|
|
|
WrestlingMark.com
State Rules & Regulations
|
Maine Office Of Licensing And Registration
Athletic Professionals
Last Updated 06/06/04
WRESTLING
The commission shall have the sole direction, control and jurisdiction over all professional wrestling matches, shows or exhibitions.
No professional wrestling match, show or exhibition may be held or conducted within this State unless the match, show or exhibition is licensed by the commission and conducted in accordance with the laws and rules of the commission, nor may any closed circuit television showing of a professional wrestling match, show or exhibition be conducted, except under a license issued by the commission.
02 DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
035 MAINE ATHLETIC COMMISSION
CHAPTER 110 WRESTLING
PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY
The intent of these rules and regulations is to provide a framework for the conduct and performance of professional wrestling in all exhibitions subject to the supervision of the Maine Athletic Commission. These rules and regulations delineate the authority of the Maine Athletic Commission and the procedures established by said Commission to implement the statutory law governing the sport of professional wrestling in the State of Maine.
The authority to promulgate these rules and regulations is vested in the Maine Athletic Commission of the Department of Business, Occupational and Professional Regulation pursuant to the terms of Title 8, Chapter 6, Sections 134 and 138 of the Maine Revised Statutes.
DEFINITIONS
1. Wrestling or wrestler refers only to professional wrestling or one who engages in said sport.
2. Exhibitions shall mean any professional show, match or exhibition.
3. Commission shall mean the Maine Athletic Commission.
RULES
1. The Commission may appoint official representatives designated as "inspectors," each of whom shall receive from the Commission a card, authorizing them to act in such capacity when so designated by the Commission. The duties of inspectors will consist of being present at the counting and tabulation of gross receipts for all exhibitions and to assist in the counting of said receipts.
a. All applications for licenses shall be made upon forms prescribed and furnished by the Commission.
b. No wrestling exhibition shall be conducted except in the particular premises specified in the license.
c. All wrestlers, managers, referees, matchmakers, physicians, timekeepers and promoters shall be licensed by the Commission. The annual fees for these licenses are as follows:
(1) Promoter's license fees:
(a) License for a major city including a civic center or other large facility:
Bangor including Bangor Auditorium $100
Augusta including Augusta Civic Center $100
Portland including Portland Civic Center
and Exposition Building $100
(b) All other locations $ 50
(c) A promoter may obtain a license for Bangor, Augusta or Portland which does not cover the city's large facilities as listed in paragraph (a) upon payment of a $50 fee. During the term of that license, the promoter may upgrade the license to include the designated civic center or other facility upon payment of an additional $50 fee, but this change shall not extend the one year term of the original license issued to him.
(2) Other license fees:
(a) Referee $15
(b) Matchmaker $25
(c) Manager $10
(d) Physician $15
(e) Timekeeper $10
(f) Wrestler $15
d. The licensed promoter must report to the Commission in writing within forty-eight (48) hours after an exhibition and state the manner in which payment of contestants and officials has been made. The promoter will be required to state whether contestants and officials have received compensation in the form of cash, check or note, and the amount of compensation received by said contestant or official.
e. The promoter must return a printed form issued by the Commission directly after the exhibition or by registered mail within forty-eight (48) hours of the completion of any exhibition on which must appear the names of the contestants along with the signed statement of a physician attesting to the fact that he examined said contestants within ten (10) hours of the exhibitions and found them to be in good physical condition. The form must contain a signed statement of the promoter stating the results of each exhibition, the name of the referee and the amount of gross receipts.
f. The promoter or promoters of all exhibitions conducted in the State of Maine are required by the terms of Title 8 of the Maine Revised Statutes, Chapter 6, Section 139 to pay to the Treasurer of State, for credit to the General Fund, a tax of 5% of the gross receipts derived from the conduct of said exhibitions.
g. Club Licenses. All applications for club licenses to promoter wrestling exhibitions shall be submitted to the Commission and a reasonable fee shall be established by the Commission upon the granting of licensure.
3. Standards for Issuance of a License
If, in the judgment of the Maine Athletic Commission, the financial responsibility, experience, character and general fitness of an applicant, including, in the case of corporations, its officers and stockholders, are such that the participation of such applicant will be consistent with the public interest and promoter the best interests of professional wrestling, the Commission may grant a license to said applicant.
4. The Commission may suspend or revoke a license or refuse to issue a license to an applicant, if said licensee or applicant for licensure, has committed any of the following acts:
a. Been convicted of a felony; or
b. Consorts or associates with bookmakers, gamblers, or persons of similar pursuits; or
c. Wagers on, or attempts to influence the outcome of any wrestling exhibition; or
d. Commits any fraud or misrepresentation in connection with wrestling; or
e. Is financially irresponsible; or
f. Violates any of the provisions of the licensing law as set forth in Title 8, Chapter 6, section 131-140 of the Maine Revised Statutes, or any rules or regulation promulgated by the Commission to implement said law.
5. In addition to the provisions of Rule 4, the Commission may suspend or revoke any license if the licensee commits any act detrimental to the interests of wrestling and which demonstrates bad faith, incompetency or untrustworthiness, or dishonest, fraudulent or improper dealings.
6. Any wrestler or manager attempting to secure a higher compensation for his services than that names in the contract to which he is a party shall be liable to suspension for a period of time to be fixed by the Commission.
7. An aggrieved licensee or applicant for licensure may appeal any final decision of the Commission within thirty (30) days after date of said decision, to the Administrative Court, as designated in Title 5, Chapter 301 to 307 of the Revised Statutes of Maine.
8. Use of Assumed Names by Wrestlers. Wrestlers may use and be licensed under assumed names provided their given name is revealed on their application for licensure, and appears on the license issued. No person may be a wrestler, under the name of, or a name deceptively similar to, the name of any other wrestler or athlete. Proof of identification must be given, if requested by the Commission.
9. All applications, records or other papers and documents filed or submitted to the Commission at any hearing shall become the property of the Commission.
10. No contestant in a wrestling exhibition shall be paid in full for services prior to the exhibition, and should it be determined by the referee that a contestant does not give an honest exhibition of his skill, payment or remuneration for his services may be withheld by the Commission.
11. The Commission may require any club making an application for wrestling license to furnish a surety bond to the Commission in an amount which the Commission deems adequate to insure reimbursement to purchasers of tickets for any exhibition. One bond may be used in more than one location by a licensee provided that no more than one location covered by the same bond shall be scheduled for an event on any given calendar date.
The surety bond required by this Rule shall be conditions upon payment to the Commission of a sum equivalent to the total sale of tickets in any of the following events;
a. In the event of a failure to hold said main event upon the date advertised unless the same is thereafter held at a subsequent date with the consent of the Commission;
b. In the event of a failure to hold an exhibition at any subsequent date established by the Commission, reimbursement must be made to the purchasers of tickets within fifteen (15) days after the postponement of said exhibition. Such mandatory reimbursement to ticket holders must be ordered by the Commission.
The Commission, may at their discretion, accept cash or a certified check in whole or in part in lieu of a surety bond.
12. a. The Commission shall have the right to examine all tickets, sold or unsold, stub coupons, the financial records of the event, and investigate all other matters relating to the receipts and conduct of the box office and receipts of tickets. The ticket tally must conform to the manifest.
b. All complimentary tickets shall be subject to the 5% gross receipts tax, as delineated by the terms of Title 8, Chapter 6, Section 139 of the Maine Revised Statutes.
c. No one without a ticket will be allowed into the exhibitions unless they are a participant in the exhibitions or an official.
13. Duty of Licensee to Report Offer to Conduct Sham or Collusive Contest.
Whenever any person or party licensed by the Commission is approached with a request or a suggestion that the licensee participate, contribute to, or aid and abet a sham or collusive exhibition, or an exhibition that is not to be conducted honestly and fairly, such licensee must immediately report the entire matter to the Commission. Failure to report or disclose such circumstances shall subject the licensee to disciplinary action on behalf of the Commission.
14. No licensed matchmaker, nor any licensed promoting club, nor any person or party employed or connected with such club shall enter into a contract or negotiate for any exhibition with any wrestler and/or manager of such wrestler, if the license of either has been suspended or revoked by the Commission.
15. A licensed promoting club which has already filed and obtained the approval of the Commission of a contract for the services of a wrestler for an exhibition and thereafter, before such exhibition, the license of said wrestler is suspended or revoked, may continue to have such wrestler participate in the exhibition and to consider that the suspension or revocation will be waived until such wrestler has appeared on such program unless notified otherwise by the Commission.
16. No licensed promoting club will be permitted to conduct any wrestling program under the auspices of, or in conjunction with, any charitable organization, unless such promoting club submits to the Commission the agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the said program, and receives from the Commission, its approval.
17. Examination by Physician. All wrestlers must be examined by a physician designated and approved by the Commission before entering the ring and each such physician shall immediately file with the Commission, a written report of such examination.
18. Physician to be in Attendance. It shall be the duty of every club or promoter to have in attendance at every wrestling exhibition, a physician designated and licensed by the Commission. The physician shall be considered an official for the purposes of these rules and regulations.
19. Referees. At every wrestling exhibition there shall be in attendance, a referee, duly licensed by the Commission, who shall direct and control the match. The referee shall have the authority to terminate a match whenever he deems it advisable because of the physical condition of any contestant, or when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed by his opponent, or for other sufficient reasons. The referee renders the decision as to the outcome of each match.
PREMISES, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
20. The license issued to the promoter or promoting club shall be posted in the box office on the premises where the wrestling exhibitions are taking place and shall at all times be enclosed in a suitable frame so as to be completely visible for inspection.
21. The licensed promoter or club promoting wrestling must provide a stretcher at ringside. The physician in attendance shall provide himself with a stethoscope, manometer, sterile syringe with medication for relieving pain, alcohol, cotton, gauze, ice bag, aromatic ammonia (capsules), and other necessary emergency supplies deemed necessary by the physician.
SPECIAL RULES FOR WRESTLING
22. When Exhibitions Terminate. All such exhibitions shall be terminated by one fall or by two out of three falls and all wrestling contracts shall specify the number of falls for each exhibition.
23. Scoring of Exhibitions. All wrestling shall be scored as follows:
a. In a one-fall match, the wrestler winning the fall within the time limit shall be declared the winner. If no fall occurs during the time limit prescribed, the referee shall render a decision on the exhibition, either calling said contest a draw or awarding either wrestler the decision.
b. In a two-out-of-three fall exhibition, the wrestler first to win the two falls within the time limit shall be declared the winner. If only one fall occurs within the time limit, the wrestler scoring such fall shall be declared the winner. In the event neither wrestler scores two falls within the time limit but each have scored one fall, or neither wrestler has scored a fall, the referee shall render a decision.
24. Wrestling Mats Required for Ring. The mat covering the ring in boxing shows must not be used when wrestling exhibitions are staged. Separate mats conforming to the specifications of the Commission are required.
25. Seating of Spectators. The seats for spectators will be set no closer than ten feet from the sides of the ring.
26. Tactics Forbidden to Wrestlers. Any
unsportsman-like or physically dangerous conduct or tactics by a wrestler during an exhibition, entitles the referee to stop the exhibition and award the decision to the other wrestler.
27. Intermission Between Falls. Wrestlers may be allowed five minutes between falls if the exhibition provides for two-out-of-three falls.
28. Definition of Fall. A fall is scored against a wrestler, when for a court of three, both of his shoulders touch the mat at the same time.
29. Awarding of Falls. The referee shall immediately slap on the back or the shoulder, the wrestler scoring a fall.
30. Procedure When Wrestler Refuses or Is Unable to Continue. When a wrestler refuses or is physically unable to continue an exhibition at the referee's command, the event shall be terminated and the decision awarded to his opponent.
31. Confines of Wrestling. All wrestling must take place within the ropes. Wrestlers deliberately throwing opponents out of the enclosed ring are guilty of a foul, and this may formulate a basis for the referee to award the exhibition to the wrestler who has been fouled.
32. Effect of Wrestler Leaving Ring. No wrestler shall deliberately leave the enclosed ring during the course of an exhibition and if the offense is repeated after a warning has been given by the referee, a penalty fall may be scored against him by the referee.
33. Wrestler's Conduct Toward Third Parties. No wrestler shall molest, strike or abuse any spectator, referee, or other officials.
34. Physical Examination of Wrestler. A physician designated by the Commission shall examine all wrestlers engaging in exhibition prior to their entering the ring and no wrestler shall be permitted to wrestle who is suffering from any illness or disability, which in any way interferes with, or prevents such wrestler from giving a full, complete and satisfactory exhibition of his ability and skill, or endangers his health or the health of this opponent.
35. Concealment by Wrestler of Illness or Disability. No wrestler shall conceal from a physician any known illness or disability.
36. Time of Physical Examination. All wrestlers must present themselves for a physical examination on the date of the scheduled exhibition one hour before the first scheduled exhibition.
37. Tag Team Wrestling. Tag team wrestling is an exhibition between a team of two wrestlers against another team of two wrestlers with a 60-minute time limit for either one fall or the best two-out-of-three falls, with a two minute rest between team falls. Team falls occur when either man from a team has lost a fall. The exhibition shall commence between one man from each opposing team, while their respective partners remain on the apron of the ring outside the ropes and unable to enter the ring unless his partner is defeated, or is able to touch the outside team member's hand to relieve him. The outside partner must have hold of a regulation three-foot double rope with a know in one end and the other end looped over the ring post of his team's corner. At the time of a tag contact between partners, the man outside of the ropes must have both feet on the apron floor and can only reach over the top rope to make the contact. The referee must see to it that the wrestler in the ring, after tagging his partner, retires to the outside of the ring as his partner enters the ring. No more than two wrestlers are permitted to be in the ring at the same time during the exhibition. When a fall occurs, team partners may relieve each other. If a wrestler is unable to continue, his partner must carry on alone, and time out must be taken after an injury, to permit the injured contestant to be removed from the ring. If neither team has been able to win two falls at the expiration of the time limit, the team having one fall to its credit is to be declared the winner. If no falls are scored, a decision shall be rendered by the referee. It shall be a foul for a contestant, while waiting his turn on the apron, to assist his partner or to interfere in any way with the opponent. It shall also be a foul for a contestant while waiting his turn to release his hold on the rope in his corner for any reason whatsoever until officially replaced by his partner or the referee. After one warning of the above infractions, the referee shall disqualify the offender. In all other instances, the rules governing wrestling exhibitions shall prevail.
AUTHORITY: 8
M.R.S.A. §§ 134, 138
32 M.R.S.A. Chapter 115.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 24, 1977 (Filed July 31, 1978)
AMENDED: May 9, 1982 - Section 1 (C)
March 25, 1984 - Section 1 (C)
January 22, 1986
EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION): March 18, 1997
|
|
|
|
|
|
