EJU Refereeing Director Jan Snijders presented again the new rules of our sport and explained once more that refereeing is not a big secret but transparent.
In Paris the new rules including no grips below the belt were tested. Judo in Paris was excellent. 62% of the matches in Paris was decided by Ippon. Another new rule is that before the golden score the scores and penalties awarded before are not deleted. The IJF Grand Slam of Tokyo will be the last of 5 tests for the new rules.
Since this year the refereeing classification is also being published on the homepage. Mr. Snijders suggests to have A, B and C referees rather than S, J, and C (Senior, Junior and Cadets). The criteria for classification is a subjective matter based on technical matters as well as performance in and outside the tatami, judges by the refereeing commission.
Jan Snijders: “I mentioned earlier that judo in Paris at the Junior Worlds was great, but it’s essential that in future events the referees have top quality and the best referees are present. We try to have the same conditions everywhere to be as good as in Paris.”
We currently rank the referees and we have a transparent classification. As long as there is friendship, we’re not going to be professional! We need to know that we get better for the benefit of the athletes.”
Snijders responded on the question about the matter one or three referees: “I like to have less referees. Less referees, than we have less unhappy refs and it’s more quiet of the mat. It looks fantastic, also for photographers and television. But once more, only the best should be on the tatami and referees also have the make a mental change. We look forward to the refereeing and coaching seminar in Italy in 2010 where both coaches and referees will work on the development of our sport” Jan Snijders said in Düsseldorf.