Any Junior Referee (10-16 years of age) can officiate matches within his/her own age group (i.e., a 10-12 year old Junior Referee can referee 12 year old & under division matches; a 13-16 year old Junior Referee can referee 16 year old and under division matches). Junior Referees must officiate under the supervision of a certified National and/or International referee at all times.

The lead referee on each mat (Jury) shall be responsible to ensure that a Junior Referee successfully works on a team (team = referee + 2 judges) with certified referees. At the discretion of the Jury and/or Chief Referee, a Junior Referee may be allowed to officiate matches in the next higher age group (i.e., a 10-12 year old Junior Referee may referee 16 year old and under division matches; a 13-16 year old Junior Referee may referee division matches of any age or rank), if that individual demonstrates the maturity and ability to do so to the Jury, based on that day’s level of performance.

Junior Referees may have alternate uniforms (black or white short-sleeve polo with gray or black dress pants and black socks), rather the traditional judo referee uniform (black suit jacket, gray dress pants, black tie, and black socks).

REGIONAL REFEREE PROGRAM:

Referees at local, regional and state tournaments and scrimmages. Minimal age of 17 years old. Brown belt or higher level requirement. A Regional Referee can referee all age/rank divisions. Certification is required with the successful completion of a written and practical test, and fee ($30 or as specified) payable to the Yudanshakai.

All Regional Referees (over the age of 17) shall be allowed to officiate matches with judges who are certified Regional, National, or International referees. The lead referee on each mat (Jury) shall be responsible to ensure that a Regional Referee successfully works on a team with certified referees. At the discretion of the Jury and/or Chief Referee, a Regional Referee may be allowed to officiate matches of higher level, but must be under the supervision of a certified National and/or International referee at all times.

Regional Referees are highly encouraged to dress in the traditional judo referee uniform (black suit jacket, gray dress pants, black tie, and black socks), unless the event specifies an alternate uniform.

Regional Referee must be certified at a minimum of one full calendar year (unless a written waiver by a State or Yudanshakai Referee Director or Committee Chair), which should include a signed certificate. Upon completion of one full calendar year of certification as a Regional Referee, an individual is eligible to take the USA Judo National Referee Examination at an authorized examination site.

REFEREE MANAGEMENT, TRAINING, AND OVERSIGHT:

It is the responsibility of the Yudanshakai’s Referee Director, Chair, and/or Committee, to ensure that proper training, procedures, and skills are taught to the Junior and Regional Referees. Proper training and oversight is critical to an individual’s success and ability to grow as a judoka and judo referee. Also critical to the development of judo ref- ereeing is to continually seek better knowledge, skill, and judo ability, which includes the proper teaching of judo etiquette and traditions of Kodokan judo. Judo refereeing is simply one path to better understanding of the sport of judo and so continual practice of the sport is critical to one’s success. Further, all students of judo should be encouraged to seek good understanding of how to teach and coach judo students so that as refer- ees, individuals have a balanced approach to learning all aspects of the sport.