VA sees room for head contact by top talents from 2025

The ban on punches or kicks to the head for minors in kickboxing, muaythai and MMA can be adjusted. This is the conclusion of the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (VA, the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) following an evaluation of the measure it introduced itself in 2017. Talents preparing for a career in elite sport would be able to fight ‘to the head’ from the age of 16. The condition set by the regulator is that the Nederlandse Vechtsportbond (NVB, the Dutch martial arts federation) draws up a sound plan setting out, among other things, who is to be regarded as a top talent and how safety will continue to be safeguarded.

For a long time, the full-contact martial arts were poorly organised. Young children could be exposed to kicks and punches to the head. The scientific evidence on this is unequivocal: impact to the head must be avoided as much as possible in growing children. That is why, when it was established, the Vechtsportautoriteit banned kicks and punches to the head during bouts.

The intervention met with resistance, but support grew later on. Even so, discussion continued. Some of those involved suspect that the measure also had an unintended side effect. Top talents who face opponents from other countries from the age of 18 would be less well prepared for techniques to the head and therefore in fact more vulnerable.

The VA decided to evaluate the measure. To this end, it spoke with trainers and coaches, athletes, parents of athletes, promoters, officials, ringside doctors and medical specialists. The main conclusion is that the measure is still necessary. The VA does, however, see room for adjustment. An important consideration is that the sport is now far better organised than it was at the time of introduction, partly because the NVB now provides an umbrella federation.

Top talents would be able to fight ‘to the head’ from the age of sixteen, so that from the age of 18 they can begin a career in elite sport fully prepared. The VA expects the Nederlandse Vechtsportbond to develop a sound plan for this and to submit it to the VA. In it, the federation must set out clearly, among other things, who is to be regarded as a top talent, how the health interests of young athletes will be protected, and how the new practice will be evaluated.

As far as the VA is concerned, the change can take effect in 2025 if the NVB develops a sound plan in good time. Everyone will of course be informed of any changes to the rules in good time.