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THE LAWS OF GLIMA PREFACE TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDITION Male and Female References to the male gender in the Laws of the Glima in respect of referees, contestants and officials are for simplification and apply to both males and females. Contest A contest is a single wrestling bout between two glima contestants, which may extend over one or several rounds until a winner is declared. Competition A competition is an organised meeting of a number of contestants, possibly divided into one or more categories or teams. The contestants wrestle each other according to the rules of the competition until a winner or a winning team is declared in each category. A few words are particular to Glima and have no English equivalent. They are printed bold in the text and a definition is provided. I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. Scope 1.1 Glima competitions shall be conducted according to the Laws of Glima as defined in this document and the directives contained herein. 2. Glima Competitions 2.1 The most common forms of glima competition are: 1. Group Glima. In a group competition, each competitor wrestles with all the others. The winner is the contestant who wins most contests. 2. Class Glima. Contestants are divided into groups according to age and/or weight. 3. Judged Glima. In a judged contest, contests continue for a fixed length of time, when marks are given for presentation, technical ability and knowledge of glima. 4. King’s Glima. In a King’s Glima competition, two teams compete. The captains of each team select contestants from their teams. The loser of a contest is eliminated from the competition. 5. Team Glima. The contestants belong to teams and each member of a team wrestles with all the members of the opposing team. 6. Knockout Glima. In a Knockout competition, a contestant is eliminated from the competition after conceding a certain number of falls as provided for in the rules. If the required number of falls have not been conceded in the first round, the contestants rest for an allowable period according to the Laws of Glima and then continue until an outcome is reached. The provisions of Equals Glima may be applied. 7. Equals Glima. In an Equals Glima competition, the contestants wrestle at least two contests. If both contestants win a contest a third is held to decide the winner. The winner is the contestant who wins two contests. 8. Points Glima. In Points Glima the contestants belong to teams. The winner of each contest receives points according to the time it takes to defeat his opponent. 2.2 Contests between male and female contestants are forbidden in glima. 2.3 The committee of the Glima Federation of Iceland (GLI) lays down the rules for the organisation of public glima competitions. The rules may not be changed in the final four weeks preceding a competition. II. ORGANISATION OF GLIMA COMPETITIONS 3. Officials at Glima Contests 3.1 Public glima contests shall be organised by the following parties: 1. Competition Committee, consisting of one or more people. The Competition Committee appoints the Contest Director. 2. Referee and two Assistant Referees. 3. Referee and three Technical Judges in a Judged Glima contest. 4. Glima Director. 3.2 Other officials at a glima competition are: 1. Recorders. 2. Timekeepers. 3. Doctor. 4. The Competition Committee 4.1 A Competition Committee shall be appointed for the organisation of public glima competitions. 4.2 The Competition Committee for National Championships shall be appointed by the GLI Competitions Committee, unless expressly delegated to a District Association, special council or particular member. 4.3 The Competition Committee for other public glima contests shall be appointed by the District Association, special council or a particular selected individual. 5. Appointment of Referees 5.1 The committee of the Glima Referees Association of Iceland (GDI) shall appoint a Panel of Referees with the authority of the GLI for National Championships. 5.2 The District Association or a special council appoints referees for other competitions. These parties can request the GDI to appoint referees. 5.3 The Panel of Referees for adult categories at National Championships shall be comprised of national referees. The Referee on the Panel of Referees for categories 16 years and under at National Championships shall have a national referee’s “A” qualification and the assistant referees shall meet appropriate standards. At other competitions, the Referee shall on the whole have a national referee’s “A” qualification. A Panel of Referees shall at all times be comprised of referees with the appropriate qualifications according to the provisions concerning referee qualifications. 5.4 It is permissible to have a single glima referee with the appropriate qualification in categories for younger contestants in District competitions, schools or glima clubs. This also applies to categories for younger contestants at National Championships, however the referee must have a national referee’s “A” qualification. 5.5 More than one Panel of Referees may be appointed in competitions where there are a number of divisions or teams. 5.6 The referees on the Panel of Referees may alternately act as Referee, but the same individual must be Referee for all contests in the same category or all contests between two particular teams. 5.7 The Record of Contests shall specify the referees on the Panel of Referees and who is Referee. 6. Glima Equipment 6.1 Contestants taking part in glima competitions shall wear appropriate glima attire, glima shoes and a glima belt, in accordance with the regulations laid down by the GLI. 6.2 Contestants under the age of 11 years may be allowed to compete without a belt. 7. The Glima Ring 7.1 The glima ring shall be a rectangular space, with minimum dimensions of 6 m x 6 m and maximum dimensions 10 m x 10 m, or a circle with a diameter of 6 – 9 m. Smaller rings are allowed for contests involving younger categories on padded floors. 7.2 The surface of the glima ring shall be even, level and springy, either a wooden floor or other suitable surface. 7.3 The ring shall be clearly marked with painted lines or sticky tape, 2.5 – 5 cm wide. 7.4 The floor must extend with the same material and on the same level for a minimum distance of 1 – 2 m outside the ring to the edge or to the nearest seating. 7.5 The boundary lines count as part of the area of the ring. The centre of the ring shall be marked with a cross (X) or a circle. 7.6 The GLI committee may permit the use of mats that serve as a delineated glima ring. 8. Handling of Appeals 8.1 The decision of the Panel of Referees is final in the glima ring and may not be disputed unless that decision infringes the Laws of Glima. Decisions in regard of falls may not be appealed. 8.2 If an oral appeal is made during a glima contest it should be directed to the Referee or Glima Director. An oral appeal is not a prerequisite for a written appeal to be taken into consideration. 8.3 Appeals shall be directed to the Disciplinary Committee of the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland (ISI) and all actions will be in line with the ISI Disciplinary Regulations. 9. Withdrawal from Competition 9.1 The outcome of contests involving contestants who are suspended from a competition, withdraw from a competition or leave because of injury shall not be considered in the results of the competition, although the outcome may be included in the referees’ report. 9.2 If a contestant concedes defeat in a contest he is regarded as having withdrawn from the competition, whether he is taking part in as an individual or as a member of a team. 9.3 When a glima contestant withdraws because of injury during a contest to decide the award of medals, his opponent is adjudged to take the higher award. If more than two glima contestants are competing for medal awards, the injured glima contestant will take the lowest award. 10. The Competition Committee 10.1 The Competition Committee prepares and organises a glima competition. 10.2 If a glima competition has a large number of entrants the competition committee is permitted to divide the competition in consultation with the relevant authority. 10.3 The main tasks of the competition committee are: 1. Choose a location for the competition and mark the ring according to paragraph 7. The Panel of Referees rules on the legality of the glima ring. 2. Advertisement of the glima competition and acceptance of entries. 3. Appointment of the Glima Director. 4. Appointment of the Doctor and other assistants. Also the organisation of opening and closing ceremonies and appointment of people who take part in the ceremonies. 5. Provide a system for the collection of results and the appropriate presentation of results and reports. Inform the disciplinary committee of any offences mentioned in the referees reports. 6. Oversee weighing of the glima contestants when weight categories are in force, one to three hours before the start of the competition. Contestants are allowed to take weight reducing measures during this period. 7. To be present at the competition location and take control of those items that are not included in the responsibilities of the Glima Director or the Panel of Referees. III. THE ROLES OF OFFICIALS 11. The Glima Director 11.1 In public competitions the Glima Director shall allow each contestant to draw his competition number before the start of the competition, although the Competition Committee may decide the contestants’ numbers before the day of the competition with the permission of the GLI. 11.2 The Glima Director shall oversee the arrangement of contests according to the GLI rules. 11.3 If a contestant arrives at the competition location later than 20 minutes before the start of the competition, the Glima Director shall decide whether or not that contestant may take part in the competition. 11.4 The Glima Director oversees the contestants’ entry into and exit from the ring, introduces the contestants and invites them to wrestle. He also makes sure the contestants are given adequate rest periods between contests. 11.5 The Glima Director is responsible for the organisation of the competition and for the officials outside the glima ring. 11.6 The Glima Director is responsible for all items and activities that are part of the competition but are outside the glima ring. He is responsible for the discipline of glima contestants, officials and spectators at the competition location but outside the glima ring, except where the provisions of paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 state otherwise. 12. The Panel of Referees 12.1 The Panel of Referees sees that the facilities and other items under its jurisdiction are legal. The Panel of Referees is an independent authority at the glima location. 12.2 If the Panel of Referees deem a contestant’s equipment to be inadequate in any respect according to the appropriate rules, and no improvement is possible, the Panel of Referees may exclude the contestant from the competition. 12.3 The Referee is the Chairman of the Panel of Referees. He is responsible for the correct recording of results and is the signatory of the referees’ report, which he delivers to the Chairman of the Competition Committee. The remaining members of the Panel of Referees are the Assistant Referees. 12.4 If a glima contestant commits an offence against the Laws of Glima of a serious enough nature to require the attention of the Disciplinary Committee, the Panel of Referees is required to include a description of the incident in a competition report that is to be delivered to the Chairman of the Competition Committee the same day. 12.5 The Referee controls contests between glima contestants and he must ensure that he is in the best possible position to monitor the progress of the contest. 12.6 The Referee gives a signal with a whistle to indicate the start and end of a contest and at other times in accordance with the Laws of Glima. 12.7 Only the Referee can abandon a contest, which he does by blowing his whistle. 12.8 The Referee can consult with the Assistant Referees as he sees fit, and he shall at all times seek their view before issuing a warning to a contestant, allotting a penalty fall or disqualifying a contestant. 12.9 Assistant Referees shall take up positions such that they observe all that happens during the contest and use signals to communicate with the Referee. 12.10 Assistant Referees indicate that a contestant has stepped out of the ring or that a move has taken place outside the ring by holding up a hand. 12.11 Likewise, an Assistant Referee gives a signal if he wants to consult with the Referee should he feels a caution or a warning is appropriate. 12.12 If the Referee makes a judgement concerning the result of a contest that both Assistant Referees consider to be wrong, the Referee must withdraw his decision. 12.13 All decisions reflect the verdicts of the majority of the Panel of Referees. 13. Timekeepers 13.1 Timekeepers are responsible for the correct duration of each round of a contest. The Timekeeper does not include the time during which a contest is stopped by the Referee from the time when the whistle is blown until the contest resumes. 13.2 Timekeepers assist the Glima Director in ensuring that glima contestants are given an adequate rest period between rounds. 13.3 Timekeepers give a signal that a round is finished by ringing a bell. 13.4 The Panel of Referees may extend the time of a round affected by delays. 14. Recorders 14.1 Recorders, one or more, keep a record of contests according to the instructions of the Referee and Glima Director and deliver the completed record to them at the close of the competition for verification. 14.2 The Recorders include in the record of each contest the result of the contest, warnings, penalty falls, disqualifications and other incidents that the Panel of Referees consider necessary to record and have taken place at the competition location, inside or outside the ring, in connection with the competition. 14.3 Recorders record the Glima Director’s decisions according to Section 11, paragraph 11.6, Section 26, and whether or not the provision of Section 26, paragraph 26.1 is applied or will be so on recurrent infringement. The record of the competition shall contain entries as required in Section 12, paragraph 12.4. 15. The Doctor 15.1 A doctor, or a suitably qualified party appointed by a doctor, shall be present at all glima competitions. The presence of a doctor is not required if the competition takes place close to a hospital or other emergency medical facility. 15.2 If a glima contestant is injured or becomes ill, the Referee shall seek the advice of the Doctor or his appointee as provided for in paragraph 15.1, concerning whether or not the contestant may continue to compete. The Doctor’s decision is final. 15.3 If the Doctor, according to paragraph 15.1, considers that an injured contestant can continue to compete at a later time, the Panel of Referees is permitted to allow the contestant to complete his contest at the end of the round of contests. 15.4 Glima contestants take part in glima and competitions entirely at their own risk. If a contestant is injured, it is his decision whether or not he continues in the competition. The Competition Committee and other promoters bear no responsibility whatsoever for injuries or damage suffered by contestants whoever causes the injury or damage. In contests involving children or young people, the Panel of Referees must call a halt to a contest if a contestant is injured, whether or not the injury appears to be serious. IV. DEFINITION OF GLIMA 16. Key Points of Glima 16.1 Glima is a sport of balance, holding and manoeuvring, where two contestants compete standing opposite each other and holding each other with a prescribed grip, the glima grip. Other grips are not allowed. 16.2 At the start of a contest, the two glima contestants enter the ring and face each other in the centre of the ring and shake hands. They then put their right foot forward, take up the glima position and take hold of their opponents belt. 16.3 The glima grip is: right hand takes hold under the waist belt above and behind the opponents left hip, left hand takes hold of the thigh strap on the outside of the opponents right thigh. 16.4 The glima position is: right foot more advanced than left foot, right heel in line with left toes and a foot length between the feet. Both feet point slightly outwards. Glima men in the glima position stand with a straight back with a slight gap between contestants. Each looks over the right shoulder of his opponent. 16.5 The contestants hold the glima position until the start whistle is blown, then glima treading begins with movements in a clockwise direction. Glima treading takes place between attempted tricks or attempts to throw. 16.6 Movements shall be smoothAdana Oto Kiralama with slack arms. When the contest has begun, the contestants must be in continuous motion, treading, attacking or defending. 16.7 A glima trick is when a contestant shifts his leg in the way of or onto his opponents foot, leg, side or hip regardless of whether his opponent stands on one leg or two or has both feet in the air at the time. 16.8 A contestant may also apply hand power, foot or torso movements and swaying motion during the execution of a glima trick in order to unbalance his opponent and win a fall. 16.9 No other methods of winning a fall are allowed, except for those associated with glima tricks. Any such illegal method is call a nid (pronounced like ‘need’). 16.10 A glima contestant is awarded a fall if he successfully applies a legal trick and maintains his balance. A contestant may place his hand on the ground to support his balance. 16.11 An attacking glima contestant may not fall on top of his opponent, push him down with hand strength or throw him to the ring floor after he has assumed a floor defence position. A nid is illegal in glima. 16.12 All falls are of equal value, whether achieved through an attacker’s trick, a counterattack or by accident. 16.13 Both contestants can win a fall at the same time, called a “brothers fall” after which the contest is resumed. 16.14 Defensive moves are taken against each glima trick. The contestant seeks to nullify the effects of the trick with flexible or quick movements, by lifting his feet, by giving way without overbalancing or by jumping out of or over a trick. A contestant may place a hand or knee on the floor to support his balance during a defensive move. 16.15 Smoothness and flexibility should be the outstanding characteristics in glima defence, although it is permitted to push an attacker away in order to assume a defensive position. 16.16 Arm strength should not be applied except for a very short time. An ongoing position bent at the hips with feet apart and stiff arms is regarded as unsporting and called a bol. A bol is illegal in glima. 16.17 If an attacker applies a trick for too long, the defender can change roles and switch to attack, becoming the attacker. 16.18 Each contest shall last for a specified period called a round. In certain circumstances a round can last for an unspecified period when the contestants are wrestling in a final or for awards. In a judged competition, glima continues for the full length of the round. 17. Glima Tricks 17.1 The most common glima tricks are: 1. Leggjabragð, on the floor or in the air, using the outside of the leg on the opposite leg. 2. Krækja, on the floor or in the air, using the outside of the leg on the diagonally opposite leg. 3. Hnéhnykkur, on the floor or in the air, using the outside of the leg on the opposite leg. 4. Hælkrókur, on the floor or in the air, using the inside of the leg on the opposite or diagonally opposite leg and the outside of the leg to block the other or both legs. 5. Sniðglíma, applied to the diagonally opposite leg behind one or both legs. 6. Sniðglíma á lofti, applied to either thigh with hips and legs in the air. 7. Mjaðmahnykkur, either hip applied to opposing hip with knee bend and click with straight leg. 8. Klofbragð, using right or left thigh on the inside of the opponent’s opposing leg. 17.2 Swinging and bobbing are not counted as particular glima tricks, but are part of an attack leading to a trick. V. THE CONTEST 18. Entering the Ring and Preparation for Glima 18.1 When contestants are called to compete, they enter the ring from opposite sides and stand in the centre facing each other, shake hands, advance their right foot and assume the glima position, take up the glima grip and await the referee’s instructions. 19. Starting, Stopping and the End of a Contest 19.1 The contestants stand in the glima position until the signal is given to start treading, which is the word “tread”. 19.2 No attacks may be made until the Referee gives the signal by blowing his whistle. Care must be taken to ensure that the contestants have taken up the correct grip and are well-balanced before the signal is given to allow attacks. 19.3 Only the Referee is permitted to stop a contest once it has started. The Referee must be certain that the contestants have taken up the correct grip on all occasions before the signal is given to allow attacks. 19.4 If a contestant releases his grip to try and prevent an attack, the attacker may complete his trick. 19.5 If both contestants release their grip without a stop signal they shall move to the centre of the ring and resume the contest when both have assumed the glima position. 19.6 The Referee shall halt a contest in the following circumstances: 1. If a contestant begins an attack before a signal is given. 2. If a glima belt becomes loose or breaks unless it breaks during the winning of a fall and the breakage clearly has no effect on the outcome of the fall. 3. If clothing is ripped or a shoe is lost. 4. If a contestant steps out of the ring unless a trick is being executed on him. Stepping out of the ring means when all or part of the sole of a contestants shoe touches the ground outside the lines. 5. If a contestant needs to correct a contestants equipment that is not an offence, however, the referees shall ensure that the break in the contest is not to the advantage of a contestant who requires instruction. 6. If a contestant breaks any of the Laws of Glima. 19.7 When the Referee has declared the result, the contestants shall shake hands in the centre of the ring and leave the ring at the point they entered. 20. Length of a Round and Resting 20.1 The duration of a round for men, 16 years or older, shall be two minutes and for younger competitors, one and a half minutes. 20.2 In certain circumstances, the duration of a round may be unspecified if the contest is a final or it is to decide the award of medal positions. 20.3 Contestants are entitled to a rest period of at least five minutes between contests. The competition organisers can permit a different period if special circumstances apply. VI. FALLS 21. A Fall 21.1 A fall is awarded if a contestants thigh, buttock, torso, shoulder, head or upper arm touches the floor of the ring. 21.2 It is also a fall if a contestant uses both hands at the same time to support himself behind his back. 21.3 Using a single hand for support behind the back is allowed as is a single change of hands, though further changes are not permitted. 21.4 A fall is awarded if a contestant lands in such a way that a foot or a hand is between his torso and the floor of the ring. 21.5 If a glima trick is successfully executed inside the ring a fall is awarded even though the opponent falls outside the ring. 21.6 A fall is not awarded if a contestant falls from a raised ring or if some other incident prevents him from defending himself. 21.7 If a contestant has started a glima trick when the bell is rung for the end of the round, the referee shall allow the contest to continue until the trick is finished. 21.8 If a contestant wins a fall after the bell is rung for the end of the round the fall is deemed invalid. 21.9 If the contestants both win a legitimate fall at the same time a “brothers fall” is declared and the contest continues. 21.10 A contestant shall be awarded a fall if he causes his attacking opponent to fall in such a manner that the attacker drags the defender down using a grip on his belt or illegal hand movements. VII. OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 22. Penalties 22.1 Penalties for infringements of the rules are a warning, a penalty fall or disqualification from the glima competition. Referees can also caution competitors as the need arises. 22.2 The Referee shall carry two coloured cards, red and yellow, to be held aloft when penalties are applied – yellow for a warning and red for a penalty fall. 23. Cautions 23.1 The Referee shall stop the contest temporarily if he needs to caution a contestant, i.e. if a contestant breaks the Laws of Glima or Key Points of Glima. 23.2 Instructions may be given to contestants under the age of 16 years without cautioning them. 24. Warning 24.1 The Referee shall stop the contest temporarily and issue the competitor with a warning if he breaks the Laws of Glima or commits an infringement of the Key Points of Glima. The Referee shall always take care that stopping the contest does not provide the infringing competitor with any advantage. 24.2 The Referee informs the Recorder of any warning given by holding a yellow card aloft, naming the offender and the offence he has committed. 24.3 Warnings shall be given for the following offences: 1. If a competitor ignores a caution given by the Referee. 2. If a competitor does not begin to tread during a contest. 3. If a competitor releases his grip and uses hand manoeuvres. 4. If a competitor holds his competitor in the air for a long period without attempting a trick. 5. If a competitor swings his opponent or turns more than a full circle while holding his competitor in the air, without attempting a trick. 6. If a competitor attempts a trick during which he allows his hand or knee to contact the ground before the trick is completed. 7. If a competitor attempts a trick whereby he stops his opponent by gripping him with his legs. 8. If a competitor attempts a hook behind the knee. 9. If a competitor attempts a trick employing blows or kicks. 10. If a competitor attempts illegal or dangerous manoeuvres. 11. If an attacker commits a nid on his opponent by falling on top of him. 12. If an attacker commits a nid on his opponent by overwhelming him while he is in the floor defence position. 13. If an attacker commits a nid on his opponent by forcing him down with hand power. 14. If a competitor attempts to force his opponent out of the ring. 15. If a competitor attempts to nullify an attack by releasing his grip on his opponent’s belt. 16. If a competitor assumes a twisted stance and uses his shoulder against his opponent. 17. If a competitor holds one of his legs in the air and bent inward between tricks. 18. If a competitor defends with his knees together and his weight lowered. 19. If a competitor uses illegal or dangerous manoeuvres to defend himself. 20. If a defender clings to his opponent causing a fall but escaping himself. 21. If a defender escapes from a fall by clinging to his opponent. 22. If a competitor defends himself by standing away from his opponent, bent forward at the hips with bent legs and feet apart and repels his opponent with straight arms (bol). 25. Penalty Fall 25.1 The Panel of Referees awards a penalty fall against a competitor who commits a serious breach of the Laws of Glima. 25.2 If a penalty fall is awarded against a competitor he loses the contest and his opponent is declared the winner. 25.3 Penalty falls can be awarded against both contestants in which case neither is the winner of the contest. 25.4 The Referee informs the Recorder of his decision to award a penalty fall by holding a red card aloft, naming the offending competitor and his offence. 25.5 Penalty falls shall be awarded as follows: 1. If a contestant commits a serious offence against his opponent or acts in a manner that might cause injury to his opponent. 2. If a contestant receives a second warning in the same contest. 26. Disqualification from Glima 26.1 The Panel of Referees shall disqualify a contestant form the competition if he disrespectful in word or deed of officials of the competition, contestants or spectators, or if he wrestles in a dangerous manner. The Competition Committee is required to inform the GLI Disciplinary Committee of the incident within 24 hours. 26.2 The Panel of Referees must implement the decision of the Glima Director according to Section 11, paragraph 11.6 if the decision includes the disqualification of a contestant from the competition according to Section 26, paragraph 26.1. 27. Deportment During Competition 27.1 Officials and competitors shall show each other respect and courtesy for the duration of the competition. 28. Changes to the Laws of Glima 28.1 Changes to the Laws of Glima may be made at regular meetings of the Glima Council. A change will be implemented only with the agreement of 2/3 of the votes cast and at least half of the council members must cast their votes. 29. Validity 29.1 These Laws of Glima supersede and invalidate all previous Laws of Glima. These Laws become valid on the 2nd March, 2003.