14B NCAC 10 .0406          DUTIES OF REFEREES

(a)  If, during the course of a match, the referee receives an injury or is unable to continue acting in his capacity as referee, the representative shall:

(1)           Select another person to act as referee for the remainder of the match and program of matches; or

(2)           If a person is not available, cancel the remainder of the match and program of matches.

(b)  A person who has financial or pecuniary interest in any contestant shall not be granted a referee license.

(c)  A referee shall not be licensed as a promoter, manager, matchmaker, or contestant, nor shall he act as a promoter, manager, matchmaker or, contestant.

(d)  A referee shall not act as a referee at any boxing, kickboxing, toughman or mixed martial arts match in this State unless the match is held in accordance with the Rules in this Chapter.

(e)  Prior to being issued a license in accordance with Chapter 143, Article 68 of the North Carolina General Statues, each referee shall:

(1)           Pass an examination composed and administered by the Association of Boxing Commission;

(2)           have completed a seminar within one year prior to application for licensure and every year after licensure. Any seminar completed after licensure shall satisfy the seminar requirement for a period of one year from its completion. Seminars shall contain general emergency medical information applicable to contestants participating in matches. Proof of successful seminar completion shall be submitted to and maintained by the Division;

(3)           Have either officiated previously in a Division approved sanctioned amateur competition and submit to the Division verification of satisfactory officiating experience from a Division approved sanctioned amateur organization or have officiated in another state or jurisdiction within five years prior to applying for licensure. The Division shall approve a sanctioning organization if the Division determines that the organization has standards compatible to the rules in this Chapter. The applicant shall submit to the Division verification of satisfactory officiating experience from the state or jurisdiction or the applicant shall otherwise demonstrate knowledge and proficiency. The Division may consider any other training and experience including attendance at seminars conducted by the Division as satisfying the prior officiating requirements. Once an applicant has completed this officiating experience requirement, the Division shall waive this requirement for subsequent applications for licensure;

(4)           Submit to a physical examination to establish his or her physical fitness. The results of this examination shall be filed with the Division. The cost of the examination is the responsibility of the applicant. The results of the examination are valid for one licensing year.

All assigned referees must submit to a pre-match medical examination by a physician for general physical fitness. The Division representative shall ensure that this requirement is fulfilled the day of the match.

(f)  Prior to the beginning of each match, and periodically for the duration of the match, the referee shall examine the contestants' gloves, equipment, and person to ensure that no unsafe or improper conditions exist. Before allowing a match to continue after a contestant has been knocked down, the referee shall wipe clean the surface of the gloves of the contestant who was knocked down.

(g)  When a contestant receives an injury which the referee believes may incapacitate the contestant, the referee shall call time out and consult with the physician as to the advisability of allowing the match to continue. A person shall not attempt to render aid to a contestant who has been counted out during the course of a match before the physician has examined the contestant. However, the referee may remove the contestant's mouthpiece.

(h)  The referee may:

(1)           Terminate a match at any time when he considers that one of the contestants has such superior skills or ability as to make such match unreasonably dangerous to the other contestant;

(2)           Disqualify a contestant who commits an intentional foul and award the decision to the opponent;

(3)           Terminate a match and disqualify either or both contestants if he considers that either or both contestants are not competing in earnest;

(4)           Terminate a match if either contestant has been injured and is in such condition that to continue the match might subject him to a more serious injury;

(5)           Temporarily or permanently halt a match if he believes that a health hazard exists, which hazard could reasonably be anticipated to create a hazard to the contestants or the public; and

(6)           Enforce discipline and the rules, as set forth in this Chapter, pertaining to the conduct and behavior of contestants, managers and seconds.

(i)  The referee shall not touch the contestants, except for the failure of either or both contestants to obey the break command.

(j)  The referee's remarks shall be limited to instructions to the contestants and to the chief seconds.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-652.1; 143-655;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 1996;

Recodified from 18 NCAC 09 .0106 Eff. April 1, 1996;

Eff. April 1, 1996;

Transferred and recodified from 18 NCAC 09 Eff. November 8, 2002;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2004;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2008 (recodified from 14A NCAC 12 .0111(l));

Transferred from 14A NCAC 12 .0406 Eff. June 1, 2013;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.