New agreements for the martial arts sector in 2022

New agreements have been made between the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) and the sports federations for kickboxing, Thai boxing and MMA in the Netherlands. Each year, the regulator and the signatories of the Covenant 2022 (Convenant 2022) make new agreements to organise the sport better and make it healthier. All federations active in the Netherlands are covenant partners of the VA.

The Covenant 2022 contains a number of new agreements. The measures were recently explained and discussed at a meeting for covenant partners.

Quality mark obligation
The most striking agreement is that gyms must hold the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit (the VA quality mark) if they wish to continue taking part in events after 1 September 2022. Quality mark holders have demonstrated that they meet minimum requirements in the areas of equipment and premises, technical coaching staff, health and safety, house rules and standards of conduct, and the approach to inappropriate behaviour. They also commit to agreements aimed at safeguarding the safety of athletes and the reputation of the sport at competitions.

One of the aims is to keep out the ‘bad apples’. Martial arts gyms that misbehave at competitions will not receive a quality mark or will lose it, and will from then on be refused by all federations and promoters. During matchmaking, the covenant partners will check whether a competitive fighter is affiliated with a gym that holds the quality mark. The quality mark can be applied for here.

Inappropriate behaviour
Other important additions to the existing agreements also concern combating various forms of inappropriate behaviour. A reporting obligation for irregularities has been agreed. All federations that observe misconduct by athletes or gyms, or that encounter substandard facilities or poorly organised events, will from now on report this to the VA using a reporting form. Other parties involved in martial arts, from athletes and parents to promoters and spectators, can also report irregularities from now on using this form.

The reporting obligation helps ensure that the VA has a clear picture of what is going on, so that joint action can be taken. If inappropriate conduct leads to exclusion or another measure, that measure will by definition be adopted by all other federations. In this way a federation never stands alone, and federations cannot be played off against each other.

Ring inspection
From 1 January, mandatory reporting of irregularities also applies to the quality of the ring, cage and mat. If the quality is substandard, action will be taken through the VA against the responsible promoter and the cage or ring rental company.

As an additional point of attention, it was noted that the fall and walking area around the ring must be kept free of hard objects at all times. That means: no speakers, light boxes, glasses or trophies directly against the ring, because a falling fighter can be injured by them. The federation acting under whose auspices an event is held is responsible for checking this.

The measures were recently discussed in detail with all covenant partners and enjoy broad support. The ambition is to keep making progress each year in raising our sports to a higher level.