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Getting Started

Officiating is a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of competition at all levels of boxing.

Officiating is challenging, rewarding, and a great way to be involved in the sport of boxing. Officiating helps equip members to develop a range of skills that can be utilised outside of boxing in everyday life.

Whether you would like to officiate at local competitions or national events, there is a range of officiating roles where you can put your knowledge and passion for boxing to use.

What does Officiating involve?

There is a range of different roles of officiating in boxing, which determine what responsibilities an individual may undertake at competitions and events:

Responsible for allocating points at the end of each round, during a bout, based on each boxer’s performance in the ring in respect of the England Boxing Technical and Competition rules

  • Responsible for regulating the number and duration of rounds as well as the duration of the rest period between rounds during a contest.

Responsible for ensuring that the England Boxing Technical Competition rules are followed by the boxers during their bout.

  • Responsible for all technical and competition related issues as the appointed official in charge.

How can I get involved in officiating?

If you want to help out at competitions, then our Grade C Judge and Timekeeper course is the starting role for your officiating journey.

Express Your Interest
  • Contact support@englandboxing.zendesk.com to express your interest in becoming an official. Once your enquiry is received, our team will put you in touch with the Regional Official Educator who will provide you with information on the next official’s course in your region. Alternatively you can look in the courses section on the Locker.
Create an Account on the Locker
  • To proceed, you’ll need to create an account on the Locker, to book onto the course. This is also required to track your official status and keep your information up to date.
Complete the Officials Course
  • After booking the course and completing the officials training, the Regional Official Educator will help you gain experience by officiating at local shows and events. Once the educator feels you are ready, you will be officially passed and receive your qualification certificate.

This course is run over 2 days.

You must:

  • Be 16 years of age.
  • Be affiliated with an England Boxing Club.
  • Be able to communicate effectively in English (listening, speaking, reading and writing).

This qualification enables you to be ringside to allocate points during competitive bouts and regulate the number and durations of rounds.

Click here for the Qualifications page.

This course is not time restricted and dependent of the individual’s competence.

You must:

  • Be 19 years of age.
  • Have been an England Boxing Judge for 12 months and judged a minimum of 400 bouts.
  • Be affiliated to an England Boxing Club.
  • Hold an enhanced DBS (Valid for 3 years).From 5th January 2026.
  • Be able to communicate effectively in English (listening, speaking, reading and writing.)

This qualification enables you to be in the ring to ensure boxers are maintaining the correct rules during the bout.

Click here for the Qualifications page.

This course is not time restricted and dependent of the individual’s experience and competence.

You must:

  • Be 18 years of age.
  • Be affiliated to an England Boxing Club.
  • Have been an England Boxing Judge for 12 months and judged a minimum of 400 bouts.
  • Hold an enhanced DBS (Valid for 3 years).
  • Be able to communicate effectively in English (listening, speaking, reading and writing.)

This qualification enables you to be the official in charge at ringside to ensure the correct rules are maintained during the bout.

Click here for the Qualifications page.

What’s involved in an England Boxing Officials Course?

England Boxing official’s courses are typically run over 2 days (one weekend) and cover a range of modules and topics suitable for the level you are studying for.

Each course hosts 15 candidates.

Finding an Officials course

New courses are added regularly across the England Boxing regions. If no courses are available in your area, please keep checking The Locker for updates.

To check available courses:

  • Visit The Locker and navigate to the Courses tab.
  • You will be able to search for a course by region or type of course.
  • If a course is full, you will be unable to book it.
  • You may book a course in any region, even if it is outside your own.

Officials Upgrade Pathway and Progression Standards

England Boxing maintains a nationally coordinated but regionally delivered upgrade pathway to support the development and progression of boxing officials from entry level through to national and international appointments.

Responsibility for upgrades from Grade C to B lies with Regional Associations, who manage this process in accordance with the standards and expectations of the England Boxing Officials Selection Policy. This ensures consistency, fairness, and transparency across regions while enabling flexibility to meet local needs.

The cost to upgrade from Grade C to Grade B is £30 

Progression to Grade A and the Major Panel is managed centrally by England Boxing, through the Technical Rules Sub-Committee, which oversees selection based on merit, performance, and potential. Regional appointment secretaries may submit nominations, but final decisions rest with the National Governing Body (NGB).

If any current Official fails a upgrade, or a Grade C course participant is unsuccessful in any part of the course, they are not permitted to retake the upgrade/course for 6 months. This is to allow for personal development to pass the criteria needed. Transfers to another region to take a reassessment are not allowed. The reassessment must be taken in the region of failure.

Officials’ Logbooks

Officials’ logbooks will now be stored digitally on each member’s profile. Supervisors and Ringside Recorders will be able to update logbooks as officiating experience is gained. Previous logbooks should be uploaded as a photo, and from 1st February, all new experiences must be recorded digitally. Members may be asked to present their digital logbook to an Officials Educator when required. Supervisors and Ringside Recorders can refer to the Step-by-Step Guide for how to complete the logbook.

UK Armed Forces

The UK Armed Forces (UKAF) conduct their officials’ courses independently of England Boxing. While the course structure differs, UKAF will continue delivering these courses as the established process following EB procedures. UKAF members who choose to attend a civilian course must follow the standard civilian course procedures. UKAF courses will be designated as closed courses on The Locker, ensuring exclusive access for UKAF members to book their course. For further details or course bookings, UKAF members should check The Locker platform or contact support@englandboxing.zendesk.com.

Home Nations

England Boxing recognise that many boxing officials, though recognised by their Home Country, are presently operating outside of the jurisdiction of England Boxing. As the National Governing Body for the sport of Boxing, England Boxing take very seriously the responsibility to ensure that Boxing Coaches operating in UK are valid, current, and competent to deliver the sport safely.

England Boxing will recognise the status of Officials from the home nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, only by compliance with the following procedure:

  1. The applicant must firstly obtain an individual membership on the Locker.
  2. Have a valid UK DBS (from 1st January 2026), uploaded to the Locker.
  3. Email their coaching qualification certificate to support@englandboxing.zendesk.com who will validate your credentials with your home nation federation.
  4. You will be assigned as a member of England Boxing Affiliated Officials.
  5. Once validated and all qualifications are current you will be able to apply for your Officials license.

Cancellations & Changes

  • If you need to cancel or change your booking, you must provide at least 7 days’ notice in writing.
  • Late Cancellations: Requests made within 7 days are only accepted due to health/medical reasons, with a medical note or written evidence.

For any queries or to submit requests please contact:

support@englandboxing.zendesk.com

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