Judo Intervarsities & No show referees

gordotempo

I might be a bit late off the mark posting on this, but does anyone know the reason why we had no IJA referees at the intervarsities this year?

What was that big speech we had from the guy frm the IJA last year who got up and told us how supportive he was of the intervarsities blah blah blah and then low and behold we end up with this farsical situation.

What was that all about!

arybvtcw0eolkf

IJA CONTACT INFO HERE.

Now, why don't you ask them yourself.

Nothingcompares

In my professional opinion as a freelance consultant on all things martial arts on the internet the reason was because:

Number 1 - IJA are an ineffective organisation.
Number 2 - As far as I know, members of their association have a mandate not to be involved in the Varsities because participants do not require an IJA license to participate.

The judo Varsities are organised and run by the 3rd level institutions themselves and not the IJA. Obviously competitions like the Irish Open and closed are organised by the IJA but the smaller regional competitions are organised by an individual on behalf of the IJA. If you want to compete in the Varsities you need to be a student and that's it.

Refereeing for the last number of years has been carried out by member of the Northern Irish Judo Association, a distinct organisation to the British Judo Association and the Irish Judo Association but under the umbrella of the BJA. This year for example, there was only one official referee in active attendance and refereed the vast majority of fights, with some senior Judoka refereeing a small proportion.

It's a very sad and shoddy state of affairs when a university or college in the Republic of Ireland cannot get a couple of referees from their National governing body to help out in this very important job.

A possible less political explanation for the absence of official IJA referees at this competition is perhaps because some of people in attendance do not have IJA membership (currently 55 euro). So why should the IJA provide refereeing if some of the entrees aren't members? The flip side being, why pay 55 euro when you're a student to join an organisation you will never see or use to do one competition a year (in which you pay for anyway)?

Having said that, the Varsity committees would probably pay to have official referees anyway.

Before anyone says it, it's nothing to do with insurance.

And if anyone wants to go and have a productive conversation with the IJA via email good luck to them. I'd be shocked if you got a reply.

Burnt

The way I heard it; which is just rumour and hear say, was that the IJA rang up the referees and told them not to attend.

However I was directly involved in the organisation of previous 3 intervarsities and it would
not be the first time that they promised the earth and then reneged at the last minute.

Basically the IJA administration are behaving like spoilt little children; if the don't get to call the shots,
they take their ball and go home. Perhaps this year we can have an AGM and maybe an election.

Gordotempo; If you search the treads here for IJA you see plenty of similar threads.

Khannie

Nothingcompares wrote: »

In my professional opinion as a freelance consultant on all things martial arts on the internet

JohnMc1

Nothingcompares wrote: »

why pay 55 euro when you're a student to join an organisation you will never see or use to do one competition a year (in which you pay for anyway)?

To get promoted to Blue and up. Once you're a Green Belt you have to go to the IJA HQ in Dublin and compete for your next belt [which sucks because you have to buy those yourself] if you are not an IJA member you cannot go any higher. That's pretty much the only reason for being a member unless you are a very serious tournament competitor.

Pingu

JohnMc1 wrote: »

To get promoted to Blue and up. Once you're a Green Belt you have to go to the IJA HQ in Dublin and compete for your next belt [which sucks because you have to buy those yourself] if you are not an IJA member you cannot go any higher. That's pretty much the only reason for being a member unless you are a very serious tournament competitor.

The majority of competitors at the varsities are Lower Kyu, so gradings are rather far from their minds.

It seems strange that the IJA would do this especially as they list increasing numbers as one of their aims.

I would of thought that would actively attempt to assist Third Level Clubs to increase and retain membership as to introduce more people to the sport that may not have had access to / knowledge of it before this time.

Nothingcompares

I was under the impression you needed a valid licence for any grading. Is this not the case?

JohnMc1

Nothingcompares wrote: »

I was under the impression you needed a valid licence for any grading. Is this not the case?

The club can promote you up to Green belt at their discression. To get to Blue and up you need to go to the IJA HQ and compete for them. You need atleast 2 ippons to be promoted.

Pingu

You need a valid licence for all gradings, regardless of organisation, from white all the way up. Your grading book has to be sent off to be validated.

Once you start competeing for grades then you head to gradings. With different points requirements for different grades.

The varsities come under CUSAI so a current licence from any organisation isn't necessary.

Only for the support from the NIJF ref's the event probably wouldn't of been able to take place. Which is a sad state of affairs as if that had of been allowed to take place it would have been a serious blow to judo in third level institutions.