Is Your Club Covered? What Every Buhurter Needs to Know

We all know the thrill of combat — the clang of steel, the push of the wall, the moments you fight for your team. But behind every tournament, every demo, and every training session… is something less exciting but totally essential: insurance.

Don’t yawn. Stick with us — because this affects every single one of us.

What Your Membership Really Means

The Australian Medieval Combat Federation (AMCF) holds a national public liability policy that protects all affiliated clubs across Australia. This policy doesn’t cover you individually – but it does protect your club, its events, and its volunteers – only if:

• The event is sanctioned by AMCF

• All participants are paid members

• Gear meets safety standards

  
  

Your registration is the thread that ties you to that legal coverage.

Buhurters in full armour participate in an intense training session, perfecting their skills.

So… Who Actually Needs to Register?

All of us. If you’re part of a club, and you’re:

• Fighting

• Training

• Acting as a Marshal

• Squiring

• Holding steel

• Helping out

  
  

Then yep — you need to be a member.

No AMCF membership? No weapons. No exceptions. That includes softkit, public displays, private events, and yes — your mate’s demo at the local medieval fair.

Let’s Talk Tiers

There are two membership tiers to consider when you join AMCF:

• Tier One: This is your all-in access to AMCF. Everyone in a club needs this.

• Tier Two: You train or compete in armour? You need this upgrade.

  
  

You don’t have to guess what you need — the site does it for you. If you’re only on Tier One, it’ll show you the Tier Two upgrade option when you log in at buhurt.org.au/membership.

Armored fighters clash fiercely in a medieval combat tournament, demonstrating skill and valor amidst the crowd's anticipation.

When Do You Need to Be an AMCF Member?

Memberships run from January 1 to December 31 each year. So if the new year has started, your renewal should be done before you return to training, demos, or compete with your club.

Club Organisers: Sanction Your Events

This is big. Even if your whole team is registered, the event itself needs to be sanctioned through AMCF to be covered by our group policy.

If it’s not? No cover. No excuses.

Make sanctioning part of your event planning checklist – not a last-minute fix. Having a list can help keep you organised:

• Sanction your event through AMCF.

• Make sure every participant is registered.

• Check weapons and shields are in good condition.

• Confirm armour meets minimum standards – especially neck protection.

• Don’t let anyone pick up a weapon unless they’re listed in the Members Page, with the right badges.

  
  

Buhurters honing their skills in a focused training session at the local club.

How to Check Membership Status

You don’t need a spreadsheet. Just visit: buhurt.org.au/members

Search by preferred name and look for:

• ‘2025 AMCF Member’ = Tier One

• ‘2025 Fighter = Tier Two

  
  

If it’s not there? Time for a quick message before the Tournament.

TL;DR — Do the Right Thing

This isn’t about paperwork. It’s about protecting the sport we love, the clubs we belong to, and the people we fight beside.

So – before you train or fight, check your status.

If you want to check or upgrade your membership, visit buhurt.org.au/membership.

See you in the List!