Rule 7.11 – Instigator & Aggressor

An instigator will be defined as a player who, by their demeanour or physical or verbal actions, is responsible for starting or causing a fight based on any one or more of the following criteria:

1. Throwing or attempting to throw the first punch, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.
2. Verbal invitation, instigation or threat, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.
3. First player to remove gloves and throw a punch without their opponent’s compliance.
4. Distance traveled to an altercation or travel to an altercation for the purpose of starting a fight
5. Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who has physically or verbally expressed an unwillingness to fight.
6. Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who is in a defenseless position.
7. Aggressive attitude or posture towards an opponent, forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an undesired fight.
8. Retaliation for a legal or illegal action, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.

An aggressor is the player who attempts to continue a fight by throwing or attempting to throw punches or by continuing the grappling action with their opponent with the intent of intimidation or punishment of that opponent, including but not limited to situations in which their opponent is no longer able to continue the fight or is in a defenseless position. The aggressor may or may not be the instigator of the fight.

1. A minor penalty will be assessed to any player who is identified by the Referee as being the instigator or the aggressor in a fight, in addition to any other penalties they may incur.

2. No Major penalty will be assessed for instigator or aggressor infractions.

3. No Match penalty will be assessed for instigator or aggressor infractions.

4. No Misconduct penalty will be assessed for instigator or aggressor infractions.

5. No Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed for instigator or aggressor infractions.