A judo referee runs the match on the mat: starts it, stops it, and calls the scores and penalties. At high level, the referee works with two judges at the table who can review actions on video and correct a decision. The way to become a judo referee depends on your national federation, but it nearly always starts at club and local events and climbs level by level towards national and international panels.
For many coaches, refereeing is the best judo education available outside of fighting itself.
What the referee does during a match
The referee keeps moving so both players and the table stay in view. Calls are made in Japanese, with standard hand signals. The full list is in our page on judo referee commands.
The referee's decisions fall into three groups:
- running the match: hajime, matte, osaekomi, sore-made;
- scores: ippon, waza-ari, yuko;
- penalties: shido and hansoku-make.
Safety is part of the job too. A strangle that goes on too long, a player who does not tap but loses consciousness, a landing on the head. The referee has to see it before anyone else. This side of the work rarely shows on television, yet it carries the most weight.
The judges and video review
Over the last few Olympic cycles, the IJF moved the two judges off the mat corners. They sit at the table, follow the match and speak with the referee by earpiece. They have a replay system, the Care System, to review doubtful actions.
When the judges disagree with the referee, they step in. The referee then cancels or corrects the call. At major events, a refereeing commission supervises and can also intervene in cases set out in the rules.
Video has made refereeing better. Gross mistakes on an ippon or a step-out have become rare. It has a cost: a few seconds of waiting, and sometimes a decision changed afterwards, which spectators dislike. For the referee it is a safety net, not a crutch. The goal is still to get it right the first time.
At local competitions, video is often not available. Referees then judge by eye, with an arrangement set by the organizer.
How to become a judo referee
Each national federation organizes refereeing in levels. You start locally, then move up by refereeing bigger events and passing theory and practical exams. The names and exact steps change from country to country, but the general shape looks like this:
| Stage | Where you referee |
|---|---|
| Club and young officials | Club events, internal tournaments, youth competitions |
| Local or regional | Events run by your region or district |
| National | National championships and tournaments |
| Continental and international | Selected by the federation, then continental union and IJF events |
Entry conditions for each level, such as minimum grade and age, are set by your federation and change over time. The simplest route is to contact the refereeing commission of your region or your national federation.
Some federations run programs for teenagers, often called young officials or young referees. They are a great way in, and worth recommending to every young competitor, even those who never plan to referee later.
Qualities of a good referee
People often think a referee mainly needs to know the rulebook. That is necessary. It is not enough.
Positioning. A badly placed referee does not see the landing and ends up guessing. You have to read the match to predict where the action will finish.
Fast decisions. An ippon is called immediately. A two-second hesitation is visible, and it weakens every call that follows.
Composure. A coach shouting, a crowd booing, a player protesting. The referee does not respond, and applies the rules.
Finally, solid technical judo. Recognizing the techniques of the gokyo in a fraction of a second helps a lot when judging a landing. That is where referees with a long competitive background have an edge.
What refereeing gives a competitor
A judoka who referees understands why they get shido. They know that backing towards the edge is obvious, that false attacks get spotted, and that non-standard grips are on a clock. The most common fouls are covered in our article on shido penalties.
They also understand scores better. A competitor who has had to choose between waza-ari and yuko live does not argue the same way afterwards. The difference is explained in our page on waza-ari, and the full framework in our guide to judo rules.
How to get started
Ask your coach if you can referee the randori in class once a week, with the real signals. Film yourself if possible. You will quickly see if your position is good and if your signals are readable. Then volunteer at a local tournament. Refereeing commissions are often short of people, and the mat teaches far more than any book.