1. Referee's Qualification
   • Must have No Physical disabilities.
   • Must be at least 21 years old.
   • Must be trained and tested by an Officially Licenses & Certified Instructor of the IKF
   • Must be certified and registered as an IKF Referee as properly qualified.
   • Must not be over 60 years of age unless an extension is approved by the IKF.
     
     
2. DRESS CODE
   • PANTS - MANDATORY
     • Referees are required to wear black or dark blue slacks.
   • IKF OFFICIALS SHIRT - MANDATORY
     • Referees are required to wear an IKF Officials Shirt.
     • If they do not have one they are required to purchase one from the IKF.
     • The Fee for an IKF Officials Shirt is $35.00
   • SHOES
     • Shoes must be BLACK Soft rubber sole shoes.
   • BELT FOR PANTS
     • Belt buckle must be either covered or without a large buckle.
   • GLOVES
     • Referees must wear rubber surgical gloves during all bouts.
     • Referee must supply their own gloves.
   • NO ALLOWEDJewelry
     • Referees may not wear:
       • Hats
       • Watch
       • Jewelry
       • Glasses - Unless they are poly carbonate "rec specs", approved by the IKF.

IKF REFEREE DUTIES

Chief Duty and Responsibility of the IKF Referee
To Ensure the Safety of the Fighters.

-Sometimes 2 referees are needed, depending on if a pro event and how many bouts.-
The ring referee shall be in charge of the general supervision of the bout.
He enforces the IKF rules and regulations as stated in this document.
He shall promote the safety of the fighters within the ring and shall insure a fair fight between the fighters.

1. The referee, before each bout, shall ask each fighter who their chief second/trainer is at ringside. The referee shall hold said trainer responsible for the conduct of his assistants & during the bout, assuring they follow the Official IKF Cornerman Rules.
   
   
2. The Referee MUST make sure that each fighter understands their language so there will be no confusion as to "Ring Commands" during the fight.
   • Three verbal commands need to be recognized:
     • "STOP" when ordering the fighters to stop fighting.
     • "BREAK" when ordering the fighters to separate.
     • "FIGHT" when ordering the fighters to continue the match.
     • When the fighters are ordered to "BREAK", both must step back a minimum of 3 steps before the referee continues the fight.
   
   
   
3. The referee shall call both fighters to the center of the ring before each bout for final instructions, each fighter shall be accompanied by his chief second. This should not be a SPEECH. This should be a basic reminder of, EX: "Gentlemen, obey my commands at all times and lets have a fair fight."
   
   
4. STARTING THE BOUT
   • Immediately before the bout begins, the fighters shall bow to the referee, followed by the fighters bowing to each other. Once done, the referee shall instruct the fighters to "FIGHTING POSITIONS" and signal the timekeeper to begin the bout. The timekeeper will ring the bell and the bout will begin.
     
     
5. In a FULL CONTACT RULES Bout
   • At the end of each round, the referee shall confer with each official kick judge to determine if both fighters have meet their minimum number of kicks for the previous round. If one or both fighters have not met their minimum kicking requirements, the referee shall inform each corner during the rest period directly following said round and before the start of the next round that they did not meet their previous round kick minimum. Referee shall then warn the corner that a -1- point deduction shall be given if they do not kick the minimum required amount in any successive round.
     
     
6. RUNNING FROM YOUR OPPONENT
   • The Referee will warn a fighter who continually runs from his opponent not to do so. If a fighter continues to do so, a 1 point deduction will be given to the fighter for INTENTIONAL EVASION OF CONTACT.
     
     
7. LEG SWEEPS, CUT KICKS, SLIPS OR FALLS
   • A-Foot to foot, to the inside & outside of opponents front foot are permitted.
   • No spin sweeps.
   • No sweeps above the foot pad.
   • No sweeping the supporting leg unless in a Muay Thai bout.
   • All sweeps/kicks to the legs that cause a fighter to fall from loss of footing, slipping WILL NOT be counted as a knockdown.
   • If the FALL ITSELF causes injury, the referee will begin a count on the downed fighter. If the fighter does not stand by the count of 10, the bout is over and the downed fighter loses. If the kick to the legs INJURES the fighter and he/she is forced to drop to 1 knee or to the ring floor due to the INJURY to their legs, the referee will begin a count.
   • Again, if the fighter fails to stand after the count of 10 "OR" limps in pain once up, the referee shall stop the bout and that fighter shall be declared the loser by KO.
     
     
8. STANDING 8 COUNTS
   • During a flury, the Referee shall not step in to stop the action when the fighter's are still standing "Strong."
   • If a fighter looks helpless and receives several blows to the head or body but continues to stand, not move and not be able to defend him or herself, the referee will step in and give the fighter a standing 8 count.
   • At this time, the Referee is to look over the fighter and if the referee feels necessary, he/she may stop the fight at this time.
   • If a fighter is not standing "Strong' and his/her eyes are not clear, the referee may choose to stop a bout prior to a standing 8 count if the fighter getting beat is not able to hold up his/her hands to chin height and still protect him/herself.
   • At ANY time, the referee can request the ringside physician to come up to the ring and make a true medical determination whether a fighter should continue or not.
9. KNOCKDOWNS & KNOCKOUTS
   • If a fighter is knocked down 3 times in 1 round, the fight is over.
   • Sweeps do not count as a KNOCKDOWN and a leg kick to a single supporting leg do not either.
   • If a fighter is knocked down to the ring floor or falls to the floor, he must get up under his own power.
   • Fighters can only be saved by the bell in the final round.
   • If one fighter is knocked down, the referee must instruct the other fighter to retreat to the farthest neutral corner - WHITE.
     
     
10. CLINCHING
    • The referee must wait until a count of 3 before breaking up any clinch on all Full Contact & International Rule Bouts. Let the fighters fight out of it.
    • On Muay Thai bouts, the clinch will not exceed 5 seconds and sometimes as short as 3 seconds. This will be determined in matchmaking.
    • The referee check with the promoter and or IKF Representative of the clinch time agreed upon and then verify this to both fighters and their trainers before the start of the bout.
      
      
11. CORNERMAN RULES
    • The Referee will give a maximum of -2- warnings ONLY to a cornerman or second that lean on top of the ring floor, Touch the ring ropes, slap or hit the ring, yell or coach his/her fighter or yell at any official during the fighting round.
    • If after -2- warnings, said cornerman or seconds continue to do so, both amateurs and pros, the fighter who's corner is not following the rules and regulations of a cornerman could lose a point or his/her corner/trainer could be fined, suspended or disqualified from the match by the IKF representative at ringside.
    • If disqualified, the fighter will lose by TKO.
    • The only person other than the referee and the fighters allowed to touch the ring canvas during the middle of a round, shall be the timekeeper who shall slap the ring canvas "3" times when 10 seconds remains in each round.
      
      
12. PROTECTING FIGHTERS FROM OUTSIDE DISTRACTION
    • If a spectator throws any object from the crowd into the ring, TIME will be called by the referee & event security will escort the spectator out of the arena room.
    • The spectator will be subject to arrest & fines.
    • If a second or corner throws anything into the ring, it will be taken as a request to stop the fight and said corner will lose by technical knockout.
      
      
13. FOULING-STOPPING THE FIGHT
    • The referee shall administer the following for fouls:
      • 1st time-Warning to the fighter.
      • 2nd time, deduction of 1 point.
      • 3rd time, disqualification.
        • (*) If the foul is severe, the referee & or the IKF representative could stop the bout at ANY time.
          
          
    • NON INTENTIONAL FOUL
      • If the referee determines that the fighter being fouled needs time to recover, he may stop the fight and the time and give the injured fighter time to recover. At the end of such time, the referee and ringside doctor shall determine if the fighter can continue. If so, the round will begin at the stopped time. If not, the referee shall gather all 3 judges score cards and the winner will be determined by who was ahead on the 3 score cards at the time of the foul. If the fighters were even, a TECHNICAL DRAW will be awarded. If the foul occurs in the first round, a NO CONTEST shall be awarded to each fighter.
    • INTENTIONAL FOUL
      • If the referee determines that the fighter being fouled needs time to recover, he may stop the fight and the time and give the injured fighter time to recover. At the end of such time, the referee and ringside doctor shall determine if the fighter can continue. If so, the round will begin at the stopped time. If not, the referee shall gather all 3 judges score cards and the winner will be determined by who was ahead on the 3 score cards at the time of the foul.
      • Before the start of the fight, the Referee has to determine whether he/she will:
        1. Offer a Warning to the Fouling Fighter.
        2. Take a 1 point deduction from the fighter committing the foul.
        3. Disqualify the Fouling Fighter.
      • If the fouled fighter cannot continue:
        1. If the fouled fighter cannot continue after the INTENTIONAL FOUL, regardless of the scorecards, the fouled fighter will automatically win by disqualification.
    • Should it be necessary to stop the match or penalize a fighter, the Referee will immediately advise the reason to the IKF Event Representative after making the announcement.
      
      
14. COUNTING OVER A DOWNED FIGHTER
    • When a fighter is knocked down or purposely falls down without will to stand, the referee shall instruct the other fighter to retreat to the farthest neutral corner of the ring from the downed fighter.
    • The count of the downed fighter by the ringside timekeeper must begin once the fallen fighter touches the ring floor.
    • If the referee was occupied by instructing the other fighter to retreat to the furthest neutral corner, the referee upon returning to the downed fighter shall pick up the actual count from the ringside timekeeper who shall make the count clear and visible by counting with his fingers over his head so the referee can pick the count up clearly.
    • From there, the referee shall continue the count over the downed fighter with the referee showing with his arm in motion the number of the count with 1 hand up to 5 and continuing on the same hand up to 5 fingers to signal a count of 10.
    • At the end of each downward motion shall be the count of each number.
    • If the fighter stands during the count, the referee shall continue the count. If the standing fighter leaves the neutral corner, the Referee will stop the count and once again, instruct the standing fighter back to the neutral corner and then restart the count from the point of interruption when the standing fighter complies.
    • If the fighter on the canvas does not stand before the count of 10, the standing fighter shall be determined the winner by knockout.
    • If the referee feels that the fighter can continue, the referee shall wipe the end of the fighters gloves on the referee's shirt before continuing the fight.
      
      
15. PROCEDURE IF A FIGHTER FALLS OUT OF RING
    • If a fighter falls through the ring ropes and out of the ring, the referee shall order his opponent to stand in an opposite neutral corner and if the boxer remains outside the ropes, the referee shall start a count to 10.
    • The fighter who has fallen outside the ropes has up to 30 seconds to return to the ring.
    • If the fighter returns to the ring before the count ends, he/she will not be penalized for a "Standing 8 count" UNLESS it was a strike from his/her opponent that sent him/her through the ropes and out of the ring.
    • If anyone prevents the fallen fighter from returning to the ring, the referee shall warn such person or stop the fight if he continues his action.
      • If this person is associated with his/her opponent, the fallen fighter will win by disqualification.
    • If both boxers fall out of the ring, the referee shall start counting.
      • If one boxer tries to prevent his/her opponent from returning to the ring before the count ends, he/she will be warned or disqualified.
    • If both boxers fall out of the ring, the referee shall start counting and the fighter that returns to the ring before the count ends, will be considered the winner.
      • If both return within the 30 seconds allowed, the fight can continue.
      • If neither boxer can, the result will be considered a draw.
      
      
      
16. OFFICIAL SIGNAL OF THE REFEREE FOR END OF BOUT
    • If the referee determines that the fight is over by a knockdown, knockout, TKO, foul etc, the referee will indicate so by crossing both hands ABOVE his/her head and or over his face as he/she steps between the fighters.
      
      
17. STOPPING OF A BOUT
    • The referee, ringside physician or the IKF representative at ringside shall have the power to stop a bout.
      
      
18. SCORECARDS
    • At the end of each bout, the Referee will collect the scorecards from each of the three judges, inspect them to assure each is correct and SIGNED by each judge and submit them to the IKF Event Representative or IKF Scorekeeper, whichever has been designated by the IKF Event representative to tally the scores.
    • Once a decision has been reached, the referee will bring both fighters to center ring. Upon announcement of the winner the referee will raise that fighters hand.
    • For TITLE BOUTS
      • At the end of each ROUND, the Referee will collect the scorecards from each of the three judges, inspect them to assure each is correct and SIGNED by each judge and submit them to the IKF Event Representative or IKF Scorekeeper, whichever has been designated by the IKF Event representative to tally the scores.

IKF OFFICIALS - GUIDELINES

• All IKF Event officials shall be employed by the promoter and be approved by the IKF Event Representative ONLY.
• Each official must know all rules and regulations for an IKF kickboxing event. To find properly qualified officials, contact the local athletic commission or work with the IKF directly to select the best qualified officials for each position.
• The IKF reserves all rights to deny or appoint all necessary officials if the promoter's selections do not meet the required qualifications of the IKF.
• Any official is found under the influence of ANY drug or alcohol immediately prior to or during the event shall be fined by the IKF $500.00 and placed on a suspension determined by the IKF.
• Any official at an IKF event shall give permission to the IKF for drug testing before or after any bout, amateur or pro and especially if the bout is a title match. If any official is found under the influence of ANY drug, the official shall be fined by the IKF $500.00 and placed on a suspension determined by the IKF.
• ALL officials must be pre-approved and licensed by the IKF "UNLESS" other IKF approved officials in the Promoters area are available for the event.

For IKF Event Officials Fees
CLICK HERE

PROMOTERS...
PLEASE DO NOT
Force your Officials to sit around and WAIT for you to pay them or for them to approach you to be paid. No one likes to ask for their money. BE RESPONSIBLE and PROFESSIONAL and make sure you pay your officials IMMEDIATELY after your event. They worked hard to make your event possible.
Thank You.