After achieving my goal last year of refereeing on tv, I now sit back and wonder where am I going to go this year with it.

I could be selfish and just grab every opportunity to referee every show that is out there, or I could help try to keep the wheel of evolving Muay Thai rolling.

Personaly I see that the understanding of Muay Thai in the UK is developing very quickly, but is hindered by one major floor.

No body wants to be an official for nothing. There is no glory or reward for officiating these events correctly, much the opposite.

So its no real wonder that people who do the job are very 'shrug shoulders - dont care types', after all they are officiating for some eight hours and have to travel from far and wide to get to these events. They are then offered very little, so they must be doing it cause they have a deep desire and want to, but no doubt kick themselves everytime they do it.

So why not pay them a resonable amount for their time, effort and professionalism?

I am fortunate enough now to call myself a full time trainer, for the better or worse at the moment. My basic hourly rate is £25-£60 an hour, so over eight hours of refereeing would equate to £200, plus travel and food another £30-50.

I know that people are going to say you should be doing it for the love of the sport, and quite frankly.... that is an escape clause for promoters, voiced by the general public and others.

We should all be doing it for the sport and art, should we not.

Here is a rough outline of what I would urge promoters and other officials reading this to suggest paying.

Refereeing 'A' class bill - £300, Head Judge £140, Judge £100 + travel expenses for all officials
Refereeing 'B' class bill - £200, Head Judge £90, Judge £65 + travel expenses for all officials
Refereeing 'C' class bill - £150, Head Judge £70, Judge £50 + travel expenses for all officials

Why? Because then you as a promoter, trainer, spectator and fighter should have every right to loose it, if the officiating isnt upto standard.

This is by no means an answer to all the problems that go on in Muay Thai here in the UK, but I hope that by adding some input in,

we can move forward a little quicker. Your thoughts?

Looks reasonable to me, i think the Judges should all come together and agree a fee then anyone a part of that group will know whos available when and what they would be paid beforehand, will also make it easier for Promoters to get consistency from judges. I will speak to a few i know and compile a list of people interested.

I hear what your saying Ryan, and to a point I do agree, but we also have to look at the fact of promoters have to pay out so much money as it is, and more often than not they lose on shows.
Good judges and referees are hard to get hold of, but I will judge and referee for a minimal fee because I appreciate how much other costs the promoter has to incure.

I now pay my judges £75, referee £150.

Am I to expect a call from you Ryan asking for more money??? :)

yes jesse, if he refs the 18th hes got a class, b class and c class, so make sure you take your wallet. haha.

id rather be little out of pocket than see a fighter on one of my shoes get jaw bust and nearly ruin career like what happened to a mate of mine.

get what you pay for....and that goes for rings.....jesse?

Ouch Mr Hamilton.. nice ; )

gota have a dig!on a serious note...as a trainer i always ask whos the ref and judges before i put my fighters out! then i know my fighers will get a fair shout! SIMPLE!

Carrying on from above, here are some more:

Refereeing 'AM' class bill - £150, Head Judge £70, Judge £50 (max 20 fts) + travel expenses for all officials
Refereeing 'N' class bill - £100 (max 30 fts) + travel expenses for all officials

Your thoughts?

No body has anything to say on this?

think it would be very difficult to receive payments like these especially on A.M shows and like me,done about 1 and a half years as a ref and am certainly not getting paid that kind of money. im at the moment grateful for the experience and knowledge and hoping other promotors will see me and use me on their shows.
just ref at tower ballrooms on sunday and everthing well smoothly with no problems inside or outside the ring and it was a well run show as usual by steve.

Was there watching.

wot did you think then of the show,the results if gone to points as some were split decisions,my job as ref?
wud be happy for any criticism/tips.

who did you train under for refereeing? sanctioning group?

i trained under pele nathan and have attended tony myers judges course.

ttt : )

zebedee writes:


I now pay my judges £75, referee £150
-------------------------------------------------
what about rotating the judges through the ring.
Then they all get the same pay.

for example, Judge A refs while B,C,D, sit at the table and judge. Then, Judge B refs the next fight, while A,C,and D are at the table, and so on...

Thats a great idea, all should get paid £150 for their time and effort.

good idea but not all judges are refs. and would need the appropriate training to ensure safety and well being of the fighters.

its totally different skills being either a ref or a judge.
personally id rather referee.
only way it would work like that dan is if the officials were all trained to both levels.
heard the ref on pos4 was not the best,any idea who?

I am unfortunately the one pictured in all the papers, but I am glade to say it is not me refereeing on the show, except for the 3 second clip right at the beginning.

Just to clarify, if a bill has one 'A' Class fight on, then the fees for that event would equal an 'A' Class bill. Even if all other fights were 'C' class.

Any more thoughts on this?

There are many organization for nearly everything...is there one for the judges and referees in MT?

Most people do it through our respected Mr. Meyers maybe (just a suggestion guys) he should get them all together somehow and organise something?
: )