Page 63 - New Silat Rules 2020

Appendix 1 – Wasit Aba-Aba (Hand Signal)

Officials are important in every sport, but they have an additional significance in combat
sports. A mistake by an umpire in a baseball game may cost a team a win, but a mistake by a
referee in mixed martial arts can have much more dire consequences.

Etiquette of a Pencak Silat Wasit Juri

1. When you “think” you saw something, you did not.

▪ Missing a call is never a positive thing. But most assigners, coordinators and
observers will tell you that failing to call something that did occur is more
acceptable than calling something you are not absolutely positive happened.

▪ See what you call and call only what you see. Period.

2. Keep the game moving.

▪ What is not acceptable is for officials to be the cause of a game going long.

3. When in doubt, do what is expected.

▪ In any event, do not try to run away from the play or shrug your shoulders.

▪ When a call is necessary, do what is expected and make the call or ruling with a
clear conscience.

4. Answer questions, not statements.

▪ Statements do not need an answer from officials.

5. Get the game going after a mistake or ejection.

▪ While participants will be forced to move on when action resumes, officials should
keep the mistake/ejection in the back of their mind.

6. Do not insert yourself or disrupt game rhythm if it is not necessary.

▪ Do not be that official looking for something, any kind of violation or penalty, to
make it look like you are “in the game.”

▪ The better officials know when to stay out of the way and call only what needs to
be called.

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