Md. Code Regs. 09.14.07.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 09.14.07.03 - Referee

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 09.14.06.11B, 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 09.14.04.02B A; and

(c) A neurological test as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.03B A 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 B(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.

Md. Code Regs. 09.14.07.03

Regulation .03D adopted effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 275); amended effective 51:7 Md. R. 321-354, eff. 4/15/2024.