Referee Development

Referee Classification System

The system to be put in place is a 5 tiered system, reading from top to bottom as:

1. WT certified International Referee (WT IR)

2. TNZ Class 1

3. TNZ Class 2

4. TNZ Class 3

5. TNZ Class P

TNZ certified Referees will be classified as one of the following P, 3, 2, 1 (1 being the highest).

Movement Through the Classes

Moving through the classes requires a combination of:

• Points gained through officiating at tournaments,

• Observation by the Referee Director and the Referee Coordinators,

• Seminar attendance (staying up to date with rules and interpretation changes issued by WT)

When a referee passes the points threshold to move to a new Class, the referee is not automatically upgraded to the new class. The Referee must attend a subsequent referee seminar in order for a new certificate to be issued with the upgraded status.

Recognition of prior learning

For referees wishing to be graded above Class 3, please attend a seminar and bring with you a CV outlining your referee experience (tournaments), previous qualifications, and in the case of Poomsae, your competition history as a player.

Further requirements for Poomsae Classification

For Poomsae, the certificate will also note the belt/age group to which the Referee is qualified to officiate.

Oceania Taekwondo Union (OTU)

Certificates issued by TNZ are valid within New Zealand. An OTU Referee certificate is valid worldwide. Officials may hold both certificates, but the TNZ Referee certificate is the primary reference document for TNZ. Whilst an OTU qualification can be used in New Zealand, holding an OTU certificate does not automatically place the holder at the same level within the TNZ system.

REFEREE UNIFORM

In the event that no uniform is provided for the tournament, the default uniform for a TNZ Referee is:

Soft soled shoes (preferably martial arts shoes)

Black long pants (not black jeans)

TNZ Referee collared polo shirt, or White collared business shirt (long or short sleeve), if using a business shirt, a Black tie

Staying Up to date:

A TNZ Referee certificate is a “life-time” qualification, but for referees to work within the rules for the sport, it is recommended that they remain Active. It is expected that the certificate holder will attend further referee refresher seminars and officiate at tournaments.

REFEREE MONITORING SYSTEM

The monitoring system to be implemented for TNZ by the Referee Director is based around the feedback from New Zealand based WT IRs. The Referee Director will receive/seek feedback from Tournament Directors, and World Taekwondo International Referees on the performance of the TNZ Registered Officials officiating at tournaments nationwide. As more tournaments are attended by individual TNZ Registered Referees, more experience is gained and their respective skills are improved. As experience increases, so does the confidence and skill level of the official.

POINTS SYSTEM

Referees attending tournaments where a WT IR is in attendance can apply for points to be awarded against their names. Points are used as a way of assessing tournaments attended and hence, by association, experience gained. Points will not decrease over time as they are an indication of increased skill level.

Accreditation of points

Moving through the classes is a combination of:

• Points gained through officiating at tournaments,

• Observation by the Referee Director and the Referee Coordinators,

• Seminar attendance (staying up to date with rules and interpretation changes issued by WT)

When a referee passes the threshold to pass to a new Class, the referee is not automatically upgraded. The Referee must attend a subsequent referee seminar in order for a new certificate to be issued with the upgraded status.

TOURNAMENT STATUS

The Referee Director must be able to constantly, and freely, assess the officials registered with Taekwondo New Zealand. As tournaments offered throughout New Zealand are of differing standards, the ability to set grades tournaments for the purpose of points allocation is required. A New Zealand based WT IR’s must be present to view the officiating and recommend referees for points allocation.

Event Categoties

• Grade 3:- Regional events – for example: NZUTA Bay Open

• Grade 2:- National Organisation events – for example: TUNZ Nationals, NZUTA Nationals

• Grade 1:- TNZ Open and National Championships – for example: TNZ National Championships

The event category for each tournament will be decided between the TNZ Tournament Director and the TNZ Referee Director.

POINTS ALLOCATION

Seminars/refresher attendance

• Attendance at a TNZ Referee seminar – 1 point

• Successful completion of TNZ Referee examination – 1 point

Officiating at TOURNAMENTS

Points for tournaments are earned by the number of days officiating:

• Grade 3 tournament – 1 point per day

• Grade 2 tournament – 2 points per day

• Grade 1 tournament – 3 points per day

  
  

ADVANCEMENT THROUGH THE REFEREE CLASSES

All TNZ referees must be registered members of TNZ through the TNZ Global Management System (GMS).

P CLASS (PROVISIONAL) REFEREE – 1 POINT

A “P Class” Referee can not officiate at tournaments. This level is expected for Coaches and Instructors. P Class referees should not be officiating at tournaments.

Requirements

• TNZ member through the WT GMS.

• Attendance at full day course but has not passed or submitted an examination paper.

Kyorugi

• Any belt level (Keup 8) or higher and aged 12 years or above.

Poomsae

• Keup 2 or higher and aged 18 years or above

  
  

3RD CLASS REFEREE – 2 to 10 points inclusive

Qualifies a Referee to judge at Grade 3 tournaments, and judge at Grade 2 events.

Requirements

• Attained a minimum of 2 TNZ Ranking points

Kyorugi

• Belt Level – Any belt level (Keup 8) or higher and aged 12 years or above.

Poomsae

• Belt level – Keup 2 or higher and aged 18 years or above

• Can judge only coloured belt competition.

  
  

2ND CLASS REFEREE – 11 to 24 points inclusive

Qualifies a Referee to officiate as referee at all Grade 3 and Grade 2 tournaments, and may judge at Grade 1 tournaments.

Requirements

• Attained a minimum of 11 TNZ Ranking points

• Must have minimum rank of 2nd Keup (Kyorugi) and 1st Dan (Poomsae)

• Must pass course/seminar requirements

• Must have a current Referee certificate

Kyorugi

• Keup 2 or higher and aged 18 years or above.

Poomsae

• Belt level – 1st Dan/Poom or higher and aged 18 years or above

• Can judge only to the patterns of their age division.

• Expected to know, perform and judge up to their age Division

  
  

1ST CLASS REFEREE – 25 points or more

Qualifies referees to referee/judge at all Grade 3, 2 and 1 tournaments and national team selection level events. Qualifies referees to be eligible for selection to attend international level courses (e.g. WT International Referee). This class level allows referees to officiate at tournaments overseas (by invitation only), though a corresponding OTU certificate is also recommended.

Requirements

• Attained a minimum of 21 TNZ Ranking points

• Poomsae and Kyorugi: Must have minimum rank of 1st Dan Kukkiwon black belt.

• Must pass course/seminar requirements

• Must have a current Referee certificate

Kyorugi

• 1st Dan or higher and aged 18 years or above

Poomsae

• 1st Dan or higher and aged 18 years or above

• Can judge all competitions

• Expected to know, perform and judge all patterns from Taeguek 4 to Poomsae Hansu

  
  

APPLICATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT A WORLD TAEKWONDO INTERNATIONAL REFEREE SEMINAR

The process for seeking attendance at a WT IR seminar has pre-requisite conditions. The candidate must first fulfil the following pre-requisites:

Category of Referee

Kyorugi

• Female – Minimum 1st Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt

• Male – Minimum 2nd Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt

• Must have a current TNZ Class 1 Referee certificate with a minimum of 30 points

• Must be a TNZ member registered through the TNZ GMS

Poomsae

• Minimum 4th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt

• Minimum age – 21 years

• Must have a current TNZ Class 1 Referee certificate with a minimum of 30 points

• Must be a TNZ member registered through the TNZ GMS

Once these criteria have been fulfilled, the candidate shall apply to the TNZ Referee Director for consideration, stipulating the details of the WT seminar the candidate is wishing to attend.

The TNZ Referee Director, in consultation with the TNZ Poomsae Director and the TNZ Kyorugi Director, will either ACCEPT or REJECT the application. In the case of a rejection, the TNZ Referee Director will correspond directly with the Candidate regarding why the application was rejected. The TNZ Referee Director will offer advice on what areas the candidate needs to improve.

In the case of acceptance, an application is made to the TNZ Board recommending the candidate be approved to attend the stipulated WT seminar. If the TNZ Board agrees with the recommendation of the TNZ Referee Director, the TNZ President’s signature is added to the application form. The signed form is returned to the candidate for submission to World Taekwondo. In the case of rejection by the TNZ Board, the TNZ President will correspond directly with the Candidate regarding why the application was rejected.

Please note: TNZ Board approval of the application does not constitute any suggestion of financial support from TNZ or the TNZ Board.

WT IR SEMINARS AND THE WTO

For the purpose of attending a WT IR seminar, the signature of the TNZ President is required. This signature will not be made available unless the candidate holds a current-active TNZ Class 1 certificate and is a current financial member of Taekwondo New Zealand. An OTU certificate, and/or the signature of the OTU President, are not applicable for application to attend a WT Referee seminar.