Sparring rounds with rules and a referee

Setup

1. Mark a competition area. Gear check before every round; everyone in full sparring gear: headgear, hogu (trunk protector), forearm and shin guards, groin guard and mouthguard, plus gloves and foot protectors as your federation requires.
2. Match partners by size, age and experience. The instructor stands beside the area for every round and can stop it at any time.
3. One student referees (RF) with the instructor's help; the others wait outside the area, keep score or judge by raising a hand for valid techniques.
4. Set the round length and contact level for the group before starting. Head contact: check your federation's junior rules; for many junior groups it's body only.

How it runs

1. The competitors stand on their marks either side of centre. The referee calls charyeot (attention), kyeongye (bow), junbi (ready) and sijak (begin).
2. They spar with light, controlled contact. Valid techniques are kicks to the hogu, controlled kicks to the headgear where allowed, and punches to the hogu; turning kicks score more.
3. The referee calls kalyeo (break) to separate them after a clinch or fall, gives gam-jeom for fouls, then gyesok (continue). Fouls include crossing the boundary, grabbing or holding, pushing, falling, avoiding or delaying, knee strikes, attacking after kalyeo, kicking below the waist and hitting the head with the hand.
4. Keuman (stop) ends the round. Both bow to each other and to the referee, who announces the winner. Next pair in; rotate the referee.
5. Use the point values from the current World Taekwondo competition rules or a simple club version. If you use electronic scoring (PSS), check the sensors before each round.

Coaching points

• Referees: loud, clear commands, and step in between the competitors on kalyeo.
• Stop the instant you hear kalyeo or keuman. Attacking after kalyeo is a penalty and a safety risk.
• Score with clean, controlled technique; power without control isn't good sparring.
• Respect at both ends: bow in, bow out, and thank the referee.
• Any knock to the head: stop the round, remove the student from training and follow your concussion protocol. No return that day.

Common mistakes

• Arguing a call instead of carrying on.
• Turning away or dropping to the mat to avoid an attack.
• Contact creeping up as the score gets close.
• The referee standing too far away to step in quickly.