UMPIRE RULES SECTION 1 - GENERAL Article 1. PURPOSE The purpose of these rules is to level and align the judgement criteria of Jury Members and Referees, to protect the umpiring authority and to point out the rights and duties of Jury Members and Referees. Article 2. APPLICATION These are to be applied at every I.T.F. championships for degree holders. Article 3. THE UMPIRE COMMITTEE The Chairman of the Umpire Committee must appoint and assemble all the Jury Members and Referees for the I.T.F. Championships. The Umpire Committee consists of a minimum of three (3) members appointed by the Chairman of the I.T.F Umpire Committee. The Umpire Committee is responsible for the following matters: to have Umpire dress regulations strictly observed; to decide beforehand about the appointment of the "Ring Councils" and on which ring they will officiate in; to appoint the substitution and the rotation of referees in order to give everyone an opportunity to officiate and to assure fairness; to check Umpires during work process; to give a final judgement in case of complaint; to take any disciplinary action; to co-operate with the other Committees; to suggest improvements in Umpire Rules and or Manual. Article 4. JUDGEMENTS Every Umpire must apply his/her judgement criteria conforming the Umpire and Tournament Rules. Article 5. UNEXPECTED EVENTS All cases not stated herein will be dealt and discussed by the Umpire Committee that, to the best of his ability, will reach a fair and proper decision to apply. Article 6. RING COUNCIL Each ring must be governed by a Ring Council to supervise all events. The Ring Council for Pattern competition consists of: one (1) Jury President two (2) Jury Members five (5) Referees one (1) Recorder The Ring Council for Sparring competition consists of: one (1) Jury President two (2) Jury Members one (1) Centre Referee four (4) Corner Referees one (1) Recorder one (1) Timekeeper The Ring Council for Power Breaking consists of: one (1) Jury President two (2) Referees one (1) Recorder The Ring Council for Special Techniques consists of: one (1) Jury President two (2) Referees one (1) Recorder Article 7. PATTERN COMPETITION - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE REFEREE A. At all times he must be updated with all the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, with the present Rules and with Manuals; B. he is allowed, if required by the Jury President, to take part in consultations; C. he is not allowed to talk at any time during the competition; D. he must sit correctly (upright, with the back straight and feet together, with the soles of the feet on the floor) with a space of 150cm either side of his colleagues; E. he must observe with attention the competitors' actions taking into consideration and judging the following parameters: INDIVIDUAL PATTERN Technical Content Power Balance Breath control Rhythmic TEAM PATTERN Presentation, Teamwork and Choreography Technical Content Power Balance Breath control Rhythmic F. after each bout he must add all the points on his Pattern scoring form which will be collected by the Recorder and handed over to the Jury President; G. in the event of a tie the Jury President will select by drawing one (1) designated Pattern to be the tie-breaker. The tied competitors/teams will then carry on until the winners are decided. Article 8. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE JURY PRESIDENT A. At all times he must be updated with all the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, with the present Rules and with all the Rules and Manuals concerning the Centre and Corner Referees; B. he is the only official authorised to disqualify a competitor in accordance with Article 36 of the I.T.F. Tournament Rules; C. he is the supervisor of the match, of the referees behaviour, and he is allowed to give his opinion at any time; D. he is the supervisor of the timekeeper and the recorder, he is allowed to substitute them in case of absence or inefficiency; E. in Pattern competition: i.) he will decide by drawing the designated Pattern; ii.) he will appoint one (1) Referee responsible to give commands; iii.) in case of incorrect situations, he can call the Referee(s); iv.) after receiving the Pattern Scoring Point Forms, he must check them and then, following the criteria indicated in Article 27-29 of the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, he must stand up to indicate the winner. In case of a draw, he must stand up crossing his arms in front of his chest and must select one (1) designated Pattern to be the tie-breaker. The tied competitors/teams will then carry on until the places are decided; F. in Sparring competition: i.) in case of incorrect situations, he can call the Centre Referee and/or Corner Referees and can call for "time stop"; ii.) he must take note of foul(s) and warning(s) and then, following the criteria indicated in Article 32 of the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, he must stand up to indicate the winner. In case of a draw, he must stand up crossing his arms in front of his chest; G. in Power and Special Technique competition: i.) he will appoint one (1) Referee to check the board(s) and the attempts and one (1) Referee to give the commands and/or point; ii.) in case of a tie he will select by drawing one (1) item to be the tie-breaker; H. he is the only official allowed in replacing the referees in case of insufficiency, accident or dispute; I. he must fill out and sign the competition reports, that make the official documentation; at the end of each division/competition, these reports will be delivered to the Umpire Committee. Article 9. DUTIES OF THE JURY MEMBERS They must help and assist the Jury President, during Pattern and Sparring competitions, to check all the scoring forms in order to declare the winner(s). A. At all times he must be updated with all the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, with the present Rules and with the Manuals concerning the Jury President and the Corner Referees; B. he is allowed to take part in the consultations between the Jury Presidents and the Corner Referees if required; C. he must check the I.T.F. Dobok, safety equipment, the groin guard and the shin protectors of the competitors; D. he must direct the match, give all orders, make all the announcements and use the right gestures; E. he is the only official authorised to assign warning(s) and foul(s); F. once the Corner Referees have delivered their Scoring Point Forms to him, he must hand them to the Jury President bowing for respect; G. he can obtain, when required, the Jury President's opinion. Article 11. SPARRING COMPETITION - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CORNER REFEREE A. At all times he must be updated with all the I.T.F. Tournament Rules, with the present Rules and with the Manuals concerning the Jury President and the Centre Referees; B. he is allowed to take part in the consultations between the Jury Presidents and the Centre Referee if required; C. he must sit properly and must observe with attention the competitors' actions; D. he must write, on the approved Scoring Point Form, point(s), foul(s) and warning(s); E. at the end of the match, he must deduct one (1) point from the total score for every three (3) warnings: F. he must deliver the completed Scoring Point Form, with his name signed, to the Centre Referee; G. when the competitors are fighting for "the first point", he stands up and after the signal " Sung" of the Center Referee indicates by raising a red or blue flag for the competitor that scores the first valid point. Article 12. POWER - SPECIAL TECHNIQUES - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE REFEREE A. At all times he must be updated with all the I.T.F. Tournaments Rules, with the present Rules and with the Manuals; B. he is allowed to take part in the consultations if required by the Jury President; C. when appointed by the Jury President, he must check the board(s) and/or target height, and the correct execution at each attempt as indicated in Article 44 and 47 of the I.T.F. Tournament Rules; D. when appointed by the Jury President, he must announce and show the scored points following the procedure indicated in Article 44 and 47 of the I.T.F. Tournament Rules. Article 13. DRESS REGULATIONS The Umpire's kit consists of: - navy blue blazer jacket, - white, long sleeved, shirt, - navy blue trousers, - navy blue tie (with no other colours or decorations), - white socks, - white gymnastic shoes, - pen. Article 14. PRESENTATION BEFORE THE COMPETITION All Jury members and Referees must present themselves at least one (1) hour before the beginning of each Tournament day. Article 15. BEHAVIOUR All officials must observe the following rules: A. they must behave with conscience and dignity; B. they must pay maximum attention during competition; C. they must be at all times unbiased when giving a decision; D. they must distance themselves from the competitors; E. they must have a basic knowledge of First Aid assistance. Article 16. UMPIRE CLASS AND REQUIREMENTS 1. "A" Class - Jury Member Umpires The criteria for "A" Class Jury Member Umpire are: A. minimum age of 25 years; B. IV Degree holder or above; C. to have a "B" Class Umpire certificate; D. to have a minimum of three (3) years regular, domestic, umpiring experience immediately prior to the application for "A" Class Jury Member Umpire Course E. succeed in obtaining the official "A" Class Jury Member Umpire certificate. F. to officiate regularly at tournaments within the I.T.F. jurisdiction. 2. "B" Class Umpires The criteria for the "B" Class Umpire are: A. minimum age of 21 years; B. II or III Degree holder; C. to participate in an authorised I..T.F Umpire Course and succeed in obtaining the official "B" Class Umpire certificate; D. to officiate regularly at tournaments within the I.T.F jurisdiction.