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24.117.909    REFEREE

(1) Applicants for a referees license shall apply on forms prescribed by the board and furnish the following information:

(a) evidence of either:

(i) three years prior experience in refereeing boxing events; or

(ii) two years prior experience in refereeing boxing events and additional experience as determined by the board to demonstrate competency;

(b) names and addresses of three references who can attest to the applicant's refereeing experience and integrity; and

(c) proof of applicant's familiarity with the laws and administrative rules of the board, as evidenced by attestation on the application.

(2) No persons other than the contestants and the referee may enter the ring during the progress of a round.

(3) The referee shall stop a bout for any of the following reasons:

(a) due to the physical condition of one or both of the contestants;

(b) when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed;

(c) the referee decides a contestant is not putting forth the contestant's best effort; or

(d) any other reason the referee deems sufficient.

(4) Referees shall not act as managers or promoters.

(5) The referee shall meet with each contestant and chief second in the dressing room prior to the bout and the referee shall:

(a) warn the second of any existing rule violations and any disciplinary consequences that will result from further noncompliance;

(b) identify the belt/hip line and clarify that the equipment shall not extend above such line;

(c) explain the proper procedures to occur when the warning sounds prior to the end of a round and when the bell sounds ending a round;

(d) explain the duties expected of the chief second in managing the corner, including:

(i) cleaning up spills and ice;

(ii) wiping excess petroleum jelly from contestant; and

(iii) ensuring that the contestant has a mouthpiece in place prior to the start of each round;

(e) explain the procedures to be used in directing contestants to break ("punch" or "get out" and, if necessary, "hold your punches" and step in and break the contestants) ;

(f) review fouls, issuance of cautions, and point deductions;

(g) inspect and sign handwraps (semiprofessional and professional boxing only) ; and

(h) ask contestants and seconds if they have questions.

(6) The referee shall meet with the ringside health care professional and the referee shall:

(a) determine the health care professional's ringside experience;

(b) determine the health care professional's location at ringside;

(c) clarify that the health care professional shall not enter the ring unless directed to do so by the referee or the board designee;

(d) specify the referee's signals for calling the health care professional into the ring or to a neutral corner;

(e) discuss and determine the health care professional's procedures if called to examine a contestant during a bout, including:

(i) mounting the ring apron quickly;

(ii) examinations to be no longer than ten seconds; and

(iii) ways to communicate with the referee;

(f) direct the health care professional against making any statements following the examination of a contestant during a bout that could change the dynamics of the bout ("Let it go one more round.") ; and

(g) discuss any known traits or tendencies of contestants that the health care professional may observe during the bout (ex. common nosebleeds) .

(7) The referee shall check the condition of the ring, including:

(a) presence of buckets and stairs in corners;

(b) correct rope tension; and

(c) acceptable condition of the floor and canvas.

(8) When the contestants enter the ring, the referee shall:

(a) inspect the contestants as follows:

(i) gloves (no foreign substances) ;

(ii) trunks;

(iii) shoes (double knot and/or laces taped) ;

(iv) hair;

(v) mouthpiece;

(vi) safety equipment (reestablish the belt/hip line) ; and

(vii) presence of jewelry;

(b) upon contestant introductions, the referee shall:

(i) call contestants to center ring;

(ii) present final instructions;

(iii) direct contestants to return to the corners;

(iv) clear the ring and ring apron;

(v) ensure readiness of judges, timekeeper, and ringside health care professional; and

(vi) signal timekeeper to start the bout.

(9) During the bout, the referee shall:

(a) ensure the safety of all contestants;

(b) enforce all applicable board laws and rules;

(c) maintain control of all stages of the contest to include issuance of cautions and deduction of points;

(i) In case of a knockdown, the referee shall require the fallen contestant to take a count of eight.

(ii) When a contestant is down, the referee shall direct the opponent to the farthest neutral corner and instruct the opponent to remain there until the count is completed. If the opponent fails to do so, the referee may cease counting until the opponent has complied.

(iii) If a fallen contestant arises before the count of eight and again goes down due to weakness, or is unable to arise, the referee shall continue the count from the point where the referee ceased counting.

(iv) If a contestant appears to be in distress or not giving the best effort, the referee may intervene and give a "standing eight count".

(v) When a contestant has been knocked down three times in one round, the referee will declare the contestant the loser by a technical knockout.

(A) In championship matches, the board may waive subsection (9) (c) (v) if agreed to in writing by both contestants, and the agreement is filed with the board prior to the beginning of the athletic event;

(d) physically inspect and wipe clean all contestant gloves that touch the canvas floor;

(e) interrupt the bout if a contestant is cut and consult with the health care professional to determine if the injured contestant may continue;

(i) If a cut is produced by a legal punch and the bout is stopped, the injured contestant shall be declared the loser by technical knockout, with the designation of TKOC to indicate the cut as the reason for the technical knockout;

(f) immediately stop a bout in the case of an injury caused by a head butt or foul, determine whether the act was intentional or accidental and determine whether to continue or stop the bout;

(g) instruct the judges to mark the scorecards accordingly when assessing fouls;

(h) wave both arms to indicate a knockout when:

(i) a contestant is still down following the referee's count of ten; or

(ii) the referee has determined that the contestant who was knocked down is in no condition to continue; and

(i) continue counting when both contestants go down simultaneously as long as one contestant remains down. If both contestants remain down at the end of the count, the referee shall stop the bout and render a technical draw decision.

(10) At the conclusion of a bout, the referee shall:

(a) collect scorecards from the judges and present them to the inspector;

(b) call contestants to center ring and raise hand of winner when the contestant's name is announced; and

(c) maintain control of the ring, contestants, and seconds until all persons have exited the ring.

(11) The board shall appoint the referees and the board decisions are final.

(12) The referee is the sole arbiter of a bout and is the only individual authorized to stop a bout.

History: 23-3-405, MCA; IMP, 23-3-404, 23-3-405, MCA; NEW, 2006 MAR p. 1161, Eff. 5/5/06.

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