content-left-bg.png
content-right-bg.png

Boxing training

WebPartZone1_1
PublishingPageContent

​​​Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in boxing training as an activity to support curriculum delivery, including skipping, shadow-boxing, foot work, hand work, bag work and mirror work.

Note: This activity does not include any form of heavy contact boxing or martial arts.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline (e.g. w​eight training and weightlifting​) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Medium risk
Non-contact boxing training activities involving specialised movement skills and sequences.
High risk
Non-competitive boxing training activities involving light contact.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline. Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. venue manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

WebPartZone1_2

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must not allow any form of heavy contact boxing or martial arts
  • must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
  • must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
  • must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.

Additionally for high risk activities:

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is required. Consult concussion management resources.

Medium risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

  • a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching boxing training activities
  • an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with demonstrated capability in teaching boxing training activities.

High risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

  • a registered teacher with demonstrated ability to conduct the activity. Examples of demonstrated ability include
    • qualifications in physical education or equivalent demonstrated capability
    • a qualification from a recognised activity provider
    • another method determined by the principal
  • an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with current Bronze level coaching accreditation from Boxing Australia or similar.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Confirm sport structures (e.g. bag stands) are regularly inspected to assess and maintain structural integrity. See safety alert—risks associated with metal sporting equipment.

All equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

A process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity must be established and employed.

A maintenance schedule (e.g. checking for damage, repairing) must be established and enacted for all equipment. Consult Equipment Maintenance Records (EMR) template.

A retirement schedule must be developed to replace equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. footwear, hand wraps, boxing gloves/mitts, kicking shields).

Each student must provide their own towel.

Equipment hygiene must be maintained (e.g. using paper towels and antiseptic spray or antiseptic wipes).

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards Control measures

Biological hazards
Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)

Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.5MB) for first aid and hygienic practices.

Sanitise gloves at every change between activities.

Disinfect equipment at the end of each session

Environmental conditions
Weather, sun, humidity

Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity outside, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers.

Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing (e.g. long sleeved shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside.

Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions

Facilities and equipment hazards Control measures
Activity location Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability

Faulty or dangerous equipment

Check footwear to ensure they provide sufficient protection for the feet. Look for non-slip soles, no buckles or zips and no sharp-edged soles.

Remove shoes for kicking activities.

Check equipment for damage before and during the activity

Playing surface

Conduct a check to identify and manage surface hazards. Clear the playing surface from loose items or debris. Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up.

Cover/fill playing surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds.

Consistently monitor surface hazards for water, moisture and bodily fluids (e.g. sweat) which make the surface slippery

Student considerations Control measures

Manual handling
Lifting and carrying equipment

Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying

Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue

Consider student body type and ability when determining training programs.

Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities.

Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion.

Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks

Injury Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment

Student issues

Monitor shared facilities e.g. change rooms, public access areas.

Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery) before participating.

Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing (e.g. pockets) do not pose a hazard. Teach techniques that are suited to the student's body type, age and ability.

Allocate student groups according to ability, age, size and maturity.

Adopt a training program that is based on a hierarchical training system that slowly increases the difficulty of techniques as the student progresses.

Ensure students only execute moves taught in class or discussed with the supervisor.

Emphasise good posture in performance of all techniques.

Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical, such as epilepsy)

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

WebPartZone2_1
WebPartZone2_2
WebPartZone2_3
WebPartZone3_1
WebPartZone3_2
WebPartZone3_3
WebPartZone3_4
WebPartZone4_1
WebPartZone5_1
WebPartZone5_2
WebPartZone6_1
WebPartZone6_2
WebPartZone7_1
WebPartZone7_2
WebPartZone8_1
WebPartZone8_2
WebPartZone9_1
Last updated 24 September 2025