After reviewing the Junior numbers in the last three events, and in particular, the All-Ireland Schools Event 2022, a decision was made not to host a Junior Category in the All-Ireland Schools Event 2023 following an assessment of the Junior numbers from those previous events. The Association had some very disappointed judoka & parents after last year’s schools’ event who were entered as Juniors and had to withdraw after entering the event as there was no-one to fight, the Junior Category was then formally withdrawn just a day or so before the schools event last year as a consequence of the lack of entries.

The All-Ireland Schools Event 2022 had 2 female and 5 male Juniors entered. Please bear in mind the Junior category for the schools’ event is for those juniors only attending secondary school. The decision taken was that the IJA should not run an unsustainable category at this time for this event. The Association just cannot keep disappointing those that enter and then have to withdraw them after entry. This was the basis of the decision not to host a Junior Category in this year’s schools’ event. The Association has received two inquiries from two clubs asking why the Junior category is not being hosted and a reply has been provided to each of those clubs.

The Association will now ask clubs to send a list of their junior players who intended to enter this year’s Schools event to the IJA office before Thursday 18th May 2023 at 5pm. Please send Name, IJA licence, DOB and weight category of the Junior player.  From there, the Association will re-consider the original decision based on the information received. Please do not send Cadet names forward, this is an assessment for the Junior Category only