THE SENIOR OFFICIAL

The Senior Official takes precedence over all the officials, Judges, and Referees, Time keeper, and Bellman at any USMTA sanctioned event. His instructions must be observed by all outside the ring. All of the officials are under the direct jurisdiction of the Senior Official and are obliged to respect his commands. No other person can counteract the Senior Official except an order given by the National Director or another high ranking Senior Officer of the USMTA

THE FIRST & SECOND  OFFICIALS

The First Official is the Records Keeper at all USMTA sanctioned events. No one is to  interfere with his duties. He will take direct orders from the Senior Official. The Second Official is the assistant to the Records Keeper at all USMTA sanctioned events. He  alone will assist the First and Senior Officials no one is to interfere with his duties. All arbitration is to be conducted by the Appeals Board on all infringements of the rules and regulations of the USMTA, if required.

   (A) He will take direct orders from the Senior Official at all events and will assist in the recording of all participants in the events, from Elimination's to National Championships. All officials are expected to take the standard Judge and Referee course as part of the AMTJRA curriculum. Officials will at times be expected to take over the position of judge, if a judge in performance of his duties has to unexpectedly remove himself from the event, or if a judge has become ill. However, an official cannot act as referee in any USMTA sanctioned bout or event.

   (B) An official is to make sure that all the safety features outside of the ring are observed by the promoter and that all competitors are fully aware of them, but an official cannot interfere with any thing inside the ring; that is the duty of the Referee and the Senior Official. However, he is obliged to pass on any information that could be seen as a violation of the ring 'Safety Code' to the Senior Official, if by chance it have been overlooked or may have just happened.

   (C) An official cannot interfere with the judges in performance of their duties during a bout. However, is obliged to inform the Senior Official of any infringement of the rules of the AMTJRA, that may have been committed in any USMTA sanctioned event. An official cannot interfere with the activities of a promoter, however, is obliged to inform the Senior Official of an infringement of the 'Safety Code', or 'Code of Conduct' deemed unbecoming of a promoter in any USMTA sanctioned event.

It will sometimes be necessary for an official of either association to be present at the weigh in of fighters, especially at Championship or International events, to verify with the promoter that the weight of each fighter has been officially and correctly recorded.

OFFICIAL RECORD  OF FIGHTERS WEIGHT

ADVICE TO REFEREE'S

   A Referee's job is just as important as the Judges, it is he who will often determine the outcome of a bout. he is also at the center of the audience's view and holds the final call inside the ring. It is essential that he carries himself well and , understands the rituals of Thailand's 2,000 year old martial art, and that he displays respect to the art and culture of Thailand's national sport of Muay Thai. It can often be a thankless job, but the Referee as well as the Judges ultimately decide who will be come a champion and who will not, therefore as depicted in the emblem of the association, 'fair play, truth and justice ' above all else, must prevail.

    WHEN REFEREEING YOU SHOULD OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING

   When the fighters first begin the performance of the pre-fight ritual, the RAM MUAY, or the 'WAI KRU', the Referee is to stand in a neutral corner, acting indifferent to both contestants, the Referee should not slouch on the ropes but stand erect with a poised and respectful attitude for the RAM MUAY. Before the start of each contest the Referee will check the ring ropes (they must be tight), the canvas should be swept clean and not torn or bumpy. The Referee will make certain that the fighters have a mouth piece and are wearing approved groin protectors, that the gloves are laced and taped properly, the toe nails are cut and the bottom of the feet are free from debris.

   He must also determine that no foreign substances are smeared on the fighters bodies. Immediately before the contest commences, the Referee will call both fighters to the middle of the ring and briefly discuss the basic rules and if any fighter has any questions, then the fighters will WAI (Traditional Thai bow of respect) to each other.

   There is no better way to gain respect from the Thai people and Thai fighters than to be able to give ring instructions in the Thai language the following terms should be learned by the referee:

   CHOK as in (chop) means to fight, YED as in (red) means to stop and YEK as in (neck) means to break. The responsibility of the Referee is to protect the fighters from serious injury, see that the rules and regulations are obeyed and that both contestants put forth their best efforts at all times.

   The Referee shall always give commands to the fighters in a firm and authoritative tone, he should make clear to both the fighters that as soon as he has given a command it must be obeyed, disobedience could result in a penalty. it is up to the referee to control the action in the ring at all times.

THE REFEREES DUTIES

   The priority of their duties is to safeguard the fighters: Their duties are to judge in the ring. (1.) To keep to the rules and justice strictly. (2.) To control the bout at all times. (3.) Safeguard the weaker fighter from undue injuries. (4.) To inspect the fighter's gloves and uniform. (5.) To make decisions with 3 orders: "YOOT" = to stop the fight. "CHOK" = to start the fight, and "YAK" = to separate the fighters.

   After a "YAK" the fighters must step back before they fight again without the Referees order of "CHOK". (6.) The Referee shall give an appropriate signal or gesture to tell the fighter's fault. (7.) After the final round, the Referee shall collect the score sheets from all the Judges and examine them before handing them to the Senior Official. (8.) The Referee shall not identify the winner by raising the fighter's hand or by other means before the announcement of the winner. Only then, shall the Referee raise the winner's hand.( 9.) When the Referee disqualifies a fighter or stops the contest, he must notify the Senior Official that he disqualifies a fighter or gives reasons for stopping the contest in order for the Senior Official to notify the MC or announcer to inform the audience.

   Caution of Point Deduction Procedure: If a fighter breaks the rules, but the fault does warrant a disqualification, the Referee shall stop the fight and give him a caution of a Point deduction. The caution, must be clear and understandable to the fighter. The Referee shall give a hand signal to all Judges for having given a caution, with a finger pointing to the offending fighter. After the caution, the referee shall order "CHOK". If after 3 cautions of a point deduction, that fighter will be disqualified.

   Warning Procedure: The Referee may give a warning to either or both fighters. It is an advantage to advice or to tell the fighters to be careful or to prevent them from doing mistakes which may break the rule, but only when he may find an appropriate moment to warn either or both fighters.

   The Referee's Physical Examination: Before the start of any National or International Championship event, the Referee must have a physical examination for an approval of fitness for his duty as stipulated in the rules and regulations of the AMTJRA. The Referee is not allowed to wear eye-glasses on duty, except contact lens.

   THE REFEREE'S POWER:

(1.) Stop the contest when one of the fighters is out-classed by the other, or he out-pointed his opponent, or that the fight was too one-sided.

(2.) Stop the contest when seeing that a fighter is too seriously injured to continue.

(3.) Stop the contest when seeing that a fighter intentionally withhold the fight in this case, either the fighter or both may be disqualified.

(4.) Warn the fighter or stop the fight for a caution with a point deduction because of a fault or other reason for a fair fight or not abiding to the rules.

(5.) Immediately disqualifying a fighter who disobeys an order, or violently injures or offends the referee.

(6.) Discharge the fighter's second or assistant who breaks the rules of his duties and disqualify the fighter if the second or assistant disobeys the referee's orders.

(7.) Disqualify the fighter who commits a foul with or without a caution of a point deduction.

(8.) Stop the count for a fall if the other fighter hesitates or does not go to a neutral corner.

(9.) Interpret the rules as provided or make decisions in any situation that is not mentioned in the rules and regulations.

JUDGES DUTIES:

   Each of the Judges shall make decisions for each bout independently, according to the rules and regulations that, (1.) During the bout, the judge shall not discuss the matter with any judge or person, except the Referee. If necessary, during the interval or rest period, he may inform the incident to the Referee, such as a misconduct of the second, a loose rope, or anything else that the Referee may have over-looked.

    (2.) Immediately after each round, the Judge shall score for each fighter on the score sheet. (3.) After the match, the Judge shall compile the score to identify the winner and sign the score sheet. The decision will be notified to the public on the score board. (4.) The Judge shall remain in his seat until the result has been announced.

TIME KEEPER DUTIES:

   (1.) His main duty is to keep time for each round, number of rounds and time during the rest period which must be two full minutes. (2.) 10 seconds before the beginning and end of each round, the Time keeper must signal for the seconds and assistants to clear off the ring by bell with an order of "Clear off the ring or seconds out". His main duty is to keep time for each round, number of rounds and time during the rest period which must be two full minutes. (2.) 10 seconds before the beginning and end of each round, the Time keeper must signal for the seconds and assistants to clear off the ring by bell with an order of "Clear off the ring or seconds out".

   (3.) The Time keeper shall signal the beginning of the round and the end of the round by gong or bell sound. (4.) The Time keeper shall announce the round immediately before the beginning of that round. (5.) The Time keeper shall adjust the time which is stopped for any delay or the Referee's order to stop it.

   (6.) The Time keeper must keep up the right time for a count with his stop watch or clock. (7.) When the fighter is in a "fall" the Time keeper shall signal for the Referee by hand every second while the Referee is counting. (8.) At the end of the 3 minute round, not the last round of the final match, if there is a fall by any fighter and the Referee starts counting and the round is ended, the Time keeper shall hold the bell signal until the Referee orders to ring the bell when the 3 minute round is over.

   The Time Keeper's Seat: The Time keeper will be seated besides the ring with the announcer to do the announcement of the match results or of any other information concerned.

THE AMTJRA / USMTA OFFICIALS AND THE U. S. O. C. D. E. D. P.

   The USMTA & AMTJRA strictly follow the USOC DED Program, (United States Olympic Committee Drug Education and Doping Program) since 1994. The officials and the associations strictly adhere to the regulations of the USOC DED whenever possible. All fighters and promoters must be informed that the joint associations abide by the standards of the USOC DED. All U. S. Championships, held on American soil, and under the guidelines of the USMTA / AMTJRA, will follow the protocol of the State Commissions and the USOC DED.

    If participants of an USMTA sanctioned event are found to have taken illegal substances banned by the USOC DED, the associations are obliged to inform the pertaining State Commission of the infringement, then will follow their requirements as to what actions should be taken.

ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS

   Doping: The fighters are not allowed to use medicine or chemical substances other than his normal food in order to improve his physical fitness or gain advantage over his opponent.

   Penalty: Any International, U. S. fighter or registered official who violates this rule will be disqualified or prohibited from any further Inter-Nation event, including the Tri- Nations, The America's Cup, and the The Coconut Cup events. Any fighter or any registered official discovered to have violated the rule will have their respective countries or State "Official sports, Athletic, organization or Committee" informed of the infringement.

   Usage of Anesthetic: The usage of any anesthetic is allowed only by the approval of the Medical Committee.

   Doping Substances: All of the doping substances listed by the (IOC) International Olympic Committee are also prohibited in any event. Substances may only be added by recommendation of the IOC.