KRANE Approved Referee Training Seminar
On Saturday, February 20th, 2010 Kevin “the Ref” MacDonald will be holding a full day referee training seminar at Miletich Fighting Systems in Hooksett, NH. This course will begin at 8:30 am and finish at 3:00pm. The morning portion of the seminar will consist of classroom, lecture, and videotape analysis. Following a break for lunch participants will take to the mats and learn the many aspects of refereeing including positioning, submissions, and stoppages.
This course has been developed by Kevin MacDonald and Joe Esposito. Kevin MacDonald is a MMA referee with over 1000 bouts as third man in the cage. He is also a former MMA fighter and Massachusetts licensed EMT. Joe Esposito is a Deputy Commissioner on the MA State Boxing Commission and has more than 35 years of experience in multiple martial arts disciplines. This course has been endorsed by the New Hampshire State Boxing and Wrestling Commission and is certified through KRANE, the international martial arts sanctioning organization with over 40 years of experience in the indusrty.
This class does not guarantee certification rather it is the first step. Upon successful completion of the seminar, participants will be given the opportunity to shadow a professional MMA referee at a live event. After shadowing at an event, the referee candidate will have the chance to referee, under supervision, amateur bouts at live events. After refereeing ten (10) amateur bouts under supervision, the referee candidate can submit his application for full certification as a KRANE amateur referee.
The cost of the course is $125.00 if application is received by February 5th, $150.00 if application is received after February 5th, and $175.00 at the door.
This course is limited to ten (10) participants based on date application is received.
Applicants must have a background in mixed martial arts and have a working knowledge of the terminology, positions, submissions, and escapes common to MMA.
If you are interested, please send an email with your name, address, and phone number to refereekevin@yahoo.com
Once your request is received, you will be contacted and sent an application and waiver.
Kevin the Ref
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 12:23 AM:
Thanks for the interest folks, this class is filling up fast! This is an awesome time to be involved in local MMA. New promotions, new venues. Massachusetts begins sanctioning March 1st and there are already two HUGE shows in negotiations which will put MA in the national spotlight. Maine is slated to come on board this summer. Rhode Island looks to be just a matter of months before hosting their first sanctioned show. In addition to the referee program, we will be rolling out a judge training program very soon as well.
One of the things that MMA has struggled with since it’s inception has been officiating. Here on the local scene over the last few years I am very proud of the job we have done self regulating in regards to safety and fairness. Now, as state commissions will be making the calls to hire officials rather than promoters, it is crucial to stock the pool with qualified, knowlegeable referees and judges. This is where this referee course, and the soon to follow judge course comes in. There are going to be many shows, and no longer will we see the same faces working at all the events. I think it is extremely important that new referees and judges be brought in the right way.
I have found that it is really not feasible to have somebody take a 1 or 2 day class and then be ready to referee professional matches. In professional fights money, safety, and quite frankly carreers are on the line. We owe it to the fighters and the fans to have the most knowledgeable and proficient referees in the cage. Joe Esposito and I have worked long hours on this program and feel it is now ready to roll out to those interested. If you have a background in MMA and have ever felt like you might want to become a referee, I strongly urge you to make the move now. It is not often that you have the chance to get in on the ground level and many people have asked me over the years how to get into officiating. Successful completion of this class will bring you into the fold. As Massachusetts is not currently in a position to allow amateur MMA when the commission first takes over sanctioning, I have talked to all of the New Hampshire promotions. They have all seen the need to bring in more qualified referees and have agreed to allow new referee candidates who go excel in this course to get some experience on their shows.
If you have the skillset, desire, and determination to be an essential part of the fastest growing sport in the country, drop me a line and we’ll open the door for you. Many referee courses I have researched charge two to three times what this is and guarantee nothing other than a piece of paper. With this program there is a direct path to stepping in the cage and seeing if you have what it takes. Thanks and have a great day!
Kevin the ref
refereekevin@yahoo.com
MMA.TEAM
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 12:34 AM:
As of March 1st, it is my understanding that Massachusetts MMA will be regulated. Rumor has it that there will be no more amateur fights. The state will not issue licenses to anybody over 35 years old to fight unless they are grandfathered in. Is there any truth to this or is it just a rumor?
Input would be appreciated.
Thank you,
MMA.TEAM
Kevin the Ref
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 3:01 AM:
Currently, the state cannot sanction amateur MMA just like they cannot sanction amateur boxing. For amateur boxing it must be run through an independent national sanctioning body,USA Boxing. Then, the state only oversees the event, not sanctions it. We are currently working on putting the pieces together to get the amateurs the ability to compete in MA but in may take some time. As far as the over 35 issue, if you have already been competing professionally and you are over 35 and in good health, you should not have a problem. If you are over 35 and have not fought professionally before, you may have to either get licensed first in another state, or be prepared to make a case to the commission which may require letters from your doctor, coaches, sparring partners, etc.
MMA.TEAM
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 7:53 AM:
Kevin THANKS
Hagopian
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 3:24 PM:
Amateur MMA fighting in New Hampshire is available for all amateur fighters. The NH Boxing & Wrestling Commission sanctions amateur and pro MMA fighting. In fact, Combat Zone just held a very sucessful, all-amateur event here last weekend. Also, to fight MMA in NH as either a Pro or amateur, there is a minimum age requirement of 18 years old. No age limit on the other end. We encourage promoters and fighters to come to the Granite State. LIVE FREE OR DIE!
ryan parker
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 4:37 PM:
john, i heard that was a good show. did you get to check it out?
Kevin the Ref
on Jan 22nd, 2010
@ 10:31 PM:
KRANE
Greetings everyone! As the date for the commission to begin sanctioning MMA here in MA draws near, people have begun asking me all kinds of questions. The most common question is in regards to amateur MMA. Currently, the state does not have the authority to sanction amateur MMA. That doesn’t mean they don’t regulate it, they just cannot sanction it. This is the same with boxing. The state regulates amateur boxing by making sure that safety standards are met, but it is USA Boxing who actually sanctions the fights. They keep a strict database of results, standings, and fighter information. It is USA Boxing who grants licenses to the fighters’, reviews fight cards to ensure no mismatches, and makes sure that amateurs do not do anything which could violate their amateur status. They are the absolute nationwide authority when it comes to amateur boxing. Unfortunately, MMA is still relatively new and there is no such group.
Over the last few months when Joe Esposito and I realized the predicament that this would put the amateur fighters and the promotions they fight for into, we started trying to find a way to make it work. The state needs a “legitimate sanctioning body” who will keep the database which licenses all the officials, fighters, corners, and promotions. This sanctioning body will need to ensure that fights are fair, rules are followed, and safety is paramount. To any traditional martial artist KRANE needs no introduction. To anyone else, KRANE began 40 years ago under the title Karate Referees Association of New England. KRANE grew out of a need for legitimate training of officials and an accurate ranking system is the exploding sport Karate industry. What was started locally here in New England soon became an internationally respected sanctioning body holding events all over the globe. Joe Esposito was one of the first inductees into KRANE’s Black Belt Hall of Fame and also a former KRANE President.
Joe reached out to the leadership at KRANE and they couldn’t have been more supportive. They are big fans of the sport and the long standing relationship that Joe had with KRANE makes for a perfect fit. KRANE brings an infrastructure to the table which enables them to bring to amateur MMA what USA Boxing brings to the sweet science.
Since the new Massachusetts Athletic Commission does not officially take form until March 1st, the official presentation to allow KRANE to become the new sanctioning body for amateur MMA in MA has not been made. This could shape up to be a difficult process in that there is no current national amateur MMA sanctioning body recognized in 50 states and that is, ideally, what the commission would want. I feel strongly that we have developed a fantastic amateur scene here in New England. We have great rules, safety standards, and of course fighters. I feel that, with the support of KRANE, New England can once again set the standard. This time, it will be for how amateur mixed martial arts can, and should be run.
Kevin “the ref” MacDonald
Reep
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 11:08 AM:
So I take it the National Amateur Fight League will be out of buisiness?? They are supposed to be having a big show out here in W.Mass in April. Hope things get cleared up by then.
JohnSepulvedaAFO
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 5:09 PM:
If you would like to advertise this class on MMAMonthly.org let me know, i would be happy to post it for you
JohnSepulvedaAFO
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 5:09 PM:
oh, my email is johnsepulvedari@yahoo.com
Jason Franklin
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 6:25 PM:
Hey Reep,
The N.A.F.L. is also waiting along with every other promotion regarding the amateur regulation. That said, we will as we have in the past team up with Hard Hitting Promotions to continue to host professional shows. The next pro card will hopefully be held again in April 2010 in the Hippordome in downtown Springfield.
Our next show is February 20th at the Tyngsboro Sports Center in Tyngsboro, MA.
Jason Franklin
on Jan 24th, 2010
@ 10:53 AM:
Correction from above post:
The NAFL next show is Friday, February 19th in Tyngsboro, MA.
Reep
on Jan 24th, 2010
@ 11:06 AM:
Thanks Jason, I hope everything works out, I’ve got like 5 new very promising amateurs who will be ready to fight by this summer. We’ve been very excited at the prospect of fighting so close to home, in Springfield !!!
Kevin the Ref
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 7:29 AM:
Hey everyone, thanks for all the interest. This seminar is now SOLD OUT. A big thanks and congratulations to those who got their paperwork in right away. We will be running more courses very soon. Stay on northeastmma.net for news about upcoming referee training as well as a judging class late February/ early March. It’s going to be a busy February so I look forward to seeing everyone at all the shows. Support local MMA!!!!!
Kevin
JohnSepulvedaAFO
on Feb 6th, 2010
@ 3:31 PM:
Kevin, if a spot opens up for this i would love to participate, please email me if someone cannot make it