This rules update may seem a bit small in terms of standard league play in comparison to last year’s update as it’s mostly just corrections, elaborations, and wording updates to the current set of rules. But for those expecting more drastic changes please know that we’ve been listening to the knife throwing community and the WKTL Advisory Council members and Commissioner have great ideas for some changes in the future, but we want to do those right so you can expect larger changes in the upcoming WKTL rules update 2026!
We highly recommend reading through the rules in full, however, we will highlight some of the changes below.
The 2025 Rules Update will take effect on January 1st, 2025.
WKTL Rules update
Section A: Safety
To Add:
4. Headphones
No equipment that emits sound or provides active noise cancellation (ANC), such as headphones or ANC earplugs/earbuds, may be used while throwing.
Exceptions will be made for medical devices that aid in hearing.
Throwers are required to inform the lane judge that they are wearing earplugs and/or a hearing device, and may need additional accommodations such as showing the score on the tablet between throws.
Purpose: We wanted to ensure safety when people are competing so that they’re able to be more aware of their surroundings if possible and not have anything directly impede their communication options with the Judge and other competitors. Also to be sure those who need devices are catered to as well. The goal has always been to maximize player awareness and ability to communicate during a match.
Section C: Gameplay
11.a.i-iv
Original:
If the game is tied, the judge will flip a coin to determine the first thrower.
Once prompted by the judge, the trailing player will have 10 seconds to complete their throw, after which time, the throw will count as a fault.
Reworded:
If the game is tied, the judge will flip a coin to determine the first thrower.
The Judge will select a player to call heads or tails demonstrating to both players which is heads and which is tails on the coin
The player selected to call will name heads or tails while the coin is mid-flip.
The coin flip will be determined by which side is facing up after the coin lands on the ground, uninterrupted.
If the player selected calls correctly, they may decide to throw first or second
Purpose: To solidify coin flipping procedure in more detail to alleviate questions that arose this year over it.
Section D: Scoring
6.b.i
Original:
During a match, both throwers may call up to 2 Killshots at any time during the regular 10 throw match
In the event a thrower scores 2 Killshots, no further Killshot (8) points are awarded unless a drop is recorded, at which time the thrower is allowed to call a 3rd Killshot
Reworded:
During a match, both throwers may call up to 2 Killshots at any time during the regular 10 throw match.
In the event a thrower scores 2 Killshots, no further Killshot (8) points are awarded unless that thrower has a drop, at which time the thrower is allowed to call a 3rd Killshot
Tallying Scores
To Add:
Once a knife is scored, the presiding Judge may ask the thrower to remove the first scored knife to determine the score of another knife. If removing the first knife causes the other knife to drop, the lower score threshold will be given.
Purpose: This rule is in Duals currently and has been doing well according to feedback, to keep things consistent and also give the judges more options for accurate scoring it made sense to implement this in standard knife as well.
Section J: Judging
2.b
Original:
If a thrower touches any knife before a second opinion call is made, the original score given by the first Judge stands.
Reworded:
If a thrower touches any knife in their target before a second opinion call is made, the original score given by the first Judge stands
Purpose: There have been edge cases where it’s been brought to our attention that someone could pick a knife off the ground while waiting for a second opinion and it could disqualify the option for a second opinion. We wanted to be sure that does not happen as that was not the intended result of the rule so it has been specified that a knife in the target specifically. As those knives would be the ones needing a second review.
6.
Original:
Judges may not preside over matches where there is a conflict of interest. This would include judging: family members, duals partners, significant others, etc.
Judges are responsible for disclosing any conflicts of interest to throwers before a match.
We encourage the Head Judge to note and avoid potential conflicts.
Throwers can request another Judge if a conflict of interest is present.
Reworded:
Judges should not preside over sanctioned games where there is a conflict of interest unless the circumstances are unavoidable. Conflicts of interest would include – family members, significant others, etc.
Judges are responsible for disclosing any conflicts of interest before a sanctioned game and recusing themselves. A replacement judge must be found before the game may begin.
Should there be no available options the judge is responsible for disclosing the conflict of interest to the thrower and the circumstances are unavoidable.
Throwers can request another Judge if a conflict of interest is present.
Any incorrect applications of rules made in situations where bias may be present could lead to the removal of certification.
Purpose: This wording change was made to make things more clear as indented and to ensure there would be no conflict of interest in judging.
Duals
World Championship WKTL Duals 4.a-c
Original:
Any player on any team may decline on behalf of their team.
Any player may decline for their team at any point, but both players may not earn a next bid until the beginning of the next full season, tournament, or qualifier after the current one is finished.
Should a team decline their bid, they may attempt to earn a bid as the same team again in later seasons/tournaments/qualifiers.
Reworded:
Any player on a team may decline their World Championship bid for their team at any point by contacting the WKTL staff and notifying them at WKTL@worldknifefthrowingleague.com.
All declined bids are final with a confirmation from WKTL staff.
Should a player decline their bid, that player may attempt to earn a bid with a different team or as the same team again for the upcoming World Championship.
Players will be in consideration for the next bid available after one week from their notification to decline. After that one-week period, they may earn a bid in any manner available to them in the current competition year (including open qualifiers if they are held outside of the calendar year).
Purpose: We’ve had a lot of questions about the duals bids and considering they are teams of two the logistics can be quite difficult. But we wanted to both clear up the wording so it’s clearer and allow duals teams a bit more leeway as needing to decline a bid as the previous wording required a full season before being able to earn another bid in some circumstances which was drastic more drastic than intended.
WKTL Rules Update In Conclusion
This year will give us just a few small adjustments for this year’s WKTL rules update but still the overall same gameplay has been much asked for, which will give us a bit of time to look at some gameplay upgrades with proper testing and implementation going into 2026. We’ll be making sure to be watchful for any ideas and thoughts this great community has as we continue to grow and we look forward to an amazing year of knife throwing for 2025!
If you’re looking to get involved in the 2025 competition be sure to check outour affiliated venue search to find your nearest venue!
