If you want to be a professional ref, you've got to know more than what you pick up at your own dojo or training facility. You want that comprehensive knowledge that marks refs of the caliber you see in the UFC.
But how do you know what you need to know?
That's the point of the PQS.
Hi. I'm Cyn Mobley, retired Naval officer and owner of Bushido Press. Last year, when they were legalizing MMA in Tennessee, I got to talking with a few friends about the need for high-quality referees and judges.
As I listened to them talk, I realized that my experience qualifying as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard USS Jouett (CG-29) gave me the expertise and insight into qualifications that my civilian friends didn't have. If you've been in the military, you know what I mean.
So I went home and spent the next six months developing the Mixed Martial Arts Referee Personal Qualification System, or PQS. It's a comprehensive checklist, broken down into functional areas, of fundamentals, systems and applications. It's got a sign off sheet in the back. You can get an experienced ref to sign you off on each of the items or you can use it as a personal checklist. It's a tool.
You probably know that getting licensed as a ref is up to the state. Each state has different requirements but it's usually not a complicated form. Mostly they're worried about your experience and any conflicts of interest. I've included some sample cover letters that you can download and modify if you like.
So use this PQS to make sure you're really ready to apply. If you know all the answers, then you probably are. Or you will be after you research the questions you don't know.
I figure if you're smart enough to be a ref, you're smart enough to figure out the rest. All you need are the right tools.
Give me a shout if you need anything else.