Permits and Contests
Which contests require a permit?
An individual must not hold a combat sport contest unless the person is the holder of a permit to promote the contest. Severe penalties apply to any person who holds a combat sport contest without a valid permit.
All contests which meet the following definition require a permit.
The Combat Sports Act 2013 defines a combat sport contest as a contest, display or exhibition of combat sport:
- to which the public are admitted on payment of a fee, or
- arranged or held on a for profit basis, or
- that is held on premises licensed under the Liquor Act 2007 or the Casino Control Act 1992, or
- where at least one of the combatants is competing for a monetary prize or other valuable reward, or
- that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition,
but does not include a contest, display or exhibition excluded from this definition by the regulations.
Download checklist to assist promoters determine if a proposed activity meets the definitions of the Combat Sports Act 2013 and if a permit is required. This checklist is a guide only and Promoters should seek independent legal advice on this matter.
What type of permit do you need?
There are three types of permit issued for combat sport contests in NSW:
- Professional Permit
- Amateur Permit
- Pro/Am Permit.
A permit may be issued for a single combat sport contest, or two or more combat sport contests, if the contests are held on the one occasion and at the same venue.
Professional permits are required:
- where at least one of the combatants is competing for a monetary prize or other valuable reward, or
- where at least one of the combatants is registered, or has been previously registered, in a registration class applicable to professional combat sport contests for the style of combat sport concerned, or
- where at least one of the combatants has previously been a combatant in a professional combat sport contest for the style of combat sport concerned.
Amateur permits are required for all combat sport contests other than a professional combat sport contest.
Pro/Am permits are required for combat sport contests where a mixture of both amateur and professional contests will be conducted on the one occasion and at the same venue.
Applying for a permit (timeline of requirements)
Not later than 28 days prior to the contest – a registered Promoter must lodge their application for a permit with the Combat Sports Authority.
The application must be completed by the Promoter using the approved form.
The type of information that must be provided at the time of the initial application is as follows:
- the name of the promoter
- the venue of the contest
- the audience capacity of the venue (number of tickets to be sold)
- the date of the contest
- the time of the contest
- the disciplines (sport) to be contested
- the type of permit (amateur, professional or pro-am)
- a valid certificate of currency for Public Liability Insurance (PLI).
- the Approved Amateur Body Combat Sport Contest Approval form.
- Notification of NSW Police.
Not later than 21 days prior to the contest – the applicant must make payment of the application fee for the contest.
Not later than 5 days prior to the contest – the promoter must provide:
- the finalised fight card for the contests showing the combatants, round times, discipline to be contested etc.
- details of the Match-Maker
- details of the Doctor
- an Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan in the manner and form approved by the Authority
- the title of the particular sports rules relating to each combat sport involved in the combat sport contest, in the manner and form approved by the Authority
Permit application fees
| Contest type | Professional contest | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | Up to 500 tickets to be sold | $850 |
| 501 - 2,000 tickets to be sold | $2,000 | |
| 2,001+ tickets to be sold | $5,000 | |
| Amateur | 201+ tickets to be sold | $400 |
| 51 - 200 tickets to be sold | $250 | |
| Less than 50 tickets to be sold | $100 |
Approvals required before a permit is issued
Additional approval required for Amateur or Pro/Am permits – the Approved Amateur Body is required to approve the contest before a permit may be issued.
Frequently asked questions
Contests, including weigh-ins, must be held in accordance with all Orders made under the Public Health Act 2010 (the Public Health Orders). Promoters, combatants, industry participants and venue operators are required to comply with the Public Health Orders in place at the time of a contest or when training and sparring.
While the Authority does not enforce or regulate the Public Health Act 2010 it encourages promoters to work with venue operators to ensure contests are held in accordance with Public Health Orders. Promoters should ensure combatants placed on a fight card, and industry participants attending the contest, satisfy the requirements of the Public Health Orders, including any relating to vaccination requirements, so that contests run safely and smoothly.
The Authority will continue to impose a condition on contest permits that a copy of each COVID-19 safety plan developed in regard to, or in connection with, a contest must be submitted to the Office of Sport no later than (5) five days before the contest. This condition is imposed to assist the Office of Sport determine the allocation of combat sport inspectors for the contest.
Advice for the sport and recreation sector developed by the Office of Sport that outlines current Public Health Order restrictions for sport and exercise activities is available through the COVID-19 Information Quick Link on the Authority website.
Additional information is available at the NSW Government COVID-19 website.
Amateur bodies approved under the Act (an AAB) appoint and monitor the performance of referees, judges and timekeepers (ring officials) to amateur contests in accordance with cl. 47 of the Combat Sports Regulation 2014.
The Combat Sports Authority of NSW appoints ring officials to professional combat sport contests held in NSW. A range of factors are considered when appointing ring officials to professional contests to ensure it occurs fairly and assists officials to maintain their skills and experience. These factors include:
- whether the ring official holds the appropriate registration class and level of experience for contests on the fight card
- the availability of ring officials
- the number of contests for which the ring official has been appointed in the calendar year
- the location of the contest, distance to be travelled and cost to the promoter
- whether suitably registered ring officials have already been appointed to a contest (Pro/Am) by an AAB and that they are appropriately experienced to officiate professional contests on the fight card
- the number and level of contests on the fight card
- whether a contest has been deemed a significant contest for the purposes of the Act.
Appointments often cannot be formally made until the contest permit is granted and the final fight card lodged by the promoter. To assist ring officials, the Combat Sports team will wherever possible make tentative offers two weeks before a contest.
An overseas ring official (a person not ordinarily resident in Australia) may be appointed to a contest deemed to be a ‘significant contest’ by the Authority.
A combat sport contest determined by order of the Authority and published on the Authority website as being a significant contest for the purposes of s.62 of the Combat Sports Act 2013. The Authority will consider requests from promoters and make orders on a case by case basis after considering the type, level and public interest in the contest.
As outlined in Authority Rule 6, the promoter must make payment of the fees as outlined in the fee schedule (below) to all ring officials appointed to professional contests prior to the commencement of the first professional contest. The promoter must, where applicable, provide transport for officials to and from the airport and provide any meals reasonable required during the ring official’s stay in addition to the fees applicable in the fee schedule.
Standard promotion
|
Referee |
$195 (each) |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
$177 (each) |
Promotion including a State, National or Regional Title contest
|
Referee |
$312 (each) |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
$236 (each) |
Promotion including a Commonwealth Title contest
|
Referee |
$389 (each) |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
$295 (each) |
Promotion including International Combatants (Non-Title contests)
|
Referee |
$312 (each) |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
$236 (each) |
Promotions including an official World Title Elimination contest
|
Referee |
Rate determined by relevant International Sanctioning body |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
Rate determined by relevant International Sanctioning body |
Promotions including a World Title contest
|
Referee |
Rate determined by International Sanctioning body |
|
Judges and Timekeepers |
Rate determined by International Sanctioning body |
Travel fees (To/From Sydney - Flat rate)
|
Wollongong |
$41.00 |
|
Gosford |
$53.00 |
|
Newcastle |
$65.00 |
Distance based travel fees (in excess of 320 km total)
|
Base rate |
$67.00 |
|
PLUS |
|
|
Distance rate |
0.53 cents per kilometre in excess of 320km travelled |
|
PLUS |
|
|
Accommodation and meals |
Arranged and paid by the promoter |
The dress standards applicable to registered industry participants attending a combat sport contest are described in Authority Rule 24. The Authority Rules are available here.
No distinguishing badges, pockets, names, logos, trademarks, distinctive signs etc of any kind is to be worn by a referee, judge or timekeeper except where prior approval of the Authority has been granted. Requests for approval must be made via combatsports@sport.nsw.gov.au. The Authority will consider requests on a case by case basis to determine whether the request, if approved, would conflict with the objects of the Combat Sports Act 2013 or Government policy, create a conflict of interest or affect the impartiality of ring officials. Other considerations will also be considered on a case by case basis. Requests must include a colour image of the badge, pocket, name, logo, trademark, distinctive sign etc and the size as it will appear on the clothing.
The Authority checks and approves combatants on the fight card lodged by the promoter for the purposes of clause 23(b) of the Combat Sports Regulation 2014 (Regulation) after confirming the combatant is appropriately registered under the Combat Sports Act 2013 (Act) and has provided the Authority a current serological clearance and certificates of fitness, or satisfies an exemption provision.
It is the role of the matchmaker to match the combatants and the attending medical practitioner to determine if they are fit to engage in the contest after conducting a pre-contest medical examination. As outlined in clause 47(c) of the Regulation, the approved amateur body for the contest must also implement its risk management policies and procedures in relation to the contest.
It is not the role of the Authority to give any special or additional permission for contests to occur once it has approved the combatants on the finalised fight card.
Note
The rule that prescribes the minimum resuscitation equipment that must be at each combat sport contest in NSW has been amended. Please refer to Resuscitation Equipment Requirements at combat sport contests.
Does this activity require a permit? (Checklist) (PDF, 345.14 KB)