This is a development event for school Academic Years 4 and 5, 6 and 7, Years 8 and 9 and Years 10 to 13.This event is open to all school children hold a current valid licence of the BJA, NIJF, Judo Scotland, WJA, , AJA or BJC.

British Judo Association rules will apply throughout the competition. The method of competition will be compound knockout in categories of 8 or more players and pools and knockout in categories of 7 players or less.

Please note that minimum grades are lower than the minimum grade for the British Schools National Championships.   it is recommended that players have had some competition experience before entering this event.

Academic Years 4 & 5 – born 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2014
No eligibility restrictions. Technical restrictions will be used in Academic Years 4 & 5

Male: u24kg, u27kgs, u30kg, u34kg, u38kg, u42kg, u46kg, u50kg, over 50kg
Female: u25kg, u28kgs, u32kg, U36kg, u40kg, u44kg, u48kg, u52kg, over 52kg

Academic Years 6 & 7 – born 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2012
Minimum grade 4th mon (bottom yellow belt)Technical restrictions will be used in Academic Years 6 & 7

Male: u27kgs, u30kg, u34kg, u38kg, u42kg, u46kg, u50kg, u55kg, and over 55kg
Female: u28kgs, u32kg, U36kg, u40kg, u44kg, u48kg, u52kg, u57kg, and over 57kg

Academic Years 8 & 9 – born 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2010
Minimum grade 6^th mon (top yellow belt) or 5^th kyu (senior yellow belt)
Any player who has won a medal at the British Pre-Cadet or Cadet Championships in the last two years (December 2020 – December 2021) is ineligible to compete.

Male: -34kg, -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg and over 66kg
Female: -32kg, -36kg, -40kg, -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg and over 63kg

Academic Years 10 to 13 – born 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2008
Minimum grade 9^th mon (top orange belt) or 4^th kyu (senior orange belt)
Any player with 100 points or more of the British Cadet or Junior Ranking Lists at 31st December 2021 is ineligible to enter. Armlocks and strangles will be permitted in Academic Years 10 to 13.  This category will be points scoring for eligible players.

Male: -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg and o90kg
Female: -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg and o70kg

Gold and Silver medallists will qualify for a priority entry to the 2023 British Schools Championships. Please ensure you provide a current email address when entering this event, as priority entry invitations are sent by email. Even if you have achieved priority entry it is your responsibility to meet the British Schools Championships minimum requirement.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to combine or alter categories should entries dictate. in the event of large disparities in the lightest and heaviest weight groups, these will be split.  In the event of any dispute, the decision of the Tournament Director will be final.

NO VALID LICENCE – NO CONTEST – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Entry details

Entry Fee:                  £20.00
Spectator Fee:           FREE.
Please note Medway Park may charge for parking and there are no cafeteria facilities at the leisure centre. Vending machines are on site.

Closing Date for Entries:     Wednesday 11^th January 2023 or when maximum number reached.

Entries online: https://www.participant.co.uk/SouthernAreaJudo/event/SA_schools_2023

Postal or Email entries will not be accepted. All entries must include a valid email address and contact telephone number for the parent not the coach.

Enquiries to: Nicky Sexton  events@sajudo.org.uk

Weigh in information
An open weigh-in will take place for all players.  All competitors MUST present themselves to the weigh-in wearing competition acceptable judogi trousers and females a plain white t-shirt.  All competitors will receive a 0.6kg allowance.

Contest Times:                                                                     Weigh In Times:
Academic Years 4 & 5:                       3 minutes                    08:30 – 09:00
Academic Years 6 & 7:                       3 minutes                    09:30 – 10:00
Academic Years 8 & 9:                       3 minutes                    10:30 – 11:00
Academic Years 10 to 13:                  4 minutes                    11:30 – 12:00

Photography
By entering the event, all participants and parents or guardians of participants are consenting to photography/filming which may be taken at the event. If you wish to opt-out of the above, please contact the Competition Controller on the morning of the event.

Judogi & Zori:
White suits only, however you are expected to bring along your own blue and white belts, zori’s must be worn at all times whilst not on the mat.

Coaches MUST produce a VALID BJA Coach Award card in person in order to be eligible to gain matside access with their player.  Only one coach per player will be permitted at any one time.

Competition Guidelines:
Remember that the aim of the British Schools Championships is to have fun. Help you develop as a judoka. Improve your skills and conduct yourself in a sportsman like manner, plus represent the ideals, disciplines and etiquette of the British Judo Association to the highest level.

Judoka

• Help beginners or lower grades, if you can.
• Follow all judo rules throughout the event.
• Bow correctly at the beginning and end of a contest. It is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.
• Accept decisions; let your coach ask any necessary questions.
• Control your temper, do not shout or abuse other judoka or officials.
• Be a good sport, cheer all good play, and respect all of your fellow judoka.
• Treat all other judoka as you would like to be treated, do not take unfair advantage of any judoka.
• Co-operate with your coach and opponents, without them you do not have a game.

Parents

• Please be aware that children develop differently, at different rates and react differently to the same pressures.
• Children and young people are involved in organised sport for their enjoyment as well as yours and so please respect this at all times.
• Always encourage your child to train and compete by the rules of judo.
• Teach your child that effort and teamwork are as important as victory, so that the result of each contest is accepted without unnecessary disappointment and with a positive sporting attitude.
• Never ridicule or shout at your child for making a mistake or losing a contest.
• Children learn best by example. Applaud good play by your team and by members of the opposing team.
• Do not question publicly the officials’ judgement and never their honesty.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from children’s sporting activities.
• Set an example by being friendly to the parents of the opposition, emphasise enjoyment and fun, praise and reinforce effort and improvement.
• Coaching is allowed throughout the competition.
• Please remind your child/judoka that without instruction, they should adjust their judogi, so that the front and back of the jacket are inside the belt after every mate