Refereeing is a very challenging but rewarding aspect of Judo.

Click on Basic Refereeing for Full Shiai. These are guidance notes for novice referees. They are intended to remind referees of the basic knowledge that s/he should possess before stepping into a shiai situation.

When a Novice Referee first steps out into the middle of the mat they can not be expected to know or understand every judo rule so it is vital they are mentored by an experienced Club Referee. Referees are to be encouraged to discover for themselves the rules used by other organisations and to observe and discuss refereeing decisions with more experienced Senseis.