Regulation .03 Referee.
Regulation .03 Referee.LinkCopy Citation
A.
General. The referee shall have the authority to:
(1)
Supervise, generally, a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest;
(2)
Decide all matters arising during a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest that are not specified in these regulations.
B.
Referee's Authority.
(1)
The referee may stop a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest during or between rounds for any of the following reasons:
(a)
Injury to a contestant;
(b)
Poor physical conditioning of a contestant;
(c)
Disqualification of a contestant for not participating in earnest; or
(d)
Unsafe ring or fenced area conditions.
(2)
The referee shall give a contestant sufficient time to recuperate when the contestant is incapacitated by a low blow or other fouling tactic.
C.
Referee's Duties.
(1)
A referee may touch a contestant only if the contestant fails to obey a command to break.
(2)
In addition to the knockdown procedure described in COMAR 09.14.06.11, the referee shall:
(a)
Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who leaves the ring or fenced area during the 1-minute rest period between rounds and does not resume participation when the bell signals the beginning of a round;
(b)
Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who is knocked out or falls out of the ring or fenced area during a round and fails to return immediately to the ring or fenced area; and
(c)
Remove the mouthpiece of a contestant after the knockdown count.
(3)
A referee shall warn a contestant and the contestant's manager or chief second in a clear and distinct manner that persistent fouling will result in a penalty before a referee assesses a penalty point.
D.
Medical Standards for Referees.
(1)
A referee annually shall submit to the Commission certification of the following medical examinations:
(a)
A comprehensive physical;
(b)
An ophthalmological evaluation as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.02A; and
(c)
A neurological test as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.03A which is performed by a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
(2)
The Senior Physician shall determine the appropriate medical documentation for nonresident applicant referees.
(3)
A referee may not officiate in a contest if any of the following physical conditions are found:
(a)
Conditions specified in COMAR 09.14.04.04B(1)—(8) and (10)—(11);
(b)
Uncorrected visual acuity that is less than 20/40;
(c)
Peripheral vision that is less than 100 percent; or
(d)
Abnormalities suggestive of acute, subacute, or chronic nervous system abnormalities.