What training and testing does Nebraska require to be licensed as an amateur or professional MMA judge or referee?

Plain-English summary

This is not a tax ruling -- it's an Athletic Commissioner Ruling published in the Nebraska Department of Revenue's revenue-rulings series. It sets out what you must do to be licensed as an MMA judge or referee for amateur or professional contests in Nebraska.

The three-part path to a license:

1. Complete a training program. Either a program developed by the State Athletic Commissioner, or -- if you trained elsewhere -- submit with your application a Certificate of Completion of a judge/referee training program from another jurisdiction's regulatory body or an organization offering ABC-certified training. (The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) is the nonprofit of U.S., Canadian, Puerto Rican, and U.S. Virgin Islands commissions that regulate MMA and other combat sports.)
2. Pass a written examination administered by the Commissioner, testing your knowledge of MMA in general, the ABC's Unified Rules for MMA, and Nebraska's own MMA rules and regulations.
3. Complete a supervised trial program, consisting of: (a) observing an MMA event; (b) shadowing a licensed judge or referee at an event; and (c) scoring or officiating on a trial basis under the supervision of the Commissioner or a designated representative.

Then apply. Submit an application subject to the Commissioner's approval. You pay for any costs associated with your own training and testing.

The roles, as the ruling defines them: a judge scores each round of a contest; a referee directs and controls the contest and may stop it based on a contestant's physical condition, a clear mismatch, or any other sufficient reason.

What this means for you

Aspiring MMA judges and referees in Nebraska

Plan for all three steps -- training (or an ABC-certified certificate from elsewhere), a written exam covering MMA generally, the Unified Rules, and Nebraska's rules, and a hands-on trial phase (observe, shadow, then officiate under supervision) -- before your application can be approved. Budget for the costs yourself; the ruling makes the applicant responsible for training and testing expenses.

Promoters and commissions

Officials working your Nebraska MMA events must be licensed through this process, so confirm a judge or referee is properly credentialed before assigning them.

Common questions

Q: Can I skip Nebraska's training if I trained in another state?
A: You can substitute a Certificate of Completion of a judge/referee training program completed in another jurisdiction by a regulatory body or an organization offering ABC-certified training, submitted with your application -- but you still must pass the Commissioner's written exam and complete the trial program.

Q: What does the written exam cover?
A: Your knowledge of mixed martial arts in general, the ABC-ratified Unified Rules for MMA, and Nebraska's rules and regulations pertaining to MMA contests.

Q: What is the trial program?
A: Observing an MMA event, shadowing a licensed judge or referee at an event, and scoring or officiating on a trial basis under the supervision of the Commissioner or a designated representative.

Q: Who pays for the training and testing?
A: You do. The ruling makes the applicant responsible for any costs associated with training and testing for a judge or referee license.

Citations and references

• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,129 -- gives the Commissioner sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction over professional and amateur MMA matches and exhibitions held in Nebraska.
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,139 -- gives the Commissioner authority to issue rules and regulations, including establishing written criteria to grant and revoke licenses, setting license fees, and establishing qualification requirements for judges and referees.
• Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts / Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) -- the ABC-adopted rules and the certifying body referenced for training and the written exam.

Source

• Landing page: https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/legal-information/revenue-rulings-issued-tax-commissioner
• Original PDF: https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/revenue.nebraska.gov/files/doc/legal/rulings/ath_com_2011-3.pdf

Original ruling text

Athletic Commission Ruling 2011-3
October 24, 2011
APPROVED TRAINING AND REQUIRED TESTING FOR AMATEUR OR
PROFESSIONAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (MMA) JUDGES AND REFEREES
Issue.
What does the State Athletic Commissioner (Commissioner) require for an individual to become
licensed as an MMA judge or referee?
Conclusion.
To apply for a license to act as a judge or referee for an amateur or professional MMA contest, you
must complete a judge or referee training program and submit an application subject to approval
by the Commissioner.
Definitions.
Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC). The ABC is a nonprofit organization consisting
of state and tribal commissions from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
which have been charged with the authority and responsibility to regulate MMA contests, as well
as other combative sports competitions.
Judge. A judge is a licensed individual who scores each round of an MMA contest, match,
or exhibition.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA means competition involving the use (subject to any applicable
limitations set forth in the Unified Rules) of a combination of techniques from different disciplines
of the martial arts including, but not limited to, grappling, kicking, and striking.
Referee. A referee is a licensed individual who directs and controls an MMA contest, match, or
exhibition, and who may stop the contest, match, or exhibition whenever he or she deems advisable
due to: the physical condition of contestants; if one contestant is clearly outclassed by his or her
opponent; or for any other sufficient reason.
Unified Rules. Unified rules are the rules adopted and recognized by the ABC for amateur and
professional MMA contests.
Analysis.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,129 grants the Commissioner sole direction, management, control, and
jurisdiction over professional and amateur MMA matches and exhibitions held within Nebraska.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,139 grants the Commissioner the authority to issue rules and regulations
for the administration and enforcement of the applicable statutory sections as he or she deems
necessary. This includes establishing written criteria used to grant and revoke licenses, setting
license fees, and establishing qualification requirements for judges and referees.

Nebraska Athletic Commission, 1313 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102

Athletic Commission Ruling 2011-3

October 24, 2011

Page 2 of 2

The training program required to be completed by a judge or referee applicant may be developed
by the Commissioner, or you may submit with your application, a Certificate of Completion of
a judge or referee training program completed in another jurisdiction by a regulatory body or
organization that offers training certified by the ABC. You must obtain a passing grade on a written
examination administered by the Commissioner that is: designed to test your knowledge of mixed
martial arts in general; the Unified Rules for MMA as ratified by the ABC; and Nebraska rules
and regulations pertaining to MMA contests. The training program will also include the successful
completion of a trial judge or referee program, administered and supervised by the Commissioner
or his or her designated representative. The trial program will consist of the following:
a. Observing an MMA event;
b. Shadowing a licensed judge or referee at an MMA event; and
c. Scoring or officiating on a trial basis as a judge or referee during an MMA event, under the
supervision of the Commissioner or his or her representative.
You are responsible for any costs associated with your training and testing for a license as an MMA
judge or referee.
APPROVED:

James M. Haynes
Acting Athletic Commissioner
October 24, 2011