The Eagle DS Referee Certification Course for Light Contact Combat. In our system the referee's primary role is to guide, not to punish — fighters perform better and learn faster when they feel coached rather than policed.
Six modules. Written and scenario assessment. Certified to officiate all six Combat Games Series styles.
Traditional light contact suffers from the same problems: too many rigid rules applied too harshly, referees who over-penalise, and fighters who learn to game the system rather than learn to fight well. The Eagle DS model is built on a different foundation.
01
Coaching Over Punishment
Redirect before you penalise.
02
Clarity & Consistency
Every command, every time.
03
Safety First
Calibrate contact from the opening bell.
04
Progressive Learning
Treat errors as teaching moments.
05
Authority with Empathy
Firm, calm, and human.
A Different Model
From Enforcer to Educator.
Old Model
Eagle DS Model
Referee as rule-enforcer
vs
Referee as mentor and educator
Penalty-first approach
vs
Guidance-first; penalty as last resort
Fighters fear mistakes
vs
Fighters learn from mistakes
Heavy penalisation for minor errors
vs
Verbal coaching for minor errors
Referee reacts to problems
vs
Referee prevents problems proactively
The Referee's Golden Rule
"Over-coach early, ref less later. Set the tone in the first 30 seconds. Every minute you invest in coaching at the start saves three minutes of controversy at the end."
Progressive Discipline
The Four-Tier System.
Every infraction follows the same path. The system is designed to educate first and penalise only when education has been demonstrably ignored.
Tier 1
Caution
Verbal or gestural coaching reminder. For an accidental or borderline infraction with no malicious intent.
Tier 2
Final Caution
Formal warning to both fighters and corners. For a repeated infraction, or a first clear intentional one.
Tier 3
Point Deduction
Remove one point; notify judges and table. Applied when an infraction occurs after a Final Caution.
Tier 4
Disqualification
Stop the bout; award to opponent. For continued misconduct, or a severe immediate breach.
When to skip tiers: jump straight to Point Deduction or Disqualification only when an infraction is clearly severe and intentional — a deliberate headbutt, an intentional groin strike, an attack after the bell. Intent is always assessed before the tier is chosen.
Course Structure
Six Modules. One Standard.
Work through each module in order, completing the knowledge-check questions before moving on. Trainers use the scenario cards for live drills and debrief sessions.
01
Philosophy & Role of the Referee
Why we coach through refereeing — the mentality that defines every decision on the mat.
02
Controlled Contact & Calibration
Setting and maintaining the contact standard from the opening bell, with the right verbal cues.
03
Progressive Discipline & Fouls
The four-tier system, intent assessment, and the ring-exit protocol.
04
Scoring System & Judge Criteria
The 10-point must system, what scores and what doesn't, and ground-engagement rules.
05
Style-Specific Rules
A quick-reference for all six styles, including the K1 slap-knee rule and Hybrid Light transitions.
06
Practical Scenarios & Drills
Real situations for written assessment and live training — correct actions, reasoning, and common mistakes.
Assessment & Certification
Earn the Credential.
Certification is assessed across three parts — completed independently. Pass, and you're eligible to officiate every style on the Combat Games Series circuit.
Part 1 · Multiple Choice
20
Ten questions testing core knowledge of philosophy, scoring and discipline.
Part 2 · True / False
10
Rapid checks on the rules that most often trip officials up.
Part 3 · Scenarios
30
Five real situations marked on action, communication and reasoning.
Pass mark: 42 / 60 (70%). Assessment includes both the written test and scenario evaluations. On completion you receive Eagle DS Referee Certification — eligible to officiate all six Combat Games Series styles.
Educate · Protect · Lead
Step Onto the Mat.
Officials are the backbone of a safe, credible circuit. If you want to learn to run a bout the Eagle DS way, get in touch and we'll walk you through enrolment and the next certification intake.