Referee hand signals

recognizing

USJF REFEREE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Recognizing the Referee Hand Gestures

The referee shall make gestures as indicated below when taking the following actions:

Indicate the Winner

To indicate the winner, the referee shall return to his position at start of the contest, take one step forward, indicate the winner and then take one step back.

Ippon

Ippon: shall raise one arm high above the head with the palm of the hand facing forward.

Waza-ari

Waza-ari: shall raise one of their arms sideways to shoulder height with the palm of the hand facing downwards.

The waza-ari gesture should start with the arm across the chest, then sideways to the correct finishing position.

The waza-ari gestures should be maintained for three (3) to five (5) seconds while moving to ensure that the score is clearly visible to the judges.

However, care should be taken when turning to keep the contestants within view.

Waza-ari-awasete-Ippon

Waza-ari-awasete-ippon: first waza-ari, then the ippon gesture.

Osaekomi

Osaekomi: shall point their arm, with the palm of the hand facing downwards, out from their body down towards the contestants while facing the contestants and bending their body towards them.

Toketa

Toketa: shall raise one of their arms, with the fingers of the hand straight and forward and the thumb up, to the front and wave it from right to left quickly two or three times while bending their body towards the contestants.

Mate

Mate: shall raise one of their arms to shoulder height approximately parallel to the tatami and display the flattened palm of their hand (fingers up) to the timing and scoring technical officials.

Sono-mama

Sono-mama: shall bend forward and touch both contestants with the palms of their hands.

Yoshi

Yoshi: shall firmly touch both contestants with the palms of their hands and bring pressure on them.

Cancellation

To indicate the cancellation of an expressed opinion: shall repeat with one hand the same gesture while raising the other hand above the head to the front and wave it from right to left two or three times.

There should be no announcement made when cancelling an expressed opinion (score or penalty).

Should a rectification gesture be required, it shall be done as quickly as possible after the cancellation gesture.

If the situation allows, the referee will signal the cancellation when the fighters can see this gesture.

Re-adjust the Judogi

To direct the contestant(s) to re-adjust the judogi: shall cross left hand over right, palms facing inwards, at belt height.

To award a penalty towards the contestant who does not re-adjust their judogi correctly between the mate and the subsequent hajme: point towards the contestant (s) to be penalised with the forefinger extended from a closed fist while announcing the penalty and, then, cross left hand over right, palms facing inwards, at belt height.