Referees
Referee Certification Levels
International - IJF
Continental - PJC
National - USA Judo
Regional - Alaska Judo
Local - Alaska Judo
In Training - Alaska Judo / Dojo
Referees should start refereeing in their club (dojo) to begin to develop their skills and attending referee clinics to further expand their knowledge. Referees in training may referee local tournaments with the approval of the head referee of the tournament and their sensei. A higher degree of knowledge and skill is required at each subsequent level of referee.
Alaska Judo holds referee clinics from time to time. If you have completed your CPR, First Aid, SafeSport, and Concussion training, and there isn't a clinic schedule please contact us so we can help facilitate organizing a referee clinic.
Referee in Training
General familiarity with the Judo contest rulesÂ
(IJF Detailed Explanation of the IJF Judo Refereeing Rules and IJF Sports Organization Rules 2023)
Practice refereeing inside your dojo
Junior Referee
(Note: This is a subcategory of Local referee. When the candidate turns 16, they become a local referee. Junior referees may referee their age group and younger, and may referee older groups with the approval of the head referee of the tournament.)
10 to 15 years of age
Concussion Training (You have 3 options)
ATT Concussion Awareness Training (Free)
CDC Heads Up Concussion Training (Free)
Pass the local mat examination (at least 2 tournaments)
Pass the local written examination
Local Referee
16 years of age or older
Concussion Training (You have 3 options)
ATT Concussion Awareness Training (Free)
CDC Heads Up Concussion Training (Free)
Pass the local mat examination (at least 2 tournaments)
Passing the local written examination
Regional Referee
Rank of Sankyu or higher
Concussion Training (You have 3 options)
ATT Concussion Awareness Training (Free)
CDC Heads Up Concussion Training (Free)
Pass the regional mat examination
Pass the regional written examiniation
National Referee
18 years of age or older
Rank of shodan or high recognized by USA Judo
Been a Regional level referee for a minimum of one year
US citizen or legal resident alien (green card)
Current First Aid and CPR certification
Concussion Training (You have 3 options)
ATT Concussion Awareness Training (Free)
CDC Heads Up Concussion Training (Free)
Background screening
(Login to your USA Judo account to request the background screening. Watch the instruction video for more information.)
Passing the mat examination
Passing the written referee examination
To remain current national referees must be evaluated at a national tournament at least once a year. To be advanced, they must be recommended for advancement from two or more evaluations in a given year.
USA Judo National Referees
Howdice Brown
Mat-Su Judo
David Cheverie
Anchorage Dojo
Jacob Dempsey
Excel Judo
Mark Langberg
Anchorage Dojo
Alaska Judo Regional Referees
Steve Callaghan
Anchorage Dojo
Alaska Judo Local Referees
Emily Mahn
Anchorage Dojo