Why become a judge?
Without a team of judges we are unable to run the huge number of competitions across the county that archers enjoy. The sport needs Judges to ensure that competitions are run safely and fairly. Like all other sports, a team of officials is required to make sure the result at the end of the day is correct and to help the competitors have a good day out! Archery is a friendly sport, and judging is a way of participating.
What do I need?
Any member of Archery GB over the age of 18 can become a judge (though you can start training as a Candidate from 16 years old).
Candidate judges should;
- Understand the sport.
- Be prepared to work as part of a team of Judges at tournaments.
- Understand the responsibilities of being an official and the expectations that will be placed upon them, this includes following the Archery GB Code of conduct for coaches, judges, and officials.
If you have never been to a competition before it is a good idea to find a local competition and see how it runs before you sign up to be a Candidate Judge.
Do I have time to be a judge?
As a county judge, you only need to spend 6 days judging per year and attend either the Regional or National Coaching conference every 4 years.
How do I become a County Judge?
When you sign up to become a judge you will be registered as a Candidate Judge and can start judging immediately. From the initial registration as a Candidate judge you will work with other, more experienced judges for a minimum of 12 judging days before you are able to take the assessment to become a County judge. The assessment is designed simply to ensure that you understand the rules of shooting and to see you officiate on the field of play.
What will it cost?
It is free to enter the judging programme, however, during the training process, you will need to supply some basic judging equipment, including stopwatch, whistle, magnifying glass and a red pen. As you start judging you will also need to buy uniform.
Once you achieve your County Judge GWAS will reimburse up to £100 towards the initial purchase of your uniform (subject to receiving the receipts). GWAS will then grant up to £50 per year for the upkeep of uniform and purchase of new items. Some of the GWAS Counties also run a similar scheme, ask your county to find out.
Judges don’t get paid but should receive reimbursement from the tournament organiser for expenses they incur, such as travel to the event. In addition, lunch is normally supplied at the tournaments, and if an overnight stay is needed due to the distance travelled the Tournament Organiser may assist with finding a suitable place for you to stay.
Where do I sign up?
To get started as a candidate judge please complete the form below and return it to the GWAS Regional Judge Liaison Officers (JLO), Phil Gillbanks. He will give you all the information you need to get started, including introducing you to a mentor and another judge who will support you through the training process.
More Information
For more information you can check out the Archery GB website, get in touch with the GWAS JLO or talk to a judge at your next shoot.