Jo-Anne Newman recalled a match at a regional boxing tournament in which a boxer she and her husband coached was taking a beating.

Noah Newman got on the apron of the ring to ask that the bout be stopped. The referee told him to get off the apron and called security.

As a coach, Mr. Newman had the right to be on the apron to get the bout stopped for the safety of his boxer.

"The referee did not know his job. The chief of officials was called in," said Mrs. Newman, who is an internationally certified referee and judge.

The Newmans told that story during a boxing clinic for current and potential coaches and referees at the North Augusta Boxing Club in Burnettown on Jan. 19.

The Newmans were hosts of the clinic, which was attended by about a dozen people.

"Every two years, they have to attend a recertification. There are rule changes. They have to be updated," Mrs. Newman said.

She said she expected about twice as many participants, but the forecast of snow in the afternoon might have caused some to change their plans.

In one portion of the program, two boxers sparred to give the participants an opportunity to test their knowledge of scoring.

The seminar covered rules for coaches as well as referees.

Sometimes, coaches can be subjected to disciplinary proceedings. For example, a coach who knows that his boxer committed an infraction could be penalized for not reporting it to a referee.

The daylong seminar culminated in a 100-question test.

Reach Charmain Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.