Judo Nova Scotia

Basic Refereeing Skills

With Judo Nova Scotia Chief Referee Co-Chair Doug MacAulay

Course developed and based on the work of Richard J. Celotto - IJF A referee and
the USA Judo Referee Commission
Objectives
 Basics of Refereeing
 Duties & Responsibilities 10:00 AM
 Characteristics & Abilities Info Session
 Basic Procedures
 Signals (Gestures) 12:00 PM
Lunch
 Rule Application
 Procedures 1:00 PM
 Scoring Practical Session
 Distance & Movement 3:00 PM
 Penalties End of Day
 Referee Exam Criteria
 Hands on Practice
Basic Principles
Duty and Responsibility
 Safety – # 1 Duty
 Environment and Mat Area
 Injury

 Contestants – #1 Focus
 Have No Ego
 Conduct Fair Contest, Administer Fair Judgment
 Ensure Fair, Honest & Accurate Outcome
 Listen to Chief Referee & Make Corrections

 Fairness – #1 Responsibility
 Avoid Bias
 By Association & Overt/Covert Acts

 MUST ensure Fair and Level Playing Field

 Characteristics & Abilities
Anyone can become a referee. Over many years, the characteristics
and abilities below have been identified in many of the best referees.
Referees that are not strong in the following traits can develop
and/or learn them. They are developed over a life-time of life
experiences, interpersonal interaction, work, play, and family
environments.

Confidence
 Time + Knowledge + Practice = greater confidence
 Important for developing presence on the mat
 Comes from assuredness in knowing and applying refereeing rules
 Many NEW referees usually do not have this trait and needs to be
built up over time with experience at sanctioned tournaments and
clinics like this one
Characteristics & Abilities
Calmness Under Stress
 Not easy – will take many years to develop
 Comes from confidence in the knowledge of how rules are applied
 Especially during critical fast action situations
 Also called EQUANIMITY

Stage Presence
 Hardest trait to build – a balancing act
 Project yourself in confident knowledgeable manner
 Similar to leading – aura of confident assuredness
 Do not be over dramatic – do such a good job as to not be noticed
by coaches or spectators
 NEW referees should not think about this category until they
develop the first 2 traits
Characteristics & Abilities
Deliberateness of action (Conviction or Determination)
 Decisions made quickly and deliberately
 No wavering or displays of confusion
 Takes time to master
 Do not worry about this in the beginning, we expect NEW referees to be
correct and slow, not wrong and fast
Leadership (Control)
 You are in charge on the mat
 This doesn’t mean being bossy
 Maintain a dignified judo like environment
 Respect the contestants
Flexibility (Adaptability)
 All referees prepared for changing rules/environment
Receptivity
 All referees open and receptive; willing to improve
Characteristics & Abilities
Jika No Kansei (Reach for full potential)
 Work more tournaments
 Attend Clinics and Seminars
 Seek Evaluation
 Continually learn skills and knowledge
Sense of Fair Play
 After Safety, fairness is #1
 This is mentioned many times because it’s important
Focus (Concentration)
 Loss of focus creates judgment errors and safety issues
Honesty
 Be honest in your duties
Discreet
 Be careful discussing contests with other referees, coaches or
contestants
 Refer to situations for learning purposes but do not mention names
 Referees never bad mouth other referees
Characteristics & Abilities
Intestinal Fortitude (Guts)
 Develop a high level of confidence in your calls, ESPECIALLY THE
PENALTIES
 Make every call without influence
 What are some possible influences you need to avoid?
 Caliber of fighters
 Loud coaches
 Environment
 Be polite to everyone, even those not polite to you
 Professionalism
Reliability
 Always be on time, Referees are NEVER late
 Be present for your mat rotation
 If you have to leave early inform the chief referee
 If you are invited to a tournament by email you should respond – it’s the
polite thing to do
Circles of Awareness

Venue +

Contest
Area

Self

Contestants
Circles of Awareness

Matte
Judges

Referee Focus
Ways to Gain Judo Experience for
Referees
 Learn the Rules - https://www.ijf.org/documents
 Judo – Must practice judo on the mat
 Competitive Experience
 Teaching Experience
 Coaching Experience
Referee Pathway

IJF
Worlds/Olympics
PANAM
National
Inter-contential
A
B (Shodan)
C
Provincial
A (Ikkyu)
B
C
Dress and Decorum
Appearance, Dress, and Behaviour
 Dress and Decorum
 Be Clean, Well Kept, and Without Body Odour
 Uniform – Everyone wears the same – White Judogi may be allowed
at smaller tournaments for competitor-referees.
 Be Humble – You have an important role in the judo community but
don’t forget you are a part of a big machine, no more important than
the next moving part. Ex. Competitors, coaches, minor (technical)
officials, etc…
 Ask questions – make it a habit to be inquisitive about rules you don’t
understand.
 Never Speak Negatively – We all make mistakes.
 Speaking to Coaches – At the beginner level, direct all coaches to
the chief referee. Avoid one on one with coaches. The coach is
supposed to file a grievance with the jury not the officials. Become
friends with coaches, but remember they are looking our for the
welfare and fairness for their players.
 As a referee you represent the province, the country, the sport, and
then yourself – act accordingly.
Procedures
Duties and Responsibilities
 Opening & Closing
Starting Your Day
 Referee Meeting
 Important notes, ask questions, Team Assignment, Team
Order, Radio Check

 Mat Inspection
 Evenness, Cracks, other dangerous situations
 Watch judoka warming up – look for problems now rather
than during the contest

 Score Keeping Inspection

 Minor officials, equipment check, back up equipment,
Flags, Medical

 Team Bow In
 Team position: 1 referee on the mat, 2 referees viewing,
radio communication (no chatter, business only, one
word)
 Chief referee/jury will intervene only when necessary.
 Start the First Match
 After Team Bow in
• Position to start the first match
• Facing Joseki
• 4 feet from the contest area
• Between Blue and White
• Check Scoreboard and Judges

 As the Contestants enter

• Check judogi closely
 Sleeves, cuffs, jewelry, hair, blood/stains,
sash/belt, blue/white gi
• Blue should be on your left

 Invite them in
• Palms flat, face up
• 45 degrees
Start of Match
 Bow at marks (Without prompting)
 This bow is required and should be
monitored for proper and respectful bow; it
is a sign of respect to one’s opponent and is
expected judo etiquette.
 They take one step into Shizen Hontai
 Announce “Hajime”
 During the contest:
 Maintain Distance and Position
 Use Peripheral Vision with judges/safety
 Never directly look at a judge prior to giving
a score (it weakens your confidant
appearance)
End of Match
Gachi (Kachi) – Awarding of the Match
 After Ippon/Time expires announce
“Soremade” (no gesture)
 Have the contestants go to their marks and
dress (They usually do this on their own)
 Go to start position (4 feet) and check
scoreboard (you should know without looking)
 Step forward with left foot, then right foot and
gesture to the winner (3-4 seconds). Not
above the head or below the shoulder.
 The contestants will bow
 Lower your arm and step back with right, then
left foot
 Contestants can shake hands if they choose
 They enter the way they came in, then leave
the competition area
During the Match
Gestures, Scoring and Procedures
 Gestures
 The following gestures are the signals MOST used by
referees.
 One should be familiar with all gestures.
 Gestures are to be held for a minimum of 3 sec, a
maximum of 5 sec.
 Remember to link gestures with the corresponding
voice commands.
 Practice them in a mirror.
 Scoring Ippon
 Ippon = will be given when the contestant throws his
opponent on the back, applying a technique or
countering his opponent’s technique, with
considerable ability with maximum efficiency
 Maximum Efficiency =
 Ikioi – momentum with both force and speed.
 Hazumi – skillfulness with impetus, sharpness
or rhythm
 Criteria for Ippon: Speed, Force, On the back, Skilful
control until the end of the landing
 Rolling is considered Ippon only if there is no break
during landing.
 Tap out
Scoring Waza-ari
 Waza-Ari = will be given when the four ippon
criteria are not fully achieved
 Rolling can be considered Waza-ari if there is
a break during landing or does not cross the
back.
 2 Waza-ari = one Ippon (Waza-ari-awasete-
ippon)
 Landing on both elbows or two arms is
considered valid = Waza-ari
 Landing on one elbow with immediate
continuation on the back = Waza-ari
 Landing on one elbow and one hand is
considered valid = Waza-ari
Cancel Score

To cancel a score
o Look at the minor officials at the score
table.
o With one arm, hold up the score you
want to cancel.
o With your free arm, wave off the score
above your head (2-3 seconds).
o Gesture and announce the correct
score, if necessary.
 Matte
“Stop”
o Palm flat, fingers together.
o Palm facing the score table.
o Elbow straight.
o Arm held shoulder height.
o Relax other hand.

When?
o Timing is important.
o Avoid during a throw or the beginning of an action.
o Must not call matte in the middle of a valid arm
lock or choke. (See rules on Kansetsu and Shime
waza)
o If one opponent lifts another off his back, matte is
immediate.
o In any case where one contestant has an
advantage over the other, matte should be called.
o A stoppage of action outside of competition area.
o Before most penalties.
Osaekomi
 Palm flat, fingers together, palm facing the mat
 Arm held at 45 degrees in front of the body,
step forward with same leg
 Relax other hand
 Make sure score table can see, rotate if you
have to

Key Points
 Control!
 Uke on their back, one or both shoulders
 Tori on top from a kesa or shiho position
 Not controlled by Uke’s legs
 Started inside the contest area
 10 Seconds = Wazari
 20 Seconds = Ippon
Toketa
 Position, Mobility and Posture
Distance
 Normal Tachi Waza distance = 10 feet
 Best distance is around 9-12 feet
 Adjust for size of contestants
 Normal Ne Waza distance = 5 feet
 Best distance is around 4-6 feet
 Close view of the action without
getting in the way
 Further away there can be a loss of
control
Osaekomi Position
 Be at the head of Tori
 Stand at the open face side
 This is generally the best view of the
contestants
Movement
 Refereeing is still judo
 Move with economy of movement
 In an osaekomi spin, the referee
should reverse direction and let them
come around
 Use the entire contest area, safety
area when absolutely necessary
 Position, Mobility and Posture
Movement
 It’s impossible to stay perpendicular
but that is the idea, as much as you
can
 Referee muse be a shadow of the
competitors
 Move at a slower speed than the
contestants
 Allow the players to determine the
speed and direction of the fight, MUST
let them play their game
 Analyze their actions and determine
the best place to stand
 Don’t waste movement, resist the urge
to move like a player
 Never be off balance:
 Avoid big steps
 Avoid Arm swinging
 Avoid side and cross steps
 Avoid Shuffling
 Move in an assured and confident
manner
 Regal without pomp
Osakomi
Kesa Gatame Yoko Shiho Gatame

OK

Ideal OK

Ideal
OK

OK

Not Good Not Good

Osakomi
Tate Shiho Gatame Kami Shiho Gatame
OK Not Good
Ideal
OK OK

OK
Ideal Ideal

OK OK

Not Good Not Good

 • Watch the face, move in and out for a better look
• Watch the hands and feet for tapping and “drop”
Shime-waza • Never go down on two knees – safety Issue
• No pressure put on chin or face
Koshi-Jime Hadaka Jime
Not Good Not Good

OK OK

Ideal Ideal

OK
Ideal
OK Next slide for ideal Not Good
point of view
 • Ensure that only the elbow is involved
Kansetsu-Waza • Position to watch the free hand for tapping

Ude Garame Juji Gatame

OK Ideal Not Good

OK

OK

Ideal
OK
Not Good
 Shido Hansoku-make
 Slight Infringement
 Grave infringement
 Preceded with  Indirect (3 shido)
gesture for penalty  Opponent wins the match
type  Direct
 Conference required
 Arm strait, look at
 Out of competition
competitor and point
 (Except: head diving,
over competitors
illegal judo gi, chief
head
referee discretion)
 2 free (warning, no
affect on score), 3rd
is hansoku-make
 Penalties (Shido) Defensive Posture
 Stiff Arming
Non-Combativity
 Blocking with the
 Passivity hand
 Avoid taking grip  Pushing down on
the opponent and
 Any delay of action False Attack
not attacking
 Disarrange own gi  An action designed immadiately
to give the
impression of
an attack but which
clearly shows that
there was no intent to
throw the opponent
 Unskillful entry into
newaza
 Going limp to avoid
an attack
 Penalties (Shido)
Out of boundry Illegal Kumi-Kata Bear Hug
 One foot outside  Taking an unorthodox  Must have minimum
contest area without grip and not
one grip
immediate attack or attacking
immediately  Not valid to make a
not returning
immediately  Blocking a second grip
grip/opponents simultaneously
 Forcing opponent to hands
step out to avoid  Merely touching the
positive action  Interlocking/bending judogi is not
opponents fingers considered kumi-
 Breaking grip with kata
Leg Entanglement
knee/leg
Leg Grabbing – Forbidden
 The act of  Breaking grip with
entangling the leg two hands  Leg grabbing or grabbing the
without making an trousers will be given a shido
immediate attack  Covering edge/lapel
to prevent grip  Valid in certain special cases*
 Hansoku-make
 Kansetsu and Shime-waza are not valid when
contestants are in tachi-waza. Mate and Shido
should be announced. If the action is dangerous
and can injure an opponent, it will be direct
hansoku-make
 Kawazu-gake
 Kani-basami
 In any case of misbehaviour by an athlete, which
merits disqualification, the chief referee may
exclude him from the rest of the event.
 Kansetsu and Shime-waza are not valid
when contestants are in tachi-waza.
Mate and Shido should be announced.
If the action is dangerous and can injure
an opponent, it will be direct hansoku-
make
 To lift off and drive opponent into the
mat
 Atemi-waza
 3rd shido (indirect)

 Kansetsu anywhere other than the elbow

 To disregard the referee’s instructions
 Hard or metallic object (other than jewelry)
 Any action that may injure, and/or any action
against the spirit of judo
GAME OF SHIDOS
Blue or White?
Call for Medic Procedure
Referee shall call for medical when
 a contestant has received a severe impact to
the head or to the back (spinal column).
 The referee has reason to believe there may
be a grave or serious injury.
 The injured contestant asks for medical.
 The injured contestant is not responsive.

 IF you call a medic for a contestant, the

contestant loses.
 IF a contestant becomes sick, he/she loses.
 IF you can’t determine fault, the injured
contestant loses.
Call for Medic
Bleeding
 A contestant cannot compete while bleeding.
 They have 3 medicals to stop and isolate
bleeding.
 A 3rd time the contestant loses.
 If the bleeding doesn’t stop on any medical,
the contestant loses.

Medical Stoppage
 At any time a medic can ask to attend a
contestant, he/she loses the match.
Call for Medic
Procedure
 A contestant is never left alone
 If injured contestant can move, he/she goes to
edge of mat to meet Medic, Judge comes to
mat edge to supervise treatment
 Referee keeps eye on uninjured contestant,
who stands at their mark
 Sitting Judge keeps eye on whole picture
 If injured contestant can’t continue, award the
match
 Check the mat, clean any mess, dry mat
 Start next procedure (Start match, ref
rotation)
Differently Abled Judoka
Special Procedures for Referees
Final Notes on Good Refereeing

 Have a poker face (No flinching, no tells)

 No one should be able to tell what you are thinking, that’s what gestures
are for
 Minimize expressions and movement that indicate agreement and
disagreement, unless called for by procedure
 Think of being in the judges chair, how many times do we see agreement
and disagreement with shaking of the head? This should NOT be done.
 Stay focused and aware at all times, keeping a fair and even playing field
for the contestants is paramount
Categories of
Examination
For Referees
Categories of Examination
1. Voice
 Demonstrates clear, crisp, sharp, staccato commands
 Voice endures the event, no strain, no yelling
 Adjusts for the environment, just above ambient sounds, heard by
contestants, judges, minor officials

2. Presence & Authority

 Does not show confusion, arrogance, or theatrics
 Demonstrates command and control
 Demonstrates Equanimity (calmness under pressure)
 Shows leadership

3. Signals (Gestures)
 Demonstrates correct, clear, and concise gestures
 Maintains signals for 3-5 seconds
 Turns score signals 90 degrees so they can be seen
 Voice and gesture happens simultaneously
Categories of Examination
4. Position & Mobility
 Moves in an effective, relaxed, judo like manner
 Maintains correct distance and is in ideal position to observe throws, holds,
chokes, and arm-locks

5. Observation
 Notices judogi problems, jewelry, prohibited acts, and injuries
 Aware of peripheral activity
 Aware of fellow officials (sightlines) and scoreboard (be sure it’s correct)

6. Procedures
 Knows and follows correct procedures without hesitation or error

7. Judgment Appreciation (This is the most important category)

 Judgment on throwing scores and counters, calling oseakomi and toketa
 The correct use of matte
 Application of penalties
Categories of Examination
8. Penalties
 Recognizes penalties and penalizes them!
 Shows intestinal fortitude (Courage)

9. Determination
 Shows no doubt when making calls.
 No slow signals
 No Wishy-washy calls

10. Teamwork
 Works well with a team, understands principles of teamwork
 Knows referee’s and judge’s duties
 Helps, but does not interfere

11. Protocol
 Demonstrates correct bowing, referee etiquette (dress and manners), does
not speak ill
 Attends clinics, asks questions, listens to feedback, no excuses, seeks
guidance