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Modified March 1999

5. REFEREE IN CHARGE

(a) If he takes charge of a game already in progress, to ascertain the state of the game. If the players disagree, he must settle the dispute as a Referee on Appeal.
(b) To give his attention entirely to the game and to act as an ever-vigilant adversary. The presence of a Referee in Charge neither relieves the striker of his obligation nor deprives the adversary of his right to warn that a questionable stroke is about to be played or to draw attention to any error that may have been committed.
(c) To take up the most favourable position for adjudicating the fairness and effect of a questionable stroke. The Referee in Charge should not go on to the court unless a questionable stroke is about to be played.
(d) To decide all questions of fact and law, subject to the right of either player to appeal to the Tournament Referee under Regulation 4(a). When adjudicating whether one ball is wired from another the benefit of any doubt should be given to the claimant.
(e) On request, to give any information to any player concerning the state of the game at any time. However, a decision whether one ball is wired from another may not be given unless a player is claiming a wiring lift at the start of a turn.
(f) To state at his discretion or if appealed to what the law on any matter is. Such information may be given before any stroke likely to be affected is played.  He may not otherwise advise a player. He  must not state whether a ball has been moved or shaken when a wiring lift may ensue unless asked by a player.
(g) To explain to a player who has committed a fault the nature of the fault, either at his discretion or on request.
(h) To correct the setting of hoops, peg and boundary lines unless the position is critical, in which case no correction may be made until the position has ceased to be critical, except when a replay has been granted under Law 51.
(i) At his discretion, to repair any special damage on the court.
(j) To penalise any player for breaches of the Laws or other blameworthy conduct as best meets the justice of the case.  In the last resort, he may disqualify a player.  These powers should be exercised sparingly and any player aggrieved by a decision of a Referee may appeal to the Tournament Referee under Regulation 4(a).
(k) To do anything else necessary to discharge his duties as a Referee in Charge.