Register in the ACT as a Controlled Sports Official or Contestant

Apply for registration as a controlled sports official or contestant here.

In order to participate in a registered event, you must be registered in either the ACT or a recognised jurisdiction (NSW, VIC, SA, WA). Some restrictions apply. See below for details.

On this page:

• Contestant Registration
• Official Registration
• Promoter Corporation Registration
• Renewal of Registration
• Fees
• Useful Links
• Contact Us

Contestant Registration

Register as a controlled sports contestant here.

Please ensure you take along the correct forms to your doctor, otherwise your application may be delayed or rejected.

Important notes about contestant registration:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to participate as a contestant in registered events. Applicants that are 17 years old, but will be 18 by the time of the contest, are able to apply.
• ACT residents must be registered in the ACT, however:
  • ACT residents currently registered in another jurisdiction have 12 months to register in the ACT, or until their registration requires renewal. Interstate registrations will be recognised until 10 October 2020.
• Registrations from NSW, VIC, WA and SA are currently recognised for interstate contestants. There is no need to register in the ACT. You registration will be verified with the relevant state.
• Contestants can register for multiple disciplines in their registration. Please note that if you add an additional discipline to your registration after it has commenced, a $50 fee applies.

Medical requirements for contestant registration

All contestants seeking to be registered must undergo a Certificate of Fitness assessment with a registered medical practitioner. After initial registration, your Certificate of Fitness must be redone every 12 months unless you have been directed to do so earlier (for instance, following a medical suspension of your registration).

The Certificate of Fitness assessment (available here in Word or PDF) involves a comprehensive review of your fitness to compete in controlled sports contests, and assesses:

• prior and existing head injuries (including concussions); and
• existing medical conditions that may inhibit your ability to compete;
• risk factors for Blood Borne Viruses (HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C)

Please complete the Certificate of Fitness form and take it to your doctor. You must then upload the completed assessment to your registration application. Please ensure the doctor has declared you as fit or unfit to compete, otherwise your application may be delayed or rejected.

You should also take along a copy of the Blood Testing Form in case your doctor refers you for testing for Blood Borne Virus. Blood testing in the ACT is not mandatory. You and your doctor will assess the risk that you have or may have a Blood Borne Virus and determine if testing is necessary. There is a potential risk of blood borne viruses being transmitted during controlled sports from the bleeding or skin wounds of a contestant with a blood borne virus to other contestants via injured skin or mucous membranes. The generally understood consensus amongst medical professionals is that the likelihood of such transmission is extremely low.

It is recommended that all contestants consider being vaccinated for hepatitis B prior to competing or participating in a controlled sport. Contestants at risk of getting HIV, can also speak to their medical practitioner about using PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help them remain HIV negative. For more information about blood testing in the ACT, please see the Controlled Sports Blood Testing Policy.

Contestant Medical Record Book

Once your registration is granted, you will be issued a Contestant Medical Record Book. You must take this with you to ALL contests to ensure the pre-event medical screening can be undertaken by the attending medical practitioner. This includes contests you compete in outside of the ACT.

IMPORTANT - IF YOU FORGET YOUR MEDICAL RECORD BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO COMPETE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Other Medical Requirements

The Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1) establishes a number of medical requirements relating to contestants. Please ensure you have read and understood the Code of Practice.

Background checking

All contestants must undergo a criminal background check as part of their registration application to determine whether it is in the public interest for the person to be registered (s13 of the Controlled Sports Act 2019). Information received as part of this process will be treated in accordance with the Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1).

Applicants with a criminal history will not be automatically excluded. An assessment will be made in relation to the offence/s or other background information and its relevance to a controlled sports contestant registration application. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us using the details below.

Conduct Requirements

All contestants are bound by conduct requirements outlined in the Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1) (clauses 87 and 88). Please ensure you read and abide by these requirements.

Term of Registration

Registrations are valid for a period of three years from the date they are issued.

Contestant Documents & Links

• Register as a controlled sports contestant
• Certificate of Fitness assessment (please take this to your doctor) (also available in Word)
• Contestant Blood Testing Form (please take this to your doctor - your doctor will decide if it is necessary to perform a Blood Borne Virus screening) (also available in Word)
• Blood Testing Policy (also available in Word)
• Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1)
• Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1)

Official Registration

Register as a controlled sports official here.

What is an official

Under the Act, an official is a:

• judge
• manager
• match maker
• medical practitioner
• promoter
• referee
• second
• timekeeper
• trainer

Anyone performing these roles for registered events, MUST BE REGISTERED either in the ACT or a recognised jurisdiction (NSW, VIC, SA, WA).

Important notes about official registration

• Promoters must be registered in the ACT, regardless of their place of residence.
• ACT residents must be registered in the ACT, however:
  • ACT residents currently registered in another jurisdiction have 12 months to register in the ACT, or until their registration requires renewal. Interstate registrations will be recognised until 10 October 2020.
• Registrations from NSW, VIC, WA and SA are currently recognised for interstate officials (except promoters). There is no need to register in the ACT. You registration will be verified with the relevant state.
• Corporations can apply to be a promoter. For more information about corporation registration, see below under 'Promoter Corporation Registration'.

Conduct Requirements

All officials are bound by conduct requirements outlined in the Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1) (clauses 83 to 86). Please ensure you read and abide by these requirements.

Term of Registration

Registrations are valid for a period of three years from the date they are issued.

Background checking

All officials must undergo a criminal background check as part of their registration application to determine whether it is in the public interest for the person to be registered (s13 of the Controlled Sports Act 2019). Information received as part of this process will be treated in accordance with the Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1).

Applicants with a criminal history will not be automatically excluded. An assessment will be made in relation to the offence/s or other background information and its relevance to a controlled sports official registration application, including for which position/s you apply. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us using the details below

Statement of Skills

A statement of skills needs to be provided for all applicants that intend to be involved in the regulation of a registrable event. This includes a referee, judge, match maker, trainer and timekeeper.

Given the important role these officials have in ensuring the safety and integrity of an event, a demonstrated understanding and experience in the above roles will need to be provided.

A statement of skills can be provided by a National Sporting Organisation, an Authorised Controlled Sports Body, state Combat Sports Authority or an industry recognised combat sports organisation.

A statement of skills must be provided for each category of official that you are applying for - for example, you may apply to be registered official as both a timekeeper and a judge. The statement of skills provided must reflect both categories.

Applicants wishing to be registered as an official in different disciplines (for example, boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai etc.) must provide evidence for each discipline. This evidence can be provided by multiple organisations. It is expected that a statement of skills will provide additional evidence to confirmation of accreditation, experience should also be reflected.

Experience may include time registered in another jurisdiction (including number of events officiated), experience in performing the roles at the non-registrable level, shadowing of a more experienced official, training courses or events.

Official documents and links

• Register as a controlled sports official
• Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1)
• Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1)

Promoter corporation registration

Register as a controlled sports promoter corporation here.

A corporation may apply to be a promoter. Similar requirements apply to individual promoter registration (see above). However, in addition, a corporation application must include:

• the name and business address of the corporation;
• the name and address of each relevant person of the corporation;
• the financial report and director's report for the corporation from the last financial year;
• a declaration from each relevant person for the corporation regarding their criminal background and whether they have ever had an official's or contestant's registration cancelled or suspended; and
• consent form for each relevant person for criminal background checking (PDF) (also available in Word). You must upload consent to the application form for each relevant person.
• photographic ID for each relevant person

Background checking

All relevant persons to a corporation must undergo a criminal background check as part of the registration application to determine whether it is in the public interest for the person to be registered (s13 of the Controlled Sports Act 2019). Information received as part of this process will be treated in accordance with the Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1).

Applicants with a criminal history will not be automatically excluded. An assessment will be made in relation to the offence/s or other background information and its relevance to the application. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us using the details below

Who is a relevant person?

A relevant person to the corporation means -

1. an executive officer of the corporation; or
2. a person who may exercise a relevant power in relation to the corporation

Examples - director, secretary, influential shareholder

Official documents and links

• Register as a controlled sports promoter corporation
• consent form for each relevant person for criminal background checking
• Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1)
• Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2019 (No 1)

Renewal of Registrations

Registrations are valid for a period of three years from the date they are issued. Application renewals follow the same process as a new application. The only difference being that a statement of experience is not required for officials.

You can renew your controlled sports official or contestant registration here.

Fees

* Registration is valid for three years.

Useful Links

Controlled Sports Act 2019

Controlled Sports Code of Practice (2019) No 1

Controlled Sports Public Interest Guidelines 2019 (No 1) - these guidelines explain how applications will be assessed in relation to a person's background screening results.

Controlled Sports Regulation 2019

Promoters - register a registrable event

Contact Us

Contact the Controlled Sports Registrar in Access Canberra, Licencing and Registrations Team: