Robin format
• 6-10 Athletes: Best of two pools. Two pools will result in one gold/silver match and one bronze match.
• 11-15 Athletes: Three pools will result in one elimination bracket. One athlete from each group qualifies for the elimination round (Single-elimination – Shortcut Bronze).
• 16-20 Athletes: Four pools will result in one elimination bracket. One athlete from each group qualifies for the elimination round (Single-elimination – Bronze Match).
• 21 and up: Several pools (maxing 5 athletes per pool) will result in one elimination bracket. One athlete from each group qualifies for the elimination round (Single-elimination – Bronze Match).

• The tournament follows a Round Robin format.
• When Divisions are larger than 5 competitors, pools will be formed and there will be an elimination round.

Standard Tournament Divisions

Youth Division (Ages 4–15)

Youth athletes are matched by age group, weight class, and experience level.

If an athlete has no matching opponents in their registered division, AVA will automatically attempt to create the closest fair matchup possible, prioritizing weight class first, then rank, and lastly age group with occasional exceptions made based on coach or parent/guardian suggestions.

AVA will make every effort to separate youth divisions by gender. However, mixed-gender matches may occur when necessary to provide match opportunities.

Juvenile Division (Ages 16–17)

The Juvenile Division is reserved for athletes aged 16 and 17 and serves as a transitional category between Youth and Adult divisions.

• Competitors are matched by belt rank and weight class

• Juvenile athletes may request to compete in Adult (18+) divisions

• If no suitable matchups are available, they will be moved to their closest available matchup, which may include Adult competitors

• Divisions are separated by gender

• Juvenile athletes are not eligible to compete in the Masters division

6-Months and Under Division (All Ages)

The 6-Months and Under division is reserved exclusively for beginner athletes across all age groups — Youth, Juvenile, Adult and Masters. It is intended for competitors who are in their first six months of training and who have not trained in any other grappling based sport prior to that time, including wrestling, judo, sambo, or similar disciplines. Divisions are separated by gender. Athletes will still be matched by weight and, when possible, by age. Any competitor found misrepresenting their experience level may be disqualified, rebracketed or banned from future AVA events at the discretion of AVA.

Adult Division (Ages 18+)

The Adult Division is open to all athletes aged 18 and older. Competitors are matched by belt rank and weight class. Adult divisions are separated by gender.

Masters Division (Ages 30+)

The Masters Division is designed for athletes aged 30 and above who prefer to compete within their own age group. Competitors are matched by belt rank, weight class, and age division. Divisions are separated by gender.

Masters divisions are available in all AVA tournaments and include the following age groups:

• Masters 30

• Masters 40

• Masters 50

• Masters 60

• Masters 70

Masters athletes may choose to compete in younger Masters age  groups or Adult divisions if they wish. Any competitor found misrepresenting their experience level may be disqualified, rebracketed or banned from future AVA events at the discretion of AVA.

*Legends Tournament (Masters-Only Event):

AVA’s Legends event offers an expanded Masters format, with age divisions separated every 5 years:

• Ages 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75

Open / Absolute Divisions

AVA offers Open/Absolute Divisions as an optional bracket for competitors seeking additional matches beyond their standard division. These divisions are open weight class and by rank.

• Available to Juvenile (16–17), Adult (18+), and Masters (30+) athletes

• Divided by gender and rank

• Competitors must be officially registered in their designated division in order to be eligible for the Open Division

Elite Divisions

AVA’s Elite Divisions spotlight the federation’s top athletes. These divisions run alongside standard tournament brackets, they serve as the official qualification pathway for AVA title matches at Throne, the pinnacle of AVA competition.

THRONE Title Qualifiers Division

The Throne Title Qualifiers Division is open to Adult athletes (ages 18+), with no separation by belt rank or weight class, and is divided by gender. At the end of the season, the #1 ranked athlete in each category is invited to challenge the reigning Throne Title Holder at AVA’s Throne. Title matches are held once per year, with champions receiving the official AVA Throne Title Belt and a cash prize.

RISE Title Qualifiers Division

The RISE Elite Youth Title Qualifiers Division is AVA’s top level youth competition pathway, designed to identify the highest performing young athletes during the tournament season. This division serves as the official pathway to the RISE Title Matches held annually at Throne.

The RISE Elite Youth Title Qualifiers Division is open to athletes ages 4–17 of all belt ranks, matched by weight class only (no separation by age or rank), divided by gender, with participation optional but requiring registration in a standard youth division at the same event.

At the end of the season, the #1 ranked athlete in each RISE category is invited to compete for a fresh RISE Title at Throne, providing young athletes a high-level competitive platform to gain visibility, and showcase the top emerging talent in the AVA federation.

LEGENDARY Title Qualifiers Division

The LEGENDARY Title Qualifiers Division is open to Masters athletes (ages 30+), with no separation by belt rank or weight class, and is divided by gender. This division identifies the highest-performing Masters competitors pursuing the LEGENDARY Title, awarded annually at AVA Throne. Throughout the season, athletes earn ranking points in each category (Male Gi, Female Gi, Male No-Gi, Female No-Gi). For Throne III (2027), the #1 and #2 ranked athletes in each category will compete for the inaugural LEGENDARY Title. Beginning in 2028, the reigning LEGENDARY Champion will defend the belt annually against the season’s #1 ranked challenger.

21 kg | under 46.3 lbs

24 kg | under 52.9 lbs

28 kg | under 61.7 lbs

32 kg | under 70.5 lbs

36 kg | under 79.4 lbs

40 kg | under 88.2 lbs

45 kg | under 99.2 lbs

50 kg | under 110 lbs

55 kg | under 121.3 lbs

60 kg | under 132.3 lbs

65 kg | under 143.3 lbs

70 kg | under 154.3 lbs

76 kg | under 167.6 lbs

83 kg | under 183 lbs

91 kg | under 200.6 lbs

100 kg | under 220.5 lbs

+100 kg | over 220.5 lbs

Youth Belts (Ages 4–15):

Promotion is based on age + skill, not strict timelines. Coach discretion applies to ensure readiness at each rank.

• White Belt: Ages 4–15
• Grey/White, Grey, Grey/Black: Ages 4–15
• Yellow/White, Yellow, Yellow/Black: Ages 7–15
• Orange/White, Orange, Orange/Black  Belt: Ages 10–15
• Green/White Belt, Green, Green/Black: Ages 13–15

Adult Belts (Ages 16+):

Adult belt promotions are determined at the discretion of their coach, based on the athlete’s progress, skill, and readiness.

• White Belt: Ages 16+
• Blue Belt: Ages 16+ (A minimum of 2 years of training at the White Belt level is typically required before progressing.)
• Purple Belt: Ages 16+ (Requires a minimum of 2 years as a Blue Belt.)
• Brown Belt: Ages 18+ (Requires a minimum of 1.5 years as a Purple Belt.)
• Black Belt: Ages 19+ (Requires a minimum of 1 year as a Brown Belt.)

Athletes with significant grappling or combat experience cannot compete as White Belts. This includes:

• Judo Black Belts
• Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestlers (college level in the USA or national-level elsewhere)
• MMA Fighters (amateur or professional)

• Ages 4 – 6: Matches last 2 minutes (Overtime: 1 minute for each competitor)
• Ages 7 – 15: Matches last 3 minutes (Overtime: 1 minute for each competitor)
• Ages 16+: Matches last 4 minutes (Overtime: 1 minute for each competitor)
• Ages 18+ (Purple/Brown/Black Belts & Throne Qualifier Divisions): Matches last 5 minutes (Overtime: 1 minute for each competitor)
• Throne Title Matches: Round one – 5 minutes; Round two – 4 minutes (Overtime: 1 minute per competitor)

• Matches are won by submission during regulation time or in overtime by submission, fastest escape, referee decision, walkover or by opponent disqualification.

Note: A submission is when your opponent clearly taps (at least twice with their hand(s) or foot/feet) or gives a verbal tap (saying “tap” at least once or loudly yelling in pain). The referee can also stop the match early to prevent serious injury. If you release a submission because you believe your opponent tapped but the referee did not see or confirm it, the tap may not count. For this reason, competitors are advised to maintain the hold until the referee officially stops the match.

The tournament is designed to incentivize submission wins in regulation time. Match points apply only during round robin stages. In elimination rounds (used for divisions with six or more competitors, which are divided into grouped), advancement is based solely on match outcomes, points are not used.

Points are awarded for different win methods as follows:

• Submission Victory in Regulation: Awarded 4 Points
• Submission Victory in Overtime: Awarded 2 Points
• Fastest Escape (Applies only to overtime): Awarded 1 Point
• Victory by Decision: Awarded 1 Point
• Walkover Victory (Walkover defined as due to injury, forfeit, or no show): Awarded 2 Points
• Victory by Disqualification: Awarded 3 Points

Athletes’ placement points are credited to their registered team. (Gold – 10 pts, Silver – 4 pts, Bronze – 2 pts)

Ultra: 4x Placement Points

Legacy Series (Legends/Origins): 3x Placement Points

Compass Series (Western/Eastern): 3x Placement Points

Regional Series (Provincial/State): 2x Placement Points

Central Series (City): 1x Placement Points

In the event of a tie, the following criteria will be used in order to determine the winner:

• Head-to-head: Direct match outcome between tied competitors.

Refer to the Technical Rules and Action Rules chart: certain actions carry immediate disqualification (DQ), while others are subject to cumulative penalties that result in DQ.

• If a competitor is called and does not respond, the next match will proceed.
• After the match, a final call will be made for the competitor to respond. If there is no response, their opponent will be declared the winner.
• Competitors will be grouped based on the closest Age, Weight, and Experience.
• We reserve the right to adjust divisions on the day of the event.

Purpose

AVA Submission Grappling is committed to ensuring athlete safety and fair

competition by discouraging unsafe weight-cutting practices. These

guidelines provide a structured approach to weight management while

maintaining performance, health, and safety.

1. Recommended Weight Management Practices

• Plan Ahead – Athletes should monitor their weight well in advance

of competition to avoid last-minute drastic cuts.

• Hydrate Properly – Maintain consistent hydration throughout

training and competition preparation.

• Gradual Weight Adjustment – If weight loss is necessary, it should

be done gradually over weeks, not days.

• Balanced Nutrition – Follow a diet that supports training, recovery,

and overall health.

2. Weight Cut Limits

To minimize health risks, athletes should adhere to the following maximum

weight cut recommendations:

• Weigh-in within 3 hours of competition → Maximum 1% body

weight reduction.

• Weigh-in 8+ hours before competition → Maximum 2% body weight

reduction.

• Weigh-in the day before competition → Maximum 3% body weight

reduction.

3. Weigh-In Procedures

• Weigh-In Options – Competitors can weigh in on the event day or

the day before, without the Gi.

• 1kg Allowance – A 1kg weight allowance will be applied for all

divisions. This is to account for the inaccuracy of home scales that

are not calibrated.

• Second Weigh-In Attempt – If a competitor fails to make weight,

they will have another chance before their division starts. If they still

fail, they will be disqualified.

4• Special Note for Parents and Coaches – Children’s weights can

fluctuate due to growth, so it’s crucial to monitor their weight daily

for two weeks leading up to the event to ensure they make the

correct weight class.

4. Prohibited Practices

The following extreme weight-cutting methods are strictly discouraged:

• Severe dehydration through excessive sweating, sauna use, or

diuretics.

• Extreme caloric restriction leading to energy depletion.

• IV rehydration post weigh-in to recover from excessive weight loss.

• Deliberate fluid restriction before weigh-in to artificially lower

weight.

5. Athlete Responsibility & Enforcement

• Athletes are responsible for managing their weight safely and

making responsible choices.

• Coaches should guide athletes in healthy weight management and

discourage extreme cutting practices.

• Event staff and medical personnel reserve the right to assess

athletes showing signs of severe dehydration and take necessary

action.

These guidelines ensure that AVA Submission Grappling maintains a safe,

fair, and professional competition environment while promoting

responsible weight management practices.

• Gi Divisions: Competitors must wear a clean BJJ Gi/Rashguard. For men, wearing a rashguard is optional.
• Nogi Divisions: Competitors must wear a clean Rashguard and Grappling Shorts, with or without Spats. For men, wearing a rashguard or T-shirt is optional.
• *Inappropriate language or Imagery is not allowed.

A professional medical team will be available on-site.

Athletes are expected to maintain good personal hygiene. This includes keeping finger and toenails trimmed and short. Long hair should be securely tied up to avoid causing discomfort to opponents.

Athletes using hair dye that could potentially stain an opponent’s Gi will be disqualified.

Athletes are required to wear appropriate footwear up to the match area and in all permitted areas. Athletes must be bare foot on the competition mats and warm up mats.

If an athlete is found to have skin lesions during the inspection, they will be directed to the event’s medical area. Athletes must present a medical certificate stating that the lesion is not contagious and poses no risk to other competitors.

The event’s medical team has the final authority to decide whether an athlete is fit to compete or not.