A permit to conduct a combat sports contest is required under the Combat Sports Act 1987 and various terms, conditions, rules and policies apply.
How to get a permit
Promoters must apply to the Combat Sports Commission for a permit to hold a combat sport contest under the Combat Sports Act 1987.
Permit requirements
Permits are approved with terms and conditions that the promoter must meet.
Policies
Policies apply to the contest, contestants and industry participants.
A permit application must be submitted not less than 42 days before the contest following the steps below and the Combat Sports Commission may approve or refuse to issue a permit in accordance with the Combat Sports Act 1987.
Contact us to check if you need a permit under the Combat Sports Act 1987 and discuss proposed contest dates.
If you require a permit, you must first register to become an approved promoter using the CSC portal.
After approval, sign into the portal, select Apply > Part 1— Permit and submit your application not less than 42 days before the contest.
You'll need to know event details like proposed venues, insurance, security, finance information, head official, doctor, contest rules and submit the contest layout area.
A permit fee must be paid when applying for a permit and the fee is based on the number of admission tickets you intend to make available for the contest.
If the permit is approved you'll get a Part 1 certificate but you will need to submit a Part 2 Contest Card not less than 21 days before your event.
(Combat Sports Regulations 2004, regulation 17E, Schedule 3)
A contest card must be submitted not less than 21 days before the contest following the steps below and the Combat Sports Commission may approve or refuse any matched bout in the interest of health, safety or integrity.
Promoters or matchmakers can sign into the portal and submit a contest card by selecting Apply > Part 2 — Contest Card. The content card must be lodged not less than 21 days prior to the contest.
Include contestant names, interstate or international status, contest records, weight classes, number and length of rounds, title bouts, corners (trainers and seconds names) and all officials names.
Once submitted, the contest details and each bout must be approved by the CSC and you'll receive an Event brief. Additional bouts or changes must be requested directly via email (not via the portal).
When your contest card is approved you'll receive an event brief and will be advised if a bout cannot be approved or an individual is not registered. The event brief is an important document containing details you have provided including venue, start times, weigh-ins, bouts, weight classes, rounds, titles and names of all contestants and industry participants. It is your responsibility as the promoter to check that all the details are accurate (at all times) and request any changes in writing.
You cannot conduct a contest unless a permit has been issued under the Combat Sports Act 1987 (section 47(1)) and promoters must comply with any term, condition or restrictions placed on a permit, under (section 47(2B)).
A penalty of $12,000 applies under the legislation.
The Combat Sports Commission may issue a permit with conditions or refuse a permit in the interests of health and safety and can suspend or cancel a permit (before or during a contest) if conditions aren’t met or if needed for health and safety reasons.
Promoters must meet all permit requirements, including consideration for the following 5 key categories.
Promoters are responsible for meeting several deadlines and it recommended promoters do not delay in commencing these requirements. Minimum time frames are provided as a deadline, not a target and to avoid unexpected delays promoters should target much earlier dates.
Add your proposed date to see when you need to complete each requirement.
Last date to submit
A permit application to conduct a contest Part 1 must be lodged with the CSC not less than 42 (clear) days before the date of the contest.
A contest card Part 2 listing all the bouts must be lodged with the CSC not less than 21 days before the date of the contest.
Any new athlete you list on a contest card must register with the CSC no later than 5 days before the contest.
The event brief details must be finalised 3 days before the date of the contest with no further bout changes accepted.
Promoters are responsible for various health and safety requirements, as follows.
Check persons listed on your contest card are registered with the CSC (or other approved authority) and their medical documentation is up-to-date.
Ensure for each bout that contestants are reasonably matched for weight, competence and experience and check that their contest records are accurate.
Notify the nearest hospital emergency department about your contest and assess ambulance access, in advance.
Read the Department of Health guidelines for events and register your event with the Department of Health if more than 500 people expected.
Promoters are responsible for the the supply of the contest ring or enclosure and requisite equipment, as follows.
Contest rings or enclosures and surrounding areas must meet technical specifications prescribed in the CSC contest rules, including a mandatory 2.5m exclusion zone and structural engineer's certificate every 3 years.
Supply and set-up ringside tables and seating (approved layout) for officials and provide corner stools, time-keeper equipment [bell and timers] and medical equipment [oxygen supply unit and stretcher] as listed in the CSC contest rules.
Supply the correct gloves and padding for each bout noting that different weighted gloves may apply to different weight classes and padding (head, elbow, shins or chest) is dependent on contestant age and experience.
Promoters are responsible for organising a venue and selecting, engaging and paying a requisite number of registered officials, ringside medical practitioner and security.
A minimum of 6 (ideally 7) registered officials, including 2 referees, 1 timekeeper and 3 judges are required. If more than 20 bouts, then 8 officials are required. Promoters must pay officials a minimum fee.
A bout cannot start without a doctor present. The doctor must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and approved by the CSC to act as a ringside doctor.
Security personnel must be provided at the contest and are to ensure that only authorised personnel and nominated officials are permitted into the exclusion zone around the ring or enclosure.
Promoters are responsible for organising the contest and weigh-in venues and ensuring they comply with venue operator requirements or venue laws such as liquor licensing.
Promoters are responsible for conducting the contest and requirements can be found in the legislation, contest rules and permit conditions.
Promoters must attend the weigh-in and be present at the contest and not permit contestants to compete unless they have completed their weigh-in and medical check before the contest.
The contest must be conducted in accordance with the approved rules nominated by the promoter but CSC health and safety rules still apply and take priority over sanctioning body rules.
A bout cannot occur unless at least 2 Commission appointees are present and approved doctor and 3 judges seated ringside. Contestants must provide their Contestant Record Book to compete.
Standard conditions apply to all contests, such as contests must be concluded by midnight and the CSC may impose additional or unique permit conditions dependent on the nature of each event.
(Combat Sports Regulations 2004, regulation 19, Schedule 4)
Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport246 Vincent Street, Leederville WA 6007PO Box 8349, Perth Business Centre WA 6849Telephone 61 8 6552 1604Email the Combat Sports Commission