Quick guide to AIBA tournament rules This is a guide to the major rules for amateur competition. To see the full international and national rules click here. As a boxer you should be familiar with the rules in blue The fundamental rules governing amateur boxing are the same throughout the world, and are used from local tournaments all the way up to the Olympic Games. Grooming, clothing and equipment for tournaments You should have a red and a blue vest so you can wear a vest with the colour of the corner you are allocated. It is recommended that you wear headgear of the correct colour. If you are not clearly and quickly identifiable as “red” or “blue” then a judge may make an error and award your punch to the wrong corner. This is a risk during a busy bout with lots of fast action, especially with computer scoring.       *You must be clean-shaven at the weigh-in each day, but a thin moustache not crossing the upper lip is permitted.       *Your hands must be wrapped only in plain crepe bandage no longer than 2.5 meters and no wider than 5.7 cm,         fastened with a small strip of tape..        *Your shorts may not exceed knee length        *If shorts and singlet are same colour, there must be a 10cm waistband in a contrasting colour            *Gloves are always provided by organisers; you may NOT use your own gloves       *Males must always wear a groin protector, properly fastened in place        *Females must always wear a breast protector and may also wear a groin protector Definition of a scoring punch Judges award points to a boxer for each scoring punch she lands. A scoring punch is one that:     * without being blocked, lands directly with the knuckle part of the closed glove on any part of the front or sides       of  the head or body (excluding arms) above the belt; and         * does not infringe the rules (i.e. hitting and holding); and     * connects with the weight of the body or shoulder. A non-scoring punch is one which infringes the rules; or which lands on the arms; or is struck with any part other than the knuckle part of the closed glove; or which merely connects, without the weight of the body or shoulder. Non-scoring punches are (obviously) not scored by the judges. Fouls Rule infringements are called "fouls" and the referee will issue a caution, a warning or even a disqualification.     * Cautions may be given without stopping the contest. This is a quick gesture from the referee to let you know what        you have done wrong, so that you can avoid repeating it.     * Warnings require the contest to be stopped, the infringement to be demonstrated, and the offender to be       identified to the judges. The judges impose scoring penalties as a result.     * If a boxer receives three warnings in a bout, he/she must be disqualified.     * The referee may warn or disqualify without any prior caution or warning, if the foul is serious.     These actions are fouls:     *Hitting below belt, tripping, kicking, or using foot or knee      *Wrestling, lying on or throwing      *Hitting or pushing with head, shoulder, forearm or elbow      *Locking opponent’s arm or head      *Blows to back, especially back of head, neck or kidney area      *Holding      *Hitting an opponent who is down or in the act of rising      *Spitting out the mouthguard  (If your mouthguard comes out three times you will receive a warning (penalty)      *Hitting whilst holding or pulling opponent      *Hitting with open glove, wrist or side of glove      *Pushing      *Holding the ropes      *Not stepping back when ordered to ‘break’      *Ducking below opponent’s beltline      *Passive defence      *Attempting to strike your opponent after referee calls “break”, without first stepping back Click here to see illustrations of fouls Duration and number of rounds Bouts are 3 rounds of two minutes duration, with a one-minute rest break between rounds. Anyone weighing 46kg or less boxes three rounds of one-and-a-half minutes only. Males aged 17-33 may box four rounds, and must do so in a title bout. Touching gloves/shaking hands When you are about to start your bout, the referee will call you to the centre of the ring to “touch gloves” as a sign of sportsmanship, then send you back to your corner ready for the bell. You must NOT touch gloves in this way during the actual bout. You can (and should) shake hands after the decision is announced. Do not leave the ring till any prizes or trophies have been presented. Referee commands The  referee uses three commands  – Box, Stop, and Break. You must stop immediately you hear the referee call STOP, and may not continue till you are told to BOX. The command BREAK is used when two boxers get entangled, and it requires you each to take a full step back then continue boxing. BREAK does not mean take a rest, nor drop your guard! Types of decision You can win a bout by one of the following methods:     * Points – at the end of the contest you have scored more hits than your opponent     * Retirement – your opponent fails to start a round, or retires or is retired by his corner during a round     * Disqualification – Referee disqualifies your opponent for a serious infringement     * Knockout – Your opponent is down for ten seconds and is counted out     * Outclassed (RSCO) - Referee stopped contest because your opponent is outclassed or unfit to continue     * Outscored (RSCOS) - the computer scores you 20 points ahead (for males aged 17-33) or 15 points ahead (all        other divisions) in any round other than the final round of the bout     * Injury (RSCI)  - Referee stopped contest because of injury to your opponent     * Head injury (RSCH) - Referee stopped contest because your opponent is unfit to continue after head blows     * Compulsory Count Limit (RSC CCL) , your opponent has reached the maximum number of 8-counts     * Walkover – You are in the corner ready to box but your opponent fails to enter the ring The Eight-Count and Compulsory Count Limit Where a boxer is temporarily unable to defend him/herself (eg after receiving a hard blow), the referee stops the contest and counts to eight. Immediately the count begins, the other boxer must go to a neutral (white) corner and stand with hands at his/her side facing the centre of the ring. If at the end of the count of eight, the injured boxer cannot safely continue (in the referee’s opinion), the contest is terminated and the injured boxer loses the bout (RSC - Referee Stopped Contest). The contest is also terminated if a boxer receives too many eight-counts. For senior males, the compulsory count limit is invoked at 3 counts in a round or 4 in a bout. For those under 17, and females and masters, it is 2 counts in a round or 3 in a bout. This is also recorded as RSC. Your Safety - Mandatory Exclusion periods If you lose a contest by Knockout or RSC (Head), you are prohibited from sparring or competing for 28 days, to ensure you are recovered. If you receive another exclusion within 3 months of the first, the second exclusion is for 3 months.