Requirements of referees, judges and timekeepers

Duties and responsibilities

Licensed officials (referees, judges, and timekeepers) play a significant role in ensuring contestant safety and upholding the highest levels of integrity. The duties and conditions of all licensed officials are the minimum standards expected in fulfilling the role of a referee, judge, or timekeeper.

In addition to the minimum standards all officials are encouraged to review the Board’s rules as they relate to a licensed official's roles, duties, and responsibilities.

General duties and responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with the Board’s Rules for the proper conduct of a professional contest.
• Ensure compliance with all the conditions of your licence and that your licence is current and up-to-date.
• Ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct (as set out below).
• Be in possession of their licence during a promotion, and if appropriate, ensure their licence is displayed at all times.
• Not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs whilst officiating.
• Not perform their duties in cases where there is an existing or potential conflict of interest. Any such conflict must be immediately disclosed prior to the promotion or to the supervising Board member at the promotion.
• Ensure they are proficient in the understanding and application of all rules and scoring systems as they apply to their role and those rules are applied fairly and without bias, or influence.
• Ensure they arrive at the promotion 1 hour prior to the promotion start time and report to the supervising Board member(s).
• Attend pre-fight briefing with Board member(s) prior to the commencement of the first contest.
• Attend the post-fight briefing convened by the supervising Board member and be prepared to discuss individual bouts, decisions, and scores. All officials are expected to keep notes throughout the promotion to inform this discussion.
• Be dressed in the appropriate attire - black pants, white or black shirt, black shoes. A bow tie is optional. An official’s attire should not feature any distinguishing badges, pockets, names, logos, trademarks, or distinctive signs of any kind, except where prior approval of the Board has been granted.
• Remain impartial when performing duties and apply 100% concentration for the whole of each round.
• In the event that an official is not able to carry out all duties as outlined, they must alert the attending Board member immediately.

Code of conduct

Officials are expected to exhibit exemplar standards at all times and not engage in:

• Violent, threatening, obscene, indecent or abusive language or behaviour.
• Vilification of any kind towards another person.
• Discrimination against another person based on their age, gender or sexual orientation.
• Discrimination against another person based on their race, culture, religion or any other personal characteristic (protected or otherwise).
• Sexual harassment, intimidation or victimisation of another person.
• Competition manipulation and gambling on any activity that you are directly or indirectly connected to.
• Improper use of drugs and medicines.
• Conduct that is detrimental to the reputation or interests of the boxing and combat sports industry.

The Board may make any further duties and responsibilities specific to an official’s licence and will write to officials to advise of any specific additions. Failure to comply with the duties and responsibilities may result in licence cancellation or suspension.

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