IHAA Judge Accreditation Pathway

There are 4 levels of IHAA Judges (L1-L4) and regulations specify the seniority of judge required to coach different levels of competition (categorised 1* ie local, through to 4*, international elite). These are summarised in the table below.

The IHAA is a worldwide organisation and it is important to us that people from all our member nations can train as a judge without incurring the significant expense of long haul travel (not to mention our responsibility to each reduce our carbon footprint). So the IHAA chose to use a mixture of online learning modules and assessment, accompanied by some face-to-face learning and alongside requiring logbooks of practical judging experience. Once qualified, judges will be required to complete biennial refresher courses and to log the competitions they are judging.

Level 1 and Level 2 (ST) judges are qualified to judge the straight track events (eg. Raid, Tower, Skirmish and other similar tracks). Level 2 (full) judges, and L3 and L4 judges are qualified to judge Hunt track competitions. In addition to a thorough understanding of the rules the most senior judges must have knowledge of Hunt track course design. The training modules and paperwork required for each level are summarised in the diagram below, and detailed in the text that follows on below.

IHAA Judging Panel

The IHAA Judging panel has oversight over the whole IHAA judging pathway, training and accreditation.
It is the highest level of authority in the field of judging for the IHAA.

The three members of the Judging Panel are:

• Anders Wredendal (Sweden)
• Gabriela Osiecka (Poland)
• Elizabeth Tinnan (USA)

List of IHAA Accredited Judges

IHAA Level 1 Judge Status

Conditions for acceptance onto IHAA Level 1 (L1) judge training:

• Nomination by IHAA Member Association / Special application direct to IHAA

There is currently no fee to train as an IHAA L1 judge.

L1 requires completion of the following online learning modules & linked assessments:

1. Judging principles and General & Competition rules
2. Straight Track rules
3. IHAA Postal match leaders
4. www.ihaa.eu for users

Age: The candidate must be age 16 years or more, at the time of completing the course

Conditions for retention as a IHAA L1 judge:

• Completion of an Update & Refresher course (every 2 years or sooner if there is a rulebook update)

Supplementary notes:

• The IHAA member association may make a special application for the age limit to be waived in exceptional circumstances.
• The IHAA Judging Panel will consider each application according to its individual merits and the evidence offered.

Joining instructions:

• Visit the homepage of our online learning course and select Level 1 Judges course, then “Get this course”.
• If you are a new user you will be invited to register on the site and set your login details.
  You will be able to access the course once the site administrator has approved your request.
  This may take up to 48 hours.
• Where a judge is from an IHAA member association it is necessary for your association to nominate you for judge training. Please ask them to do so.
• For judges who are not part of an IHAA affiliated group please apply to join via this form.

IHAA Level 2 Judge Status

Conditions for acceptance onto IHAA Level 2 (L2) judge training:

• Holds IHAA L1 judge qualification
• Fee payment of 15 Euros

L2 (Straight Track) requires:

• The candidate must be age 18 years or more, at the time of completing the course
• Completion of the online learning and assessment modules:
1. Applied judging
2. www.ihaa.eu for organisers
• Submission of a logbook demonstrating:
1. Activity as a judge for more than 12 months
2. Running four 1* competitions
3. Participating in the running of two 2* competitions (signed off by L2+ judge)

L2 (full) requirements are as for L2 (ST), but in addition:

• Completion of the online learning and assessment module:
1. Hunt Track rules
• The logbook submission should include participation in running at least 1 Hunt track

Conditions for retention as a IHAA L2 judge:

• Completion of an Update & Refresher course (every 2 years or sooner if there is a rulebook update)
• Judge at least two 2* competitions during a 3 year period

Supplementary notes:

• For applicants in 2022 grandfather rights (applied rights) will be granted.
  Applicants should submit a CV of their judging experience which will be reviewed by the IHAA Judging Panel. The Panel may ask for an online interview or reference to assist in their decision. Applicants will be granted the judging level which the panel believes is suitable based on the evidence of their previous judging activity.
• The IHAA member association may make a special application for the age limit or period of practical judging experience to be waived in exceptional circumstances. The IHAA Judging Panel will consider each application according to its individual merits and the evidence offered.
  

Joining instructions:

• Visit the homepage of our online learning course and select Level 2 Judges course, then “Get this course”.
• Once you have logged in it will invite you to make the payment of 15 Euros by Paypal.
• Where a judge is from an IHAA member association it is necessary for your association to nominate you for judge training. Please ask them to do so.
• For judges who are not part of an IHAA affiliated group please apply to join via this form.

IHAA Level 3 Judge Status

Conditions for acceptance onto IHAA Level 3 (L3) judge training:

• Has held the IHAA L2 (full) judge qualification for at least 2 years
• Nomination by your IHAA member association
• Good English language skills *

* unless awarded an exemption by IHAA judges panel and will then only be able to judge within local region where lack of english is no barrier

L3 requires:

• The candidate must be age 18 years or more, at the time of completing the course
• Completion of the online learning and assessment module:
1. Hunt Track course design
• Submission of a logbook demonstrating:
1. Activity as an L2 (full) judge throughout at least 2 competition seasons
2. Within the last 4 years:
• Running four 2* competitions
• Reference from a L3/4 judge (either a mentor to the candidate or someone they have judged alongside)

Conditions for retention as a IHAA L3 judge:

• Completion of an Update & Refresher course (every 2 years or sooner if there is a rulebook update)
• During a four year period: judge at least four 2* or two 3* events (or a combination of these)

Supplementary notes:

• For applicants in 2022 grandfather rights (applied rights) will be granted.
  Applicants should submit a CV of their judging experience which will be reviewed by the IHAA Judging Panel.
  The Panel may ask for an online interview or reference to assist in their decision. Applicants will be granted the judging level which the panel believes is suitable based on the evidence of their previous judging activity.
• The IHAA member association may make a special application for the age limit or period of practical judging experience to be waived in exceptional circumstances. The IHAA Judging Panel will consider each application according to its individual merits and the evidence offered.
• Regarding the required activity for a judge to retain their L3 judge status. If there is a period when high level competitions are cancelled for any reason eg. pandemic or natural disaster, then this 4year period will be extended.

IHAA Level 4 Judge Status

Pathway to becoming an IHAA Level 4 (L4) judge

• The applicant has held the IHAA L3 judge qualification for at least 4 years and regularly judges at 3* level competitions
• Submission of a logbook demonstrating their recent judging activity
• Good English language skills
• Nomination by three L3 / L4 judges
• Interview by IHAA Judging Panel and an experienced IHAA L4 judge

Conditions for retention as a IHAA L4 judge:

• Completion of an Update & Refresher course (every 2 years or sooner if there is a rulebook update)
• During a four year period: judge at least six 2* or two 3* or one 4* events (or a combination of these)

Supplementary notes:

• For applicants in 2022 grandfather rights (applied rights) will be granted.
  Applicants should submit a CV of their judging experience which will be reviewed by the IHAA Judging Panel.
  The Panel may ask for an online interview or reference to assist in their decision. Applicants will be granted the judging level which the panel believes is suitable based on the evidence of their previous judging activity.
• The IHAA member association may make a special application for the age limit or period of practical judging experience to be waived in exceptional circumstances. The IHAA Judging Panel will consider each application according to its individual merits and the evidence offered.
• Regarding the required activity for a judge to retain their L4 judge status. If there is a period when high level competitions are cancelled for any reason eg. pandemic or natural disaster, then this 4 year period will be extended.

Disciplinary Procedures Against IHAA Judges

Sanctions will be issued by the IHAA Judging Panel in consultation with the Appeals Committee where appropriate.

Conditions for demotion

• Inactivity
• Failure to complete the conditions for retention of that judging level.
  If there is a genuine reason for inactivity then the applicant can apply for an extension.
• Complaints
• 2 complaints in one year or 3 complaints in a three year period.
  Complaints must relate to separate instances (not multiple people registering a single concern). They should be considered by the appeals committee and will only stand against a judge’s record if found to be valid complaints.

Consequence of demotion

• The individual will be moved down one judging level
• All necessary training and conditions must be fulfilled to move back up a level.
  In the event of complaints, 2 years must elapse before an individual can reapply

Conditions for suspension

• If a judge is found by the appeals committee to be:
• Complicit in match fixing, or substance abuse by a human or equine athlete
• Otherwise brings the sport of horseback archery or the IHAA into disrepute

Consequence of suspension

• The judge is removed from the IHAA Judges list
• 2 years must elapse before an individual may reapply to become a judge.
  They must start again at L1 and the training and conditions must be fulfilled afresh