Ref Training Program - The Rules (Articles 9-13)
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III. The Rules (Articles 9-13)
Article 9 - Start of the Contest
1. The referee shall always be in position to start the contest before the arrival on the contest area of the athletes.
In individual competition the referee shall be at the tatami centre 2 m back from the line from which the athletes start and shall be facing the technical table.
In team competitions, before the start of the contests from every encounter, it shall proceed to the bowing ceremony between the two teams as follows:
a) The referee will remain in the same place as in the individual competitions. At his indication, the two teams will come in on the allocated side, in line with the outer edge of contest area and in order according to the draw of categories, and will stand face-to-face.
Each one of the three allocated referees will referee two consecutive contest. If a contest is missing because of a lack of one/two contestants, the last referee will only referee the remaining one or none. If there is a draw the last referee will remain on the tatami for the golden score decision contest.
b) On the order of the referee the two (2) teams will move ahead to the starting position on the mat.
c) The referee shall order the teams turn towards the technical table, extending his arms in parallel forward, with open palms, and will announce rei, to be held simultaneously by all components of both teams. The referee shall not bow.
d) Then the referee shall order, in a gesture of arms at right angles forearms up and palms facing each other “otagai-ni” (face each other), the two teams again be face to face, announcing "rei" (bow), to be held the same way as in the previous section.
e) After finishing the bowing ceremony, the components of the two teams will come out through the same place which they entered, waiting, on the outer edge centred of the contest area, the athletes of each team must make the first contest. In each contest, they will perform the same procedure of bowing that in individual competition.
f) In case of equal wins after finishing the last contest of the match, the referee will order the teams to proceed as described in paragraph a) and b), in order to wait for the draw of the extra contest. Once the draw is performed the concerned athletes will remain on the tatami for the extra golden score contest while the rest of the team will leave.
g) After finishing the last contest of the match, the referee will order the teams to proceed as described in paragraph a) and b), announcing, then the winner. The bowing ceremony will be held in the reverse order of the start, bowing first to each other and, finally, to the technical table.
2. The entering the tatami area, athletes should walk to the entrance of the contest area at the same time.
The athletes are free to bow when entering or leaving the contest area, although it is not compulsory.
The athletes must NOT shake hands before the start of the contest.
3. The athletes shall then walk to the centre of the edge of the contest area (on the safety area) at their respective side according the fighting order (the athlete in the white judogi on the right side and the athlete in the blue judogi on the left side of the referee’s position) and remain standing there.
At the signal from the referee, the contestants shall move forward to their respective starting positions and bow simultaneously towards each other and take a step forward from the left foot.
Once the contest is over and the referee has awarded the result, the athletes shall simultaneously take a step back from the right foot and bow to each other.
If the contestants do not bow or do so incorrectly, the referee shall direct the contestants to do so. It is very important to perform the bow in the correct way.
4. The contest always starts with the athletes in the standing position, wearing their judogi correctly with the belt tied tightly above their hip bones, then the referee announces Hajime!.
During the contest the athletes should always fix their judogi quickly between “Mate!” and “Hajime!”.
5. The accredited doctor may request that the referee stops the contest in the cases and with the consequences regulated in Article 20.
2. U.S. Modifications and/or Comments
The Referee should assure the correct bowing procedures are followed and verify all is ready prior to starting the match. Coaching at IJF events can only be done between Mate and Hajime, however in domestic U.S. events the coaches are allowed to coach their players (not the officials) during the entire match. Since there is not a separate CARE system for the Commission at U.S. domestic events (the Jury can only review matches using the same CARE system that is actively being used by the 2 matside Judges), coaches are not allowed to watch the CARE system when they have questions about a particular decision.
Article 10 - Transition from Tachi-waza into Ne-waza (A) and from Ne-waza into Tachi-waza (B)
Transition from tachi-waza to ne-waza are considered valid if tori or uke makes a real attack or a counterattack and then they attempt osaekomi-waza, shime-waza or kansetsu-waza.
It is tachi-waza when both athletes are in a standing position and are not in any of the following ne-waza positions.
Gripping under the belt in the end phase of a throwing technique is allowed if the opponent is already in ne-waza.
If the throwing technique is interrupted, gripping under the belt is a ne-waza action. Gripping under the belt in the end phase of a throwing technique like with soto-makikomi continuing through ushiro-gesa-gatame or ura-nage and similar technical actions are allowed. The grip under the belt that becomes an essential part of the throw is not allowed.
Athletes are still not allowed to grip under the belt to throw.
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Pictures 6-8
A1. The athletes shall be able to change from nage-waza to ne-waza as far as it is done by one of the cases referred to in this Article. However, if the technique used is not continuous, the referee shall announce mate and order both athletes to resume the contest from the standing position.
A2. Situations that allow the transition from tachi-waza to ne-waza
a) When one of the athletes, lands on the ground and there is no score or waza-ari is given, either contestant can, without interruption, take the offensive and continue in ne-waza.
Example: in these positions below tori, after applying a real attack, can apply sutemi-waza that can continue into newaza.
Example: in these positions below tori can apply a throwing technique and can continue with kansetsu-waza, shime-waza or osaekomi-waza (not shown) after a real attack or a counterattack. *** DELETE 3rd Picture ***
b) In any other case where one athlete falls down or is about to fall down, not covered by the preceding sub-sections of this article, the other athlete may take advantage of his opponent’s unbalanced position to go into ne-waza.
A2. Exceptions
When one athlete pulls his opponent down into ne-waza not in accordance with the above rules and his opponent does not take advantage of this to continue into ne-waza, the referee shall announce mate, and penalise with shido the contestant who has infringed Article 18. If instead, the opponent takes advantage of the action of tori, the ne-waza work may continue.
B1. The athletes shall be able to change from ne-waza to tachi-waza if the situation is not dangerous for both athletes with or without grips and both are more or less face to face.. However, if the technique used is not continuous, the referee shall announce mate and order both contestants to resume the contest from the standing position.
The kata-sankaku grip (gripping with both arms the neck and one shoulder of the opponent) in ne-waza action is allowed (picture 1).
Kata-sankaku grip situation in ne-waza: It is prohibited to block the opponents body with the legs and mate must be announced (picture 2).
If the katasankaku grip is used starting from ne-waza going to tachi-waza, or in
tachi-waza directly, mate will be immediately called (picture 3).
A kata-sankaku grip with the intention to throw will be considered hansoku-make.
1 2 3
2. U.S. Modifications and/or Comments
Click HERE for examples of Newaza vs Tachiwaza from the 2020 IJF Seminar (Doha, Qatar)
Article 11 - Application of Mate
General
The referee shall announce Mate! (Wait!) in order to stop the contest temporarily in the situations covered by this article. To recommence the contest, the referee shall announce Hajime! (Begin!).
The athletes must quickly return after mate to their starting positions in the following cases:
• The referee will give shido for stepping outside.
• The referee will give a third (3rd) shido - hansoku-make.
• The referee will ask the contestants to adjust their judogi/hair.
• The referee is of the opinion that there is a risk of danger to the athletes.
The referee having announced mate, must take care to maintain the contestants within his view in case they did not hear the announcement and continue fighting or if any other incident arises.
2. Situations where the referee shall announce mate:
a) When both athletes go completely outside the contest area without continuous action that started from inside the contest area.
b) When one or both of the athletes perform one of the prohibited acts listed in Article 18 of these rules.
c) When one or both of the athletes are injured or taken ill. Should any of the situations of Article 20 occur, the referee, after announcing Mate!, shall call the doctor to perform the necessary medical attention according to said article, either upon the request of the athlete, or directly depending on the seriousness of the injury. In cases of “minor” injury, the medical intervention will be carried out outside the contest area, near the area itself or close to the medical facility; the athlete will be accompanied by a non-officiating referee assigned tothe specific tatami.
d) When it is necessary for one or both of the athletes to adjust their judogi.
e) When during ne-waza there is no evident progress.
f) When one athlete regains a standing or semi-standing position from ne-waza bearing his opponent on his back, with the hands completely clear of the tatami and without his opponent being able to progress the action.
g) When one athlete in, or from ne-waza regains a standing position and lifts the opponent, who is lying on their back with one (1) or both legs around any part of the standing athlete, clear of the tatami.
h) When a athlete performs or attempts to perform kansetsu-waza or shimewaza from the standing position.
i) When one of the contestants starts or perform any preparatory moves of a kind of fighting or wrestling technique (not genuine judo) the referee shall call immediately mate, trying to stop and not to let the athlete who performs, finishes the action.
j) When tori applies shime-waza or kansetsu-waza by stretching uke’s leg. Mate must be called immediately and shido given.
k) When the athletes reach the 2 m mark in the safety area.
l) When in any other case that the referee deems it necessary to do so.
3. Situations where the referee shall not announce Mate!:
a) To stop the athlete(s) going outside the contest area in the proximity of the limit of the contest area and no more thantwo metres unless the situation is considered dangerous.
b) When there is a throwing that started inside the contest area and both athletes continue to go outside as part of the action in the proximity of the limit of the contest area and no more than two metres..
c) When an athlete, who has escaped from osaekomi-waza, shime-waza or kansetsu-waza, appears in need of or calls for a rest.
These are valid actions and mate should not be called.
Mate should not be given as the action started in the valid area.
2. U.S. Modifications and/or Comments
– Click HERE for video of Jan 2014 IJF Rule Interpretation
Click HERE for Mate Situations from the 2020 IJF Seminar (Doha, Qatar)
Article 12 – Sono-mama
1. Sono-mama! (Hold positions!) can only be applied in situations where athletes are working in ne-waza.
2. In any case where the referee wishes to temporarily stop the contest without causing a change in their positions, he shall announce Sono-mama!, making the gesture under Article 4.7 while he must ensure that there is no change in the position or grip of either ATHLETE.
3. To recommence the contest, the referee shall announce Yoshi! (Continue!) making the gesture under Article 4.8.
2. U.S. Modifications and/or Comments
None.
Article 13 - End of the Contest
1. In regular time (4 minutes), a contest can be won by a technical score or scores (waza-ari or ippon). It can also be won by by hansoku-make (a direct penalty or accumulative penalties leading to disqualification) to the opponent.
A penalty never corresponds to a score.
The referee shall announce Sore-made! (Finished!) to indicate the end of contest in the cases covered in this article. After this announcement the referee shall always keep the athletes within his view in case they do not hear his announcement and continue fighting. The referee shall direct the contestants to adjust their judogi, if necessary, prior to indicating the result.
After the referee has indicated the result of the contest making the gesture under Article 4, the athletes shall take one step backwards, make the bow and leave the contest area by the sides of the mat, particularly around the security area.
When the athletes are leaving the mat, they must be wearing their judogi in the proper way and must not remove any part of the judogi or the belt before leaving the field of play.
Should the referee award the victory to the wrong athlete in error, IJF Supervisors and/or Referee Commissioners must ensure that he changes this erroneous decision before the referee leaves the competition area.
All actions and decisions taken by the referee and agreed by the IJF Supervisors and/or Referee Commissioners shall be final and without appeal.
The IJF Supervisors are responsible for all rules and decisions during the contest. In exceptional circumstances the decision will be made by the IJF Supervisors, IJF Referee Commissioners and IJF Ad Hoc Commission.
2. Situations of Sore-made!:
a) When one contestant scores ippon or waza-ari-awasete-ippon (Articles 15 & 16).
b) In the case of hansoku-make (Article 18).
c) In the case of kiken-gachi (victory by opponent’s withdrawal) (Article 19).
d) When one athlete cannot continue due to injury (Article 20).
e) When the time allotted for the contest has expired.
f) Waza-ari from a throwing action in golden score.
3. The referee shall award the contest as follows:
a) When one athlete has scored ippon or equivalent, he shall be declared the winner.
b) When both athletes have no technical score, or the technical scores are equal at the end of the regular contest time, the contest shall continue in golden score regardless of the number of shido given.
c) In the case where both athletes have no score or both have waza-ari and then score ippon simultaneously during the time allottted for regular time, the contest shall be decided by a "golden score" period.
d) In the case where one athlete has waza-ari and then both score ippon simultaneously during the time allotted for regular time, the contest shall be allowed to continue until the end.
4. Golden score period
In individual and team competitions when contest time ends with the circumstances of paragraph 3b. of this article, the referee shall announce “sore-made” to end the contest temporarily and the athletes shall return to their starting positions.
The referee shall announce “Hajime!” to restart the contest, once the scoreboard is ready. There shall be no rest period between the end of the original contest and the start of golden score.
There is no time limit for golden score. Any existing score(s) and/or numbers of shido from regular time are carried into the golden score period and will remain on the score board.
Golden score can only be won by a technical score (waza-ari or ippon) or hansokumake (direct or by accumulative shido). If direct hansoku-make is given, the consequences are the same as those in regular time.
The referee will then announce Sore-made!.
5. Special situations during golden score.
a) Should only one athlete exercise his right to participate in the “golden score” period, and the other contestant declines, the contestant who wishes to compete shall be declared the winner by “kiken-gachi”.
b) In the case where both athletes score ippon simultaneously, the referee shall announce mate, continuing the contest without taking into account these actions for scoring purposes.
c) For direct hansoku-make given to both athletes, the IJF Ad Hoc Commission will decide.
6. CARE system
The IJF Referee Commission and IJF Supervisors are responsible for all rules and decisions during the contest.
IJF Supervisors with the collaboration of the IJF Head Referee Director(s) must intervene in any circumstances in which an evaluation or procedure made by the referee is not in harmony with the IJF refereeing rules.
The intervention must be immediate without loss of time or hesitation. If the IJF Head Referee Director(s) and the IJF Supervisor(s) agree the decision is validated or corrected. If the situation is not clear and there is no agreement between the IJF Head Referee Director(s) and the IJF Supervisor(s), no intervention is carried out (Hajime!).
Viewing of the CARE system and subsequent communication with referees as regulated in this article shall be up to the discretion of the IJF Supervisors and/or IJF Referee Commissioners that oversee the mat.
Mandatory reviewing using the CARE system in support of the decision on the mat will be done.
1) Any decision involving the end of the contest, during the contest time as well as in the period of “golden score”.
2) In a kaeshi-waza situation: the athlete receiving the attack and starting the counter attack, CANNOT use the impact of landing on the tatami to finish his kaeshi-waza action and have it evaluated. If the action allows it, he can however continue in ne-waza:
• If the two athletes land together without clear control for either one, no score will be given.
• Any action after landing will be considered as a ne-waza action.
No score for counter techniques where the initial attack is rolled to the back, towards the counterattacking or defending athlete. There has to be a difference between the correctly applied counter-technique and falling on the mat and turning/rolling over the opponent. In the case of correct technique like uchi-mata-sukashi, ura-nage, yoko-guruma, tani-otoshi, ko-soto-gari and ko-soto-gake. If we can identify the technique with a proper 90 degree landing there will be a score. In the case of a front landing or one less than 90 degrees, the rolling to the back will be considered as transition to ne-waza.
There shall be no unauthorized use or request of use of the CARE system other than by the referee, the IJF Supervisors and/or Referee Commissioners. A coach can apply to the IJF Commission / Supervisors to review a technical situation of the match in which his athlete was engaged, by filling in the appropriate form available in the judogi control room. The action can be seen in the break between the preliminaries and the final block.
For non-IJF events where there is no CARE system available, two (2) side judges can be used and a majority of three rule applied.
2. U.S. Modifications and/or Comments
Click HERE for examples of Kaesha Waza from the 2020 IJF Seminar (Doha, Qatar)
Click HERE to continue to the next training module
Click HERE to return to the INDEX.
