The Technical Official forms the backbone of competition. Consistent high quality decisions made by Officials are essential to give clear direction to coaches and competitors alike; inconsistency in decisions results in a lack of development in competitors. Training of Technical Officials is standardized and rigorously assessed to ensure all officials apply consistent rules and judgment criteria. The aim of this training framework is to achieve the standard of rules and officiating quality practiced in Thailand. The framework detailed here offers a high-quality system of training based on the suggested current programming used for the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) worldwide games.

The framework includes pathways for training prospective judges and referees who have no previous experience at all as well as accrediting prior learning to those who already have some experience or officiating qualifications with different organizations. Those who have experience and qualifications will still need a formal assessment for quality assurance purposes and to ensure standardization. Although in Thailand the roles of referees and judges are synonymous and individuals perform both roles, in the west it is common practice for these roles to be separated, and this framework has separate pathways to qualify officials in each role. However, individuals can be trained for both roles and this will be actively encouraged.

Roles

Timekeeper Each contest shall have one (1) timekeeper who shall be seated at the head table.

Judges Each contest shall be marked by three (3) MTO Judges who shall be seated separately from the public and immediately adjacent to the ring.

Referee Each contest shall be controlled by an MTO approved Referee who shall officiate in the ring but shall not mark a scoring paper for the same contest.

Arbiter Each contest shall have one (1) appointed member of the Jury who presides over the three (3) judges and shall be seated at the head table.

Requirements

Fundamental Competencies

  • Understanding role as an official
  • Good communication
  • Good memory
  • Highly developed morals and ethics
  • Understanding the role and function of Muaythai Ontario

Technical Knowledge

  • Well experienced in the basic skills of Muaythai
  • Knowledge and comprehension of the Rules & Regulations
  • Able to identify an athlete who is injured/distressed

Physical Fitness

  • Good visual acuity
  • Referees must be physically capable of controlling a contest

Technical Official Development Pathway

Judge Development Structure

Officiating Candidate

Entry Requirements: Strong grasp of basic Muaythai technical skills.

Overview: An introduction to Judging and Refereeing Muaythai competition, the initial training provides Officiating Candidates a baseline knowledge of the Technical Officials Development Framework, roles & responsibilities as an official, rules, and scoring.

Delivery: Introductory PowerPoint presentation delivered in a group setting or distance learning.

Assessment: No assessment.

Time: 1.5 hours.

Judging Candidate: Training Towards Preliminary Judge Status

Entry Requirements: Complete Officiating Candidate module.

Overview: A detailed review of the rules and the responsibilities of the Judge, scoring criteria, and its application.

Delivery: A PowerPoint presentation and video companion along with a formative assessment element where the scoring of competition is discussed. Candidates score a range of contests with feedback provided. Can be completed the same day as the Officiating Candidate stage, and distance learning is an option.

Assessment: Formative assessment during the course.

Time: 2 hours.

Preliminary Judge

Entry Requirements: Complete Judging Candidate assessment.

Overview: Officials at this level shadow with Level 1 and above judges at Muaythai Ontario competition.

Delivery: Experience of shadow judging will be recorded along with the quality of decisions made. Candidates ready to progress past this stage complete a formal assessment of a series of specifically selected contests. Candidates will sit and watch videoed contests projected onto a screen and score these as if they were sitting ringside.

Assessment: Summative assessment of scoring of 10 fights on video. (80% required to pass)

Time: 3+ hours for assessment in addition to shadow judging 20 contests.

Level 1: Novice Judge

Entry Requirements: Complete Preliminary Judge assessment.

Overview: Officials at this level are eligible to work as a 3rd Judge alongside two Level 1 or higher judges at Muaythai Ontario competition.

Delivery: Judge decisions will be recorded and their consistency with the qualified judges monitored. When the consistency of decisions across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 2 Judge.

Assessment: Monitoring of judging performance will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Time: Varies.

Level 2: Provincial Judge

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 1 assessment.

Overview: Officials are eligible to work as Judge at Muaythai Ontario competition.

Delivery: Monitoring of judging performance at competition will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Assessment: Judge decisions will be recorded and their consistency with the qualified judges monitored. When the consistency of decisions across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 3 Judge.

Time: Varies.

Level 3: National Judge

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 2 assessment. Complete Muaythai Canada National Judging Certification.

Overview: Officials are eligible to work as a Judge at National Competition.

Delivery: Monitoring of judging performance at competition will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Assessment: Judge decisions will be recorded and their consistency with the qualified judges monitored. When the consistency of decisions across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 4 Judge.

Time: Varies.

Level 4: International Judge

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 3 assessment. Complete Muaythai Canada International Judging Certification.

Overview: Officials can be nominated to participate at International Competition. Further development opportunities may be provided by IFMA.

Referee Development Structure

Officiating Candidate

Entry Requirements: Strong grasp of basic Muaythai technical skills.

Overview: An introduction to Judging and Refereeing Muaythai competition, the initial training provides Officiating Candidates a baseline knowledge of the Technical Officials Development Framework, roles & responsibilities as an official, rules, and scoring.

Delivery: Introductory PowerPoint presentation delivered in a group setting or distance learning.

Assessment: No assessment.

Time: 1.5 hours.

Referee Candidate: Training Towards Preliminary Referee Status

Entry Requirements: Complete Officiating Candidate module.

Overview: A detailed review of the rules and the responsibilities of the Referee, skills, and application.

Delivery: In person PowerPoint presentation & workshop where the skills are applied in a practical setting with mock scenarios. Formative feedback is provided for candidates as they referee mock competition. Can be completed the same day as the Officiating Candidate stage.

Assessment: Formative assessment during the course.

Time: 2 hours.

Preliminary Referee

Entry Requirements: Complete Referee Candidate assessment.

Overview: Officials shadow with Level 1 and above Referees at Muaythai Ontario events, and can practice refereeing at interclub events.

Delivery: Experience refereeing will be recorded along with the quality of decisions made. Candidates ready to progress past this stage complete a formal assessment of a series of refereeing techniques.

Assessment: Summative assessment of refereeing techniques and decisions applied.

Time: 1 hour for assessment in addition to shadow refereeing 10 contests.

Level 1: Novice Referee

Entry Requirements: Complete Preliminary Referee assessment.

Overview: Officials are eligible to work as a novice Referee alongside a Level 2 or higher Referee at an event. performance will be monitored by the referee and recorded. When their performance across a range of different levels of competition is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 2 Referee.

Delivery: Monitoring of refereeing performance will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Assessment: When the consistency of performance across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 2 Referee.

Time: Varies.

Level 2: Provincial Referee

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 1 assessment.

Overview: Officials are eligible to work as a Referee at Provincial Competition.

Delivery: Monitoring of refereeing performance at competition will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Assessment: When the consistency of performance across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 3 Referee.

Time: Varies.

Level 3: National Referee

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 2 assessment. Complete Muaythai Canada International Refereeing Certification.

Overview: Officials are eligible to work as a Referee at National Competition.

Delivery: Monitoring of refereeing performance at competition will be ongoing and should it be necessary, refresher courses can be offered.

Assessment: When the consistency of performance across a range of shows is to the required standard they will be recommended to progress to a Level 4 Referee.

Time: Varies.

Level 4: International Referee

Entry Requirements: Complete Level 3 assessment. Complete Muaythai Canada International Refereeing Certification.

Overview: Officials can be nominated to participate at International Competition. Further development opportunities may be provided by IFMA.

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