Expert: Lian Shoemake - 2/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lian,

I wanted to become a ref but felt starting in the amateurs would be wise. Once i contact my LBC (so cal) what does the process entail and how long does it take to actually begin officiating? What do you think is important to know before making the commitment? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time. Nick

ANSWER: Hi Nick,
Thanks for the question.
It sounds like you already know how to get in touch with your LBC, so you might have done a little research already. The certification process can vary from LBC to LBC, but in general, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the rules and the various roles (such as timekeeper, clerk and judge). The most likely scenario is that you'll be trained in all of those other roles as a means to learn the rules, before you get training as a referee. The reason for that is, the referee needs to be familiar with all the other positions to effectively do his job.
The timeline depends on how many bouts you can attend and "practice" at. So Cal stays very busy, so if you can make the time commitment, you can probably accumulate a lot of experience fairly quickly. Along the way, you'll need to pass a certification test before you can actually perform in any official capacity at a bout. Check with your chief-of-officials for details.
The only thing I'd say you should consider is that it can be long hard work, and sometimes officiating can seem like a thankless job, especially since it's all volunteer, but I've found it to be very rewarding :) I hope you will, too!

I hope this helps, Nick.
Thanks again for writing!

Regards,
Lian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have a boxing question. Rabbit punches are obviously illegal but what if a fighter contorts himself in another direction or put his head down. Is it legal to hit someone in the back of the head at that point?

For example, consider the Wladmir Klitschko-Sam Peter bout. Peter hit Klitschko in the back of the head several times even scoring two knockdowns in the fifth round as a direct result. Klitschko and Peter were usually engaged in clinches when this happened. What are your thoughts on this fight and the rule in general?

Thank you once again,
Nick

Answer
Hi Nick,
It is always illegal to hit a boxer in the back of the head. If a boxer turns his or her back or lowers the head in an illegal manner, then it is up to the referee to caution, warn or penalize that boxer.
The Klitschko-Peter fight featured a couple of inappropriate rulings, in my opinion. Peter should have been penalized for clubbing Klitschko in back of the head, not rewarded with knockdowns.

I hope this helps, Nick.
Thanks again for writing!

Regards,
Lian