Official Rules

The Game

1.1 · Definition

Rock Paper Scissors is a competitive game between two players. Each player independently selects one of three legal throws: Rock, Paper, or Scissors. Both players reveal their selections simultaneously. The result of an engagement is determined by the relationship between the two legal throws.

1.2 · Competitive Elements

Competitive Rock Paper Scissors incorporates selection, prediction, pattern recognition, timing, bluffing, misdirection, and psychological strategy. Players may observe, communicate with, bluff, misdirect, and attempt to influence one another within the limits of these Rules.

Legal Throws

2.4 · Order of Dominance

No legal throw possesses an inherent advantage over another.

2.5 · Illegal Throw

A hand signal that cannot reasonably be identified as Rock, Paper, or Scissors is an Illegal Throw. Additional gestures are not legal throws in Standard RPS. The Match Official has final authority to determine whether a displayed throw constitutes a recognizable legal throw.

The Engagement

3.1 · Definition

An Engagement is one simultaneous exchange of throws between two competitors. An engagement results in a win, loss, or draw.

3.2 · Starting Position

Before each engagement, both players shall assume the designated playing position and prepare their throwing hands for the established cadence.

3.3 · Standard Cadence

3.4 · Alternate Cadence

An established regional or cultural cadence may be used when declared before competition begins. Players must be informed of the designated release point and both players must complete their throws simultaneously on that point. The words used are secondary to simultaneous release.

3.5 · Simultaneous Throw

Both players must complete their throws at substantially the same designated release point. Neither competitor may intentionally alter the timing of a throw to obtain an unfair competitive advantage.

3.6 · Draw

When both players display the same legal throw, the engagement is a Draw. A Draw awards no engagement victory to either player and does not count toward the victories required to win the match.

Match Format

4.4 · Declared Format

The applicable match format must be established before the match begins. A tournament may use different approved formats during different stages if the progression is published before competition begins. The format of an individual match may not be changed after that match has begun.

Timing

Timing violations describe when a throw occurred. A timing violation alone does not establish an intent to cheat.

5.1 · Legal Timing

A legal throw is completed at the designated release point of the established cadence.

5.2 · Premature Throw

A Premature Throw occurs when a player clearly reveals a completed throw before the designated release point.

5.3 · Delayed Throw

A Delayed Throw occurs when a player completes a throw after the designated release point.

5.4 · Accidental Timing Violation

An isolated timing violation determined by the Match Official to be an ordinary timing error shall normally result in a warning and replay. A Delayed Throw does not, by itself, establish intentional cheating.

5.5 · Repeated Timing Violations

Repeated timing violations may result in an engagement penalty when the violations materially disrupt competition or repeatedly prevent simultaneous play.

5.6 · Intentional Timing Violation

A competitor may not intentionally manipulate throw timing to obtain a competitive advantage. In Standard RPS, this includes intentionally delaying a throw for the purpose of observing and reacting to the opponent's selection. Intentional timing manipulation may result in an immediate Engagement Penalty.

Standard RPS

Standard RPS is the traditional and primary form of Rock Paper Scissors recognized by the IFRPS. Players compete face-to-face with their throws openly visible.

6.1 · Observation

Players may freely observe their opponent before and during an engagement. Reading patterns, behavior, body language, rhythm, confidence, strategy, and tendencies is a lawful element of Standard RPS.

6.2 · Information Advantage

Players may use information obtained naturally through lawful observation. A player may not delay a throw to obtain information from an opponent's already completed selection.

Concealed Throw RPS

Concealed Throw RPS preserves face-to-face psychological competition while preventing either player from viewing the opponent's completed throw.

7.1 · Player Position

Players remain positioned face-to-face and should retain an unobstructed view of the opponent's face and upper body whenever practical.

7.2 · Concealed Throw Zone

Each competitor makes their throw within a designated Concealed Throw Zone. The setup must prevent either player from viewing the opposing completed throw, allow the Match Official to clearly observe both throws, and preserve face-to-face interaction whenever practical.

7.3 · Psychological Competition

Only the completed throw is concealed. Players remain free to observe, talk, bluff, predict, misdirect, challenge, and otherwise lawfully attempt to influence their opponent.

7.4 · Timing

Premature and Delayed Throws remain timing violations. Because the opposing throw is concealed, a Delayed Throw shall not automatically be considered an attempt to react to the opponent's selection. Repeated timing violations may nevertheless be penalized for disruption.

Communication & Psychological Play

8.1 · Bluffing & Misdirection

Players may make statements concerning their intended throw, their opponent's intended throw, patterns, predictions, and strategy. Statements concerning a player's intended selection are not binding. A competitor may intentionally provide false or misleading information concerning their intended throw.

8.2 · Competitive Banter

Light competitive banter is permitted. Players may challenge an opponent's confidence, skill, strategy, predictions, or likelihood of winning provided the communication remains sporting. Competitive speech does not become prohibited merely because it is intended to place psychological pressure on an opponent.

8.3 · Prohibited Communication

Players may not use profanity, personal attacks, abusive or degrading insults, threats, discriminatory or hateful language, sexually inappropriate remarks, or other offensive or hostile language.

8.4 · Interference

Speech may not be used to interfere with an opponent's ability to execute a legal throw. A player may not intentionally shout during release, speak over the official cadence, make sudden disruptive noises during release, or otherwise use communication to disrupt the opponent's throw.

Officiating

9.1 · Match Official

A Match Official is an individual authorized to administer an IFRPS-recognized match. The Match Official enforces the Rules and determines the official result of each engagement.

9.2 · Authority

1. Determine engagement results.
2. Determine whether a throw is legal.
3. Identify timing violations.
4. Issue warnings.
5. Order an engagement replayed.
6. Assess engagement penalties.
7. Enforce player conduct standards.
8. Stop a match when necessary.
9. Refer serious misconduct for additional disciplinary action.

9.3 · Standard of Officiating

Officials shall base rulings upon observable conduct whenever possible. A violation identifies what occurred. Intent is considered separately when determining whether an enhanced penalty is appropriate. A timing violation alone shall not establish an intent to cheat.

9.4 · Neutrality

A Match Official shall administer competition impartially and may not intentionally favor or disadvantage a competitor.

Penalties

10.1 · Application

Progressive discipline should ordinarily be used unless the seriousness of an offense requires immediate stronger action. Officials may consider frequency, intent, competitive advantage, effect on the opponent, effect on the match, and previous warnings.

10.2 · Serious Misconduct

Immediate match forfeiture or disqualification may be imposed for intentional cheating, threats, physical aggression, deliberate interference, serious abusive conduct, repeated refusal to follow official instructions, or other behavior that seriously compromises the integrity or safety of competition.

Player Conduct

11.1 · Sportsmanship

Players shall compete honestly and treat opponents, officials, spectators, and tournament personnel with reasonable respect. Competitive intensity is permitted. Players are not required to be friendly toward their opponents. They are required to remain sporting.

11.2 · Celebration

Players may celebrate victories and successful engagements. Celebration may not become threatening, abusive, excessively disruptive, or intentionally humiliating toward an opponent.

11.3 · Physical Contact

A competitor may not intentionally make unwanted physical contact with an opponent or physically interfere with an opponent's ability to compete.

11.4 · Officials

Players shall comply with lawful instructions issued by Match Officials. A competitor may disagree with a ruling, but disagreement does not permit abusive or threatening conduct toward an official.

Tournament Play

12.1 · Approved Structures

12.2 · Published Competition Rules

Before competition begins, organizers shall publish the applicable match format, tournament structure, advancement rules, tiebreak procedures, and any approved event-specific regulations.

12.3 · Competitive Consistency

All competitors within the same tournament stage shall be subject to the same match format and competition rules.

12.4 · Sanctioning

Additional standards may apply when a tournament seeks designation as IFRPS Recognized, IFRPS Sanctioned, or IFRPS Major. Tournament sanctioning requirements are established separately from the Official Rules of Play.

Remote Competition

13.1 · Remote Match

Players may compete from separate locations through an approved live-video system. A certified Match Official may administer the match remotely.

13.2 · Remote-Officiated In-Person Match

Two competitors may be physically present together while the Match Official participates remotely through live video. The official must maintain a sufficiently clear view of both competitors and their throws.

13.3 · Video Requirements

The Match Official must have a clear and continuous view sufficient to determine player identity, throw timing, legal throws, engagement results, and rule compliance. Additional camera or verification requirements may apply to higher levels of competition.

13.4 · Technical Failure

If video, audio, or network failure prevents the Match Official from reliably determining the result of an engagement, no result is recorded. The engagement shall be replayed after fair competition can resume.

Rules Authority

14.1 · The Fundamental Standard

IFRPS Standard Rock Paper Scissors consists of three legal throws and this fundamental relationship. Tournament formats, match lengths, regional cadences, and competition environments may vary. The fundamental game does not.

14.2 · Matters Not Specifically Covered

When a situation is not expressly addressed by these Rules, the Match Official shall make a ruling consistent with competitive fairness, simultaneous independent selection, prevention of unfair informational advantage, sportsmanship, player safety, and the fundamental character of Rock Paper Scissors.

14.3 · Alternate Disciplines

Games involving additional throws, altered dominance relationships, or expanded mechanics are not Standard RPS. IFRPS may establish standardized rules for alternate competitive disciplines with their own rules, ratings, records, titles, tournaments, and championships. Alternate disciplines do not replace Standard RPS.

14.4 · Amendments

The International Federation of Rock Paper Scissors may issue Official Interpretations, Technical Standards, Competition Regulations, and Rule Amendments. Each official edition shall identify its version and effective date.