INTERNATIONAL AERIAL COMBAT SPORT FEDERATION

Judging Standards

IACSF-STD-004 | Version 1.0 | Effective Season 2026

Document No.	IACSF-STD-004
Effective Date	January 1, 2026
Approved By	IACSF Board of Directors
Maintained By	Judges Panel & Competition Rules Committee
Review Cycle	Annual — prior to competitive season
Related Documents	IACSF Competition Rules; IACSF Technical Code; IACSF Safety Manual (IACSF-MAN-001); IACSF Bylaws Art. X §10.7, Art. XVI

This document establishes the official judging standards for all IACSF-sanctioned events. It defines the authority, structure, and qualifications of the Judges Panel; the scoring criteria and systems applicable to each recognized discipline; procedures for conducting judging at events; conflict of interest requirements; and the process for handling scoring disputes. Compliance is mandatory for all IACSF-certified judges and all sanctioned events.

NOTE. Judging decisions made in good faith in accordance with these Standards are final on matters of in-competition scoring and cannot be overturned through competitive protest. Administrative errors in recording or calculating scores may be corrected by the Chief Judge at any time before results are declared official.

CHAPTER 1 — JUDGES PANEL STRUCTURE AND AUTHORITY

1.1 The Judges Panel

The IACSF Judges Panel is the body responsible for all judging functions at sanctioned events. The Panel operates under the authority of the Board of Directors and reports administratively to the Board through the Chief Judge. The Panel is subject to the oversight of the Competition Rules Committee on matters of standards development.

1.2 Chief Judge

1.2.1 Appointment and Term

The Chief Judge is appointed by the Board of Directors and serves a two-year term, renewable once consecutively. The Chief Judge must hold current IACSF Judge Certification at the highest available grade and must meet at least one of the following experience requirements immediately prior to appointment: (a) served as a certified IACSF judge for a minimum of three (3) years; (b) held a senior officiating role (referee, chief official, or equivalent) in a nationally or internationally recognized sporting federation for a minimum of five (5) years; or (c) practiced as a licensed attorney or legal officer with demonstrated experience in sports arbitration, rules adjudication, or administrative law for a minimum of five (5) years. In cases where option (b) or (c) is relied upon, the Board shall require the candidate to complete an accelerated IACSF Judging Assessment before appointment is confirmed.

1.2.2 Duties of the Chief Judge

• Maintain and update the Judges Panel roster and certification records;

• Establish and administer the judge certification and training program;

• Assign judges to sanctioned events in consultation with Event Directors;

• Preside over all scoring disputes and protests at events where personally in attendance;

• Issue clarifications and rulings on the application of these Standards;

• Submit an annual report to the Board on Panel composition, certification status, and recommended improvements;

• Appoint an Event Head Judge for each sanctioned event.

1.3 Event Head Judge

Each sanctioned event must have a designated Event Head Judge appointed by the Chief Judge. The Event Head Judge is the senior judging authority on-site and is responsible for:

• Organizing and overseeing the judging panel at the event;

• Conducting pre-event judge briefings;

• Making final in-event rulings on scoring disputes in the absence of the Chief Judge;

• Ensuring score sheets and electronic records are accurate and complete;

• Submitting completed judging records to the Chief Judge within seven (7) days of the event conclusion.

REQUIREMENT. The Event Head Judge has final on-site authority on all judging matters during competition. No team official, organizer, or IACSF officer other than the Chief Judge may override an Event Head Judge ruling during active competition.

1.4 Panel Judges

Each competition session must be staffed with a sufficient number of certified judges to ensure coverage of all active scoring positions. Minimum panel sizes are:

Discipline	Minimum Judges	Recommended
Full-Scale Aerial Combat	3	5
Full-Scale Dogfight Simulation	4	6
UAS Combat	3	5
UAS Dogfight Simulation	4	6
Mixed-Class Open Division	4	6
Exhibition / Demonstration	2	3

If the minimum judge count cannot be maintained due to unforeseen circumstances, the Event Head Judge may authorize competition to continue with reduced panel size and must document the reason. A panel of fewer than two judges may not score a competitive session.

1.5 Timing and Scoring Director

Each sanctioned event must designate a Timing and Scoring Director responsible for operating all timing and data capture systems, entering scores, and generating official result sheets. The Timing and Scoring Director works under the direction of the Event Head Judge and must not simultaneously serve as a scoring judge.

CHAPTER 2 — JUDGE CERTIFICATION

2.1 Certification Grades

IACSF judge certification is awarded in three grades reflecting experience and scope of authorization:

Grade	Title	Authorized Events
Grade 1	Provisional Judge	Club and local events only, under supervision of a Grade 2 or Grade 3 judge.
Grade 2	Certified Judge	All sanctioned events up to and including National-level events. May serve as Event Head Judge at Regional and below.
Grade 3	Senior Certified Judge	All sanctioned events including Championships. Eligible to serve as Event Head Judge at any event level.

2.2 Certification Requirements

2.2.1 Grade 1 — Provisional Judge

Prerequisites	Minimum 18 years of age. Demonstrated knowledge of IACSF Competition Rules and these Standards (written assessment, minimum 75%).
Training	Completion of IACSF Judging Orientation Course (online, minimum 6 hours).
Mentorship	Minimum 3 events observed under a Grade 2 or Grade 3 judge before exercising independent judging responsibilities.
Certification Term	1 year. Upgrade to Grade 2 expected within 2 years; failure to upgrade results in lapse and re-entry at Grade 1.

2.2.2 Grade 2 — Certified Judge

Prerequisites	Current Grade 1 certification. Minimum 6 events judged (at least 3 as lead judge) within the preceding 24 months.
Examination	IACSF Judging Written Examination — closed book, minimum 80%. Covers: all discipline scoring systems, protest procedures, conflict of interest, record-keeping.
Practical Assessment	Scored assessment by Chief Judge or designated Senior Certified Judge at a live event. Minimum rating: Satisfactory.
Certification Term	2 years. Renewal requires 4 events judged in preceding 24 months and renewal assessment (open-book).

2.2.3 Grade 3 — Senior Certified Judge

Prerequisites	Current Grade 2 certification. Minimum 12 events judged (at least 4 as Event Head Judge) within the preceding 36 months. Minimum 3 years as a Grade 2 judge.
Examination	IACSF Senior Judging Examination — closed book, minimum 85%.
Practical Assessment	Assessment by Chief Judge at a Championship-level or National-level event. Minimum rating: Proficient.
Board Review	Application reviewed and approved by Chief Judge and one member of the Competition Rules Committee.
Certification Term	2 years. Renewal requires 4 events judged in preceding 24 months, annual refresher module, and continued good standing.

2.3 Certification Renewal and Lapse

• Renewal applications must be submitted no later than 30 days before expiry;

• Judges who allow their certification to lapse must re-qualify at the grade immediately below their lapsed grade;

• Certification may be suspended or revoked by the Chief Judge following a finding of misconduct, consistent and material error, or failure to comply with these Standards;

• A judge whose certification is suspended may not officiate at any sanctioned event during the suspension.

2.4 Continuing Education

All certified judges must complete the IACSF Annual Judging Refresher module each calendar year. The module covers: rule changes for the current season, scoring system updates, lessons learned from the prior season, and any new discipline formats. Completion is a condition of certification renewal.

CHAPTER 3 — IACSF CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING STANDARDS

3.1 Scope of This Chapter

The scoring standards in this Chapter apply exclusively to IACSF-regulated Championship events — events for which the IACSF is the direct sanctioning body and which carry IACSF Championship status (World Championship, Continental Championships, and IACSF Open Series events). They do not apply to events that the IACSF sanctions or provides judges for on behalf of a Member League, affiliated organization, or independent organizer. Those events are governed by the scoring system of the event organizer, and IACSF judges assigned to them apply that system in accordance with Chapter 4 of these Standards.

NOTE. For non-Championship sanctioned events: the Organizing Entity must provide the applicable scoring system and rules to the Event Head Judge no later than forty-eight (48) hours before the first competition session. IACSF judges apply the provided system; Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of these Standards govern judge conduct, conflict of interest, and disputes regardless of which scoring system is used.

3.2 General Scoring Principles — IACSF Championships

Scoring at IACSF Championship events is designed to reward combat effectiveness, tactical execution, aircraft control, and compliance with the applicable competition format rules. The IACSF Competition Rules, published annually and incorporated by reference into these Standards, specify the precise point schedules, time bonuses, and elimination rules for each Championship competition format.

NOTE. Where objective scoring systems — electronic hit-detection, precision timing, or telemetry — are available and functioning, they take precedence over subjective panel scores. Subjective judging supplements objective data and does not override it unless a technical malfunction is declared by the Event Head Judge.

3.3 Judged Criteria Framework — IACSF Championships

For competition formats at IACSF Championship events that include subjective judging, the panel evaluates competitors across the following criterion categories. Point values, weightings, and applicable formats are defined in the IACSF Competition Rules for each event.

Criterion Category	What Is Being Assessed
Combat Effectiveness	Successful engagement outcomes: confirmed simulated weapons employment, kill confirmations via approved system or visual flags, defensive break effectiveness, and time-on-target. Highest weighted category in combat formats.
Tactical Execution	Use of three-dimensional maneuvering, energy management, position advantage gained and sustained, and use of the authorized engagement envelope.
Aircraft Control & Precision	Smoothness, energy conservation, recovery from adverse positions, and maintenance of safe separation from terrain, boundaries, and other aircraft.
Rules Compliance	Adherence to engagement rules: altitude limits, authorized maneuvers, correct disengagement, and proper use of approved systems.
Sportsmanship & Conduct	Professional conduct in the air, compliance with judge signals, and observed fair play. Deductions may be applied for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The relative weighting of these criteria, and any additional criteria specific to a competition discipline, are published in the applicable IACSF Championship event program no later than sixty (60) days before the event.

3.4 Kill and Hit Confirmation — IACSF Championships

At IACSF Championship events, a simulated kill or hit may be confirmed by: (a) electronic hit-detection system indication; (b) visual smoke, paint marker, or flag deployment per the approved system; (c) unanimous consensus of the judging panel on a clear, sustained position of advantage with no defensive break; or (d) target pilot or operator signaling acknowledgment per the applicable competition protocol. Any disputed confirmation is reviewed by the Event Head Judge whose decision is final during competition.

3.5 Penalties — IACSF Championships

Penalty types, values, and the procedures for applying them at IACSF Championship events are specified in the IACSF Competition Rules for each Championship format. All penalties are assessed by the Event Head Judge or designated penalty judge and are recorded on the official penalty log. Penalty disputes are handled under the protest procedure in Chapter 5.

NOTE. Specific penalty schedules are not reproduced in these Standards. They are maintained in the IACSF Competition Rules to allow timely updates without requiring amendment of this document.

CHAPTER 4 — JUDGING PROCEDURES

4.1 Pre-Event Judge Briefing

The Event Head Judge must conduct a judge briefing for all panel judges before the first competition session each event day. The briefing must cover:

• The specific competition format and applicable scoring criteria for the day's sessions;

• Judge assignments and positions;

• Communication protocols (signals, radio, score sheet procedures);

• Any rule clarifications or event-specific modifications approved by the Chief Judge;

• Conflict of interest declarations (each judge must verbally confirm no conflicts);

• Protest and dispute handling procedure.

4.2 Judging Positions and Coverage

Judges must be positioned to observe the competition zone clearly and safely. The Event Head Judge assigns specific observation positions for each judge. For full-scale events, judges must be located in an elevated or clear-sightline position with an unobstructed view of the primary engagement area. For UAS events, judges must be positioned behind the pilot/operator station, with a clear view of the competition zone.

CAUTION. Judges must not relocate from their assigned positions during an active competition session without authorization from the Event Head Judge. Unobserved portions of a session must be flagged on the score sheet.

4.3 Scoring Records

4.3.1 Score Sheets

Every judge must complete an individual score sheet for each competition session or engagement, as applicable. Score sheets must include: event name, date, session/round number, competitor identifiers, individual criterion scores, total, and the judge's signature. Score sheets are official documents and may not be altered after submission to the Timing and Scoring Director except by formal correction process authorized by the Event Head Judge.

4.3.2 Averaging and Calculation

Where multiple judges score a session or engagement, individual scores are averaged arithmetically. The highest and lowest scores are not dropped unless the specific competition format rules provide otherwise. Calculation is performed by the Timing and Scoring Director and verified by the Event Head Judge before results are announced.

4.3.3 Official Results

Results are declared official by the Event Head Judge after: all score sheets are collected and verified; calculations are confirmed; and the protest period (see Section 5.2) has expired without a valid protest, or any protest has been resolved. Once declared official, results are transmitted to the IACSF Commissioner within twenty-four (24) hours.

4.4 Electronic and Automated Systems

Where electronic timing, hit-detection, or data capture systems are used, the Timing and Scoring Director is responsible for system setup, calibration, and data integrity. Any system malfunction must be reported immediately to the Event Head Judge, who determines whether: the session should be re-run; manual judging should substitute; or a technical interruption should be declared and the session paused.

CHAPTER 5 — DISPUTES, PROTESTS, AND CORRECTIONS

5.1 Nature of Final Decisions

A judge's subjective assessment of the quality, execution, or effectiveness of a competitor's performance is a judging decision and is not subject to protest. The following are not grounds for protest:

• Disagreement with the score awarded for any judged criterion;

• The weight given to any factor within a judged criterion;

• The comparative assessment of two competitors' performances.

5.2 Grounds for Protest

A competitor or team official may file a protest only on the following grounds:

• A mathematical or data entry error in the calculation or recording of scores;

• A judge scored a session or engagement in which they had a declared or undisclosed conflict of interest;

• A penalty was applied for a violation that was not witnessed by a qualified judge or confirmed by an authorized system;

• A competition session was scored using the wrong scoring criteria for the applicable discipline or format;

• An equipment malfunction affecting scoring was not properly declared or handled per Section 4.4.

5.3 Protest Filing Procedure

Who May File	The competing pilot/operator or their designated team official. Only one protest per team per session.
Time Limit	Protests must be filed within fifteen (15) minutes of the posting of provisional results. No protests are accepted after results are declared official.
Format	Written, on the IACSF Protest Form, signed by the filing party. Verbal protests are not accepted.
Protest Fee	A protest fee per the IACSF Fee Schedule must accompany the form. The fee is refunded if the protest is upheld, forfeited if dismissed.
Submission	To the Event Head Judge via the designated protest desk.

5.4 Protest Resolution

The Event Head Judge reviews the protest and must issue a written ruling within thirty (30) minutes of receipt during active competition, or before results in the affected session are declared official. The Event Head Judge may:

• Dismiss the protest as outside the permitted grounds or time limit;

• Uphold the protest and correct the error in score or application of rules;

• Refer the matter to the Chief Judge if the Event Head Judge was personally involved in the disputed decision.

The Event Head Judge's ruling on a protest is final during the event. Post-event review is available only for allegations of serious procedural irregularity, submitted to the Chief Judge within 72 hours of the event conclusion. The Chief Judge's determination on post-event review is final within the Judges Panel. Further appeal on grounds of procedural error lies with the IACSF Appeals Committee.

5.5 Scoring Corrections

Mathematical errors, data entry errors, or system errors discovered at any time before results are declared official must be corrected by the Timing and Scoring Director upon written authorization from the Event Head Judge. After results are declared official, corrections may only be made by the Chief Judge. All corrections must be documented with the original and corrected values and the reason for correction.

CHAPTER 6 — CONFLICT OF INTEREST

6.1 Mandatory Disclosure

A judge must disclose, before each event and before each competition session, any circumstance that could reasonably be perceived as affecting their impartiality. Disclosable circumstances include:

• The judge is a current member, official, sponsor, or paid employee of a competing team;

• The judge has a close personal relationship (family member, business partner, domestic partner) with a competing pilot or team official;

• The judge has a financial interest in the outcome of the competition or in a competing team;

• The judge has previously had a documented dispute with a competitor that remains unresolved;

• Any other circumstance the judge believes could affect their impartiality.

6.2 Recusal

A judge who has a conflict of interest with respect to a specific competitor must recuse themselves from scoring any session in which that competitor participates. Recusal must be disclosed to the Event Head Judge before the session begins. A recused judge may not observe the session from a judging position. The Event Head Judge assigns a substitute judge where available.

WARNING. A judge who fails to disclose a known conflict of interest is subject to immediate suspension by the Chief Judge and referral to the Judicial and Disciplinary Committee.

6.3 Undisclosed Conflicts Identified During or After an Event

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified during or after an event, the Event Head Judge (during the event) or Chief Judge (post-event) must review whether the conflict materially affected the scoring. If a material effect is found, the affected scores may be excluded and recalculated without that judge's input. If recalculation is not possible, the session may be declared void and re-run if competition is still ongoing, or the result may be adjusted based on the remaining judges' scores.

CHAPTER 7 — JUDGE CONDUCT AND ETHICS

7.1 Standards of Conduct

All certified IACSF judges must at all times:

• Apply the scoring criteria of these Standards objectively and consistently;

• Maintain confidentiality of deliberations, individual score sheets, and protest discussions until results are declared official;

• Refrain from discussing their scores or assessments with competitors, team officials, or media during an active competition session;

• Decline any gift, hospitality, or benefit from a competing team or competitor beyond nominal event hospitality;

• Report any attempt to influence their scoring to the Event Head Judge or Chief Judge immediately.

7.2 Prohibited Conduct

• Scoring or participating in a session in which the judge has an undisclosed conflict of interest;

• Communicating score sheet information to any competitor or team before results are posted;

• Accepting payment, gifts, or other benefits from any team in connection with their judging duties;

• Misrepresenting qualifications or certification status;

• Wilfully inaccurate scoring or deliberate falsification of score sheets;

• Public criticism of competitors' performance during active competition.

7.3 Disciplinary Action

Violations of Section 7.1 or 7.2 may result in:

• Formal warning;

• Suspension of certification for a specified period;

• Permanent revocation of certification;

• Referral to the IACSF Judicial and Disciplinary Committee for broader sanctions.

Complaints regarding judge conduct must be submitted in writing to the Chief Judge within fourteen (14) days of the event. The Chief Judge reviews the complaint, may conduct an investigation, and issues a written determination. The Chief Judge's determination may be appealed to the IACSF Appeals Committee within thirty (30) days.

END OF DOCUMENT — IACSF-STD-004

Judging enquiries: judges@iacsf.org | Protest submissions: per event Head Judge at the protest desk