Following approval by the BJA Board, the IJF 2017 contest rules will be adopted in full at all British events, effective 22nd April 2017.

The new rules have been introduced following the Rio Olympic Games to improve the dynamism of the sport and encourage wins by technical scores, especially ippon, rather than penalties.

The most significant changes are:

• removal of yuko scores, with waza-ari now including actions that were previously scored yuko
• number of waza-ari possible is now unlimited; two waza-ari no longer equate to ippon
• equalisation of contest time for both men and women to 4 minutes
• reduction in shido from 4 to 3 (with 3 resulting in disqualification)
• shido cannot end the contest in normal time (except by disqualification)

Full details of the 2017 rules are available here (https://bja.platform81.com/my-judo/refereeing/contest-rules/) and all existing BJA amendments (eg. technical restrictions) will continue to apply alongside these changes.

Please note: The points to be awarded at gradings and competitions for Waza-ari wins remains under review and will be confirmed at a later date.

Training and Support

Referees in Charge will provide short briefings on the new rules to referees and coaches at the beginning of the competition day.

Area refereeing representatives have been invited to training on the new rules ahead of implementation to enable them to support  their local referees. Active International and Continental referees have experience using the new rules at European events and are equipped to support their colleagues and to answer questions from athletes or coaches.

Further training on the new rules, open to all BJA members, will be available at the National Refereeing Seminars being held on the dates below:

• June 24 – Centre of Excellence, Walsall
• July 29 – Derry, Northern Ireland
• August 20 – Ratho, Scotland
• September 10 – Dartford, Southern

A number of courses are also being run by areas and are listed in the BJA events calendar.