61K1-4.005. Arena Equipment Requirements; Ring Requirements; and Fenced Area Requirements

(1) Ring Requirements:

(a) The ring shall be not less than 18 feet nor more than 22 feet square inside the ropes.

(b) The ring floor or apron shall extend beyond the ropes not less than 18 inches.

(c) The ring shall be formed of four posts and at least four ropes for boxing and kickboxing, except for San Shou or Sanda style kickboxing. The ring shall be formed of four posts and at least five ropes for San Shou or Sanda style kickboxing and mixed martial arts. The ropes shall extend in parallel lines 18, 30, 42, and 54 inches in height above the ring floor. The top three ropes shall be not less than 1 inch in diameter, and the lowest rope shall be not less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The lowest rope must be no higher than twelve inches from the ring floor. All ropes shall be wrapped in velvet or other similarly soft material. Ropes shall be properly adjusted and sufficiently taut to inhibit the amateurs from falling between the ropes. All five ring ropes must be secured to each other in no less than two places on all four sides of the ring. The juncture of the ropes at each corner shall be padded with at least an inch and one half of foam rubber or other similar padding.

(d) Ring posts shall be not less than 3 inches in diameter and shall extend from the floor of the ring to a height of no more than 58 inches.

(e) The ring platform shall not be more than 4 feet above the surrounding floor and shall be provided with steps for use of the amateur in each amateur’s corner. Steps shall also be provided in a neutral corner for use by the announcer, referee, round card carrier and physicians.

(f) The ring platform shall not be less than twelve (12) feet below the surrounding ceiling.

(g) The ring floor, both inside and outside the ropes, shall be padded to a thickness of at least 1 inch and the padding shall consist of a soft material such as “Ensolite Ring Pad” or similar material applied over a 1-inch base of Celotex building board number two or a material which has similar impact absorbing characteristics. There shall be a top covering of canvas, duck, or equivalent material tightly stretched and laced to the ring platform.

(h) If the match or program of matches is being held outdoors, the ring, apron and seating for all officials shall be protected from inclement weather by use of a heavy duty weatherproof tarpaulin or cover of similar material. The covering shall be erected in such a manner as to ensure that the ring, apron and seating do not become wet. Under no circumstances will the referee, amateur sanctioning organization representative, or the commission representative allow a match to continue if the condition of the ring floor deteriorates such that its condition poses a hazard to the amateurs or the referee.

(i) The amateur sanctioning organization shall insure that the front row of spectator seating is no closer than six (6) feet from the back of the officials’ seats.

(2) Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Fenced Area Requirements:

(a) The fenced area shall not be less than 18 feet wide nor more than 32 feet wide inside the fencing;

(b) The fenced area within the fencing must be padded with Ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam with at least a 1 inch layer of foam padding;

(c) The fenced area padding must be covered with canvas, duck or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the platform. Any covering that is slippery or deemed by the amateur sanctioning organization representative or any commission representative as unsafe will not be allowed. Material that tends to gather in lumps or ridges must not be used;

(d) The fenced area platform must not be more than 4 feet above the surrounding floor and shall be provided with steps for use of the amateurs. In addition to the amateurs’ steps, a neutral set of steps shall also be provided for use by the announcer, referee, round card carrier and physicians;

(e) Ring posts shall be made of metal with dimensions of not less than 3 inches nor more than 6 inches in diameter and shall extend from the floor of the building to a height of no less than 60 inches nor more than 84 inches above the floor of the fenced area. Ring posts must be properly padded in a manner approved by the commission. Ring posts padding shall not include abrasive, sharp or potentially injuring materials;

(f) Fencing must be made of a material that will prevent an amateur from falling out of the fenced area or breaking through the fenced area onto the floor of the building or onto the spectators, including, without limitation, chain link fence coated with vinyl;

(g) Any metal portion of the fenced area must be covered and padded in a manner approved by the amateur sanctioning organization representative and must not be abrasive to the amateurs;

(h) When the fenced area is comprised of equal sections or panels of fencing, metal tubing or pipes are permissible along the outer dimensions or perimeter of the panels for structural purposes. No metal tubing or pipes are allowed within each individual panel running horizontally or vertically from one panel perimeter to another. Each panel should have four sides with no metal tubing or pipes within each individual square;

(i) There must not be an obstruction on any part of the fence surrounding the fenced area in which the amateurs are competing.

(j) Each door must be secured by a latch and pin mechanism or another approved dual locking system.

Rulemaking Authority 548.003 FS. Law Implemented 548.003(2), 548.046, 548.057 FS. History–New 3-14-13.