The Irish Judo Association wishes to formally announce the resignations of Mr Kevin Fitzmaurice, Chair of the Refereeing Commission, and Mr Eddie O’Loughlin, Secretary of the Commission.
We extend our sincere thanks to Kevin and Eddie for their outstanding service and dedication to the refereeing community within Irish Judo. Their leadership and commitment have played a key role in shaping the current refereeing structure, and we wish them both continued success in their future endeavours.
A new Chair of the Refereeing Commission will be appointed in due course. In the interim, the IJA remains committed to supporting the essential work of the Commission and maintaining the high standards of refereeing within our sport.
Subject to the appointment of a new Chair, we anticipate that the Refereeing Commission will continue to build upon the legacy of the outgoing Chair and continue to focus on:
- Promoting inclusivity by welcoming both qualified and aspiring referees into the refereeing community.
- Advancing Adaptive Judo refereeing via coordinated support and promotion.
- Upholding standards by ensuring compliance with existing assessment and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
- Maintaining a comprehensive and current record of referee certifications and advancement.
- Enhancing education and training through the preparation of resources and organisation of seminars for referees at all levels.
- Mentoring aspiring international referees to support their growth and readiness for higher-level officiating.
- Ensuring proper reporting by documenting all international trip reports in line with policy.
- Facilitating development by nominating suitably qualified referees for EJU/IJF seminars and events.
Referees play an essential and highly valued role in upholding the integrity and success of judo in Ireland, and we are deeply grateful for their continued commitment and professionalism. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with refereeing colleagues across the country.
