Referees

PURPOSE: This rule clarifies the duties and responsibilities of professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, and professional full-contact karate referees. (1) The referee is charged with the enforcement of all office rules that apply to the conduct of the contest and the conduct of the contestants and contestant’s second(s) while s/he is in the ring. Before the office issues a referee’s license: (A) The applicant must— 1. Certify that s/he has read and understands Missouri laws and rules. Upon such certification the applicant shall be deemed to have full knowledge and understanding of said laws and rules; and 2. Have two (2) years of documented experience refereeing boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, full-contact karate, or mixed martial arts matches. It is not necessary that this experience be obtained by refereeing professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, or professional full-contact karate; (B) The office may require— 1. The applicant take and pass a written test covering professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate; and 2. The applicant may be required to have a physical examination by a licensed physician to determine fitness to perform. (2) The office may deny a referee’s license if, in its judgment, the applicant does not have sufficient knowledge or expertise in the sport and is otherwise not deemed responsible to act. (3) Referees may not wear spectacles while refereeing. (4) The referee selected for each bout will be at the sole discretion of the office and such determination may be final. The promoter is responsible for all compensation for the referee. The office will set the amount of compensation to be provided to the referee. (5) Before starting each bout, the referee will check with each judge and timekeeper to determine if each is ready, and also will ascertain the name of the chief second in each corner and may hold the chief second responsible for all conduct in his/her corner. The referee shall also verify that the physician is present at ringside. (6) The referee shall inspect the gloves of the contestants in all bouts and make sure that no foreign substances detrimental to an opponent have been applied to the glove or bodies of the contestants. In the event the referee detects a problem with the gloves or other equipment, the problem must be fixed to the satisfaction of the referee and inspector before the bout continues. (7) The use of rubber or plastic gloves by the referee is not mandatory but will be left to the discretion of the referee for his/her use during the bout. (8) The referee may stop the bout for any of the following reasons: (A) The referee determines that one (1) of the contestants is clearly less experienced and/or skilled than his/her opponent to the extent that allowing the bout to continue would pose a substantial risk of serious harm or injury to the less-experienced/skilled contestant; (B) The referee decides that a contestant is not making his/her best effort; or (C) For any other reason the referee deems sufficient. (9) In the event of serious cuts or injuries, the referee shall summon the physician who shall make a recommendation to the referee if the bout should be stopped. (10) The referee shall warn the second(s) of violations of any rules relating to seconds. If after such a warning the second(s) does not conduct him/herself in accordance with the rules, the referee may warn the second(s) that further violations may result in disqualification of his/her contestant and/or removal from the corner. (11) The referee shall instruct judges to mark their scorecards accordingly when s/he has assessed a foul upon one (1) of the contestants. The referee delivers the official scorecards to the inspector. When picking up the scorecards from the judges, the referee may see to it that the cards are computed and the winners and judges names are recorded. If not, the judges shall be instructed to complete scorecards correctly. (12) The referee shall ensure that a bout moves to its proper completion. Delaying or avoiding tactics, or both, should be avoided and the contestant who employs these tactics should be penalized in scoring or disqualified. (13) When a fallen contestant rises and falls again without being hit again in a boxing, kickboxing, or full-contact karate bout, the referee may continue the original count, rather than starting a new count. If the bell rings ending the round during the count, the count shall continue. A contestant is deemed to be down when any part of his/her body, with the exception of his/her feet, is on the floor or if s/he is hanging helplessly on or over the ropes. A referee can count a contestant out either on the ropes or on the floor. During the eight- (8-) count, the referee should assess the condition of the contestant and either allow him/her to continue or stop the bout. During any count, the opponent should immediately go to the neutral corner and remain there until the referee signals the bout is to be continued. In the event the contestant who has scored the knockdown fails to go to the neutral corner, the referee may stop the count until the contestant who scored the knockdown returns to the neutral corner. (14) In assessing fouls, the referee must weigh the cause as well as the effect. If the referee has seen a low blow (punch below the belt line) delivered and if the blow had a damaging effect, s/he may permit a rest period to the victim not to exceed five (5) minutes. During the rest period, seconds may not assist or coach the injured contestant. The offending contestant shall go to a neutral corner and shall not be coached during the period. If the injured contestant refuses to continue after a five- (5-) minute rest period, the opponent may be named the winner. The referee shall give an official warning for a low blow to the offending contestant, and then s/he will give the command to continue after the end of the rest period if the contestant who received the low blow indicates s/he is ready to continue the bout. Additional low blows shall be penalized with deduction of points from the offending contestant or disqualification of the offending contestant. A contestant cannot be named the winner of a bout as the result of receiving a low blow unless, in the opinion of the referee, the blow was delivered deliberately and of enough force to seriously incapacitate the injured contestant so that s/he could not continue the bout. Under this condition, the offender shall be disqualified immediately. (15) The referee shall warn or penalize a contestant with a deduction of points who uses the ropes or other unfair means to gain advantage. (16) Whenever a contestant has been injured, knocked out, or technically knocked out, the referee shall immediately summon the attending physician to aid the stricken contestant. Except at the request of the physician, no second(s) may be permitted to aid the stricken contestant. AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018, and section 317.015, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 40-4.030. Original rule filed April 30, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 2, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Amended: Filed July 25, 1994, effective Jan. 29, 1995. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-4.030, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018 and 317.015, RSMo 1996, 2007.