Back to: Overview of Responsibilities

A Judge’s Responsibilities

Understand rules and regulations
A judge must have a thorough knowledge of the rules so a quick assessment of performance situations can be made without delay, as a judge or as a resource for others.

Stay current in knowledge and trend
A judge must remain sufficiently active in order to keep abreast of rule changes and performance tendencies. USDAA requires judges perform three assignments in a two-year period and attend one clinic in each three-year period until reaching masters; masters level judges should attend once every five years.

Maintain professional image
A judge must strive to maintain a professional image at all times, whether serving as a judge or attending an event as a competitor or spectator. In whatever capacity they hold, they are recognized as a leader of the sport, and therefore play a vital role in building the image of the sport, and the organization they represent. Three key factors to always keep in mind are:

• Appearance – recognizable as the judge
• Positive attitude – exhibiting a negative attitude and frustration solve nothing; remember, it is a volunteer support-based event; such attitude reflects poorly on a judge’s character and on the sport itself.
• Avoid controversy – as judge, exhibitor, spectator or at another venue, or even on social media, a USDAA judge is recognized as such and should keep a positive attitude with a desire to be helpful.

Serve as USDAA representative
A judge serves as a USDAA representative in the field. Having face-to-face interaction with competitors, host groups and sometimes spectators and media, whether knowingly or not, collects information on the attitudes, pros and cons, of the sport. It is important to communicate information to USDAA so the organization can stay abreast of needs of the sport and evaluate application of its policies and procedures. A judge is expected to:

Facilitate Communication with USDAA

• Meet filing deadlines for course designs and post-event reports
• Seek answers to uncertain circumstances

Facilitate Communication with the Group

• Clarify classes to be judged and obstacles available
• Review schedule for reasonableness

Provide Administrative Advice
A judge may occasionally be called upon for advice related to administrative matters, such as reporting event results, event sites or class scheduling. When rendering such advice, it is important for a judge to recognize where their decision-making authority ends and that of the host group begins. Essentially, managing stewards and other matters regarding conduct of the classes for which they are the designated judge are the extent of a judge’s decision-making authority; however, because a judge has an opportunity to observe a great many events and encounter various situations overtime, they are well aware of many pros and cons with regard to event management. It is important, however, for the judge to realize the host group has the decision-making authority with regard to scheduling, and other matters related to issues outside the judge’s performance ring. Also, sometimes a judge’s perspective on such matters may be skewed based upon their specific experience. Therefore, it is USDAA’s policy that a judge should recommend courses of action to a group when they believe a group needs guidance, whether solicited or not; however, such advice must be stated as a recommendation, with a reminder that the final decision rests with the group.

Act as a Supervising Steward
In fulfilling their responsibility for managing ring activity, the judge must provide direction and guidance to stewards to assure their tasks are performed correctly and efficiently. ‘While the host group has a responsibility to provide qualified, experienced stewards, the judge will need to review procedures with stewards to determine they have the requisite knowledge and ability. There are a variety of tasks stewards must perform, and the judge must be certain they are able to fulfill their responsibility. The judge cannot do it all alone. Motivation and enthusiasm for the job must come from the judge. The judge must —

• Recognize that most if not all event personnel are volunteers
• Keep things moving as efficiently as possible

Contribute energies back to the sport
Credit for the knowledge and expertise a judge develops over time is owed to the many who have helped to educate them, from the educator to competitors, both of whom have provided valuable experience and knowledge to the judge. In return, a judge should feel obligated to contribute as much back to the sport. While much of judging can be laborious, judges should also help to pass on what they have learned to further the sport as a whole. This can be done by —

• Volunteering time to render assistance, such as serving as steward, or providing a critique on performance, etc.
• Offering to lead discussion groups or provide background or understanding in response to queries