How Do Judges Become Judges?
- Thread starter moriel
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At the lower levels (6.0) , a skating background is helpful but not required. To the best of my understanding, you study a book (understatement here), watch some videos, and they you apply. Once you are "accepted" then you do several (not sure how many) trail judging events where you score an individual (test session and competitions) and then those trial judge scores are compared to an official judge's score. Once you "pass" and become an official judge then you slowly make your say up the ranks and my impression is there are additional tests along the way.
To judge higher levels (IJS), a skating background (I believe Intermediate) is required. Eventually you work your way up the ranks and then you can be selected an International level judge. I think it takes a minimum of 20 years of judging to reach that level (US judge). I believe each country is only allowed a certain number of international judges.
I have pieced this together based on what I have seen and what I have been told.
It varies by federation, as well as by the candidate's skating background.
For the US, see these pages.
For Canada, see here.
I'm most familiar with the US system. Basically, if you're coming in as a nonskater (e.g., parent or fan), or a low-level skater, you'll spend more time trial judging than someone with more skating experience. You'd start as a test judge and could then also train as a competition judge.
The trialing is the biggest part of what you have to do before you apply for the first appointment, or for a promotion. The written exam comes after making the application.
I know some sectional competition judges who were never skaters or who started lessons as adults. But they were good at judging, even if it was too late to become advanced skaters. I don't think I know anyone who got as far as a national judging appointment in the US, let alone international, without having skated at a higher level, but there might be some.
There's a lot of need for test judges, who can also judge local nonqualifying competitions. Competitions below juvenile (and adult gold) levels are judged under 6.0. Test judges without competition appointments may judge IJS events at nonqual competitions, but the chief referee would need to know that the judge had studied IJS and knew what they were doing before assigning them to those events.
Other federations may do things differently.
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This question appeared in the Questions thread, and I thought it might be if general interest (mainly because I am interested 
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Since the process varies by country, how do judges become judges in Japan? Russia? France? China?
) Since the process varies by country, how do judges become judges in Japan? Russia? France? China?
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By the end of March there was a course announcement here, in Italy, by the italian FED in order to become a regional judge. I applied and I'm waiting for their reply, but I don't have high hopes because they are giving precedence to those who are from cities who doesn't have many judges and I live in Milan. :no:
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Oh please??? 
Do update us from time to time on how this goes?!!
Do update us from time to time on how this goes?!!
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Oh please???
Apparently the first test is to recognise some basic elements: jumps, spins and steps. If I get the minimum (TES
) scores 80/100 I can start the course. If I pass the course, then I have to do an apprenticeship, partecipate in 2 regional competition for 2015-2016 season, before been registered as a regional judge. :hopelessness:The thing is that I'm not that much interested to work as a judge but I really wanted to learn more about Ice Dance in specific. :think:
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In the US, each test level of judge has to have a certain amount of agreement while trialing over a certain number of tests. In addition, not only are you to trial at your home club, but at other clubs as well. You also need references from other judges who observe you while trialing (for Bronze) or trialing/judging (for higher). It's pretty time consuming.
OMG! Just got the reply from them and I've been admitted for the first test.
Oh please???
I'm interested to know too.
Does Italy have separate judging appointments for dance vs. freestyle?
Good luck!
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Thanks.
I don't know but I'll ask. I think you start with singles, maybe? Dance elements are more difficult. My idea was to do this course in the hope they will teach you about dance as well. I very much doubt so. :think:
I think I would learn more from doris.
Pity she is in USA. :no:
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Learning to judge step sequences for singles has to be some help in appreciating dance step sequences. Take heart!
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True, but in my case at least, I already have the basics. I want something more and I want dance.
What do you think starting a topic, here somewhere, teaching dance elements?
I could help you with videos: cutting them and creating some with different dance elements. You could start with basics and slowly going on with the levels, different patterns etc.
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We could try it. It would be better to start after July, though, when all the ISU changes and clarifications on the most recent ISU communications are typically complete. Perhaps we could assemble some questions and see whether we can get them answered in an interview with a tech panel person...a dream, maybe, but I would love to see it.
could be pretty interesting... not for dance only maybe (i get lost at singles step sequences for example and would love some teaching of that)
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Great. Just list me the videos you want to take as examples and I will cut them, and make different ones for each dance elements.
As for a tech panel person I will try and contact one. I hope he will be available. He is an ISU Tech Specialist for Italy.
There should be separate topics though. Dance is very complicated as it is, and putting dance and singles together is a mess.
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There are some threads in the Reference section, spun off from other discussions, that you might find useful:
Evaluating Step Sequences
Step Sequence Levels on Kim, Sotnikova & Kostner
Edges and turns
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