Judges' information forms and tests for potential observers will be available by 11/1/07.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR NCA WORKING JUDGES - Effective 11/1/07

As a result of the input received from the membership, the requirements for judges are changing. These changes reflect majority opinions from all of the comments received. The NCA Board has approved these new requirements for Water and Draft Test judges, as well as for prospective judges, effective November 1, 2007. There are allowances applicable for already approved judging assignments. All judges are grandfathered into their current status that reflect their judging assignments through the end of 2007. This includes those who have already completed an observation assignment or have been approved to observe a Water or Draft Test, depending upon results received after completion of the observation assignment. We welcome updated information from any judges who believe their status would move to a higher judging level by the end of this calendar year so that we may review their individual situations. Please note the new regulations for judges:

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR NCA WORKING JUDGES

Please note: Section VII(2) was corrected on 11/29/07, please refresh your browser window if accessing this page to make sure you have the correct version loaded.

This information pertains to water and draft judges. Unless otherwise noted, qualifications and requirements are identical for both specialties. Applicants should apply the information to the specialty for which they are applying.

I. Prerequisites to Judging

Judging applicants must met the following prerequisites:
            1. earned two (2) WRD (or DD) titles.
            2. earned one (1) AKC Companion Dog (CD) title.
         3. worked as a test chair, test secretary, or chief steward.
In certain circumstances, where it may not be possible to serve in one of these capacities, a prospective judge may request approval from the Working Dog Committee (WDC) to “shadow” one of these three positions instead. Requests for the shadowing alternative should be made to the WDC water (draft) contact person and must include a description of the circumstances that would prevent the applicant from holding one of the three required positions.

New- July 2008-

At the 7/19/08 board teleconference the board voted to allow people applying to become observer judges to have either two WRD titles or one WRD title and one WRDX title as long as the title were put on two different dogs.

II. Shadowing

 If the shadowing request is approved by the WDC, the requirements and conditions are as follows:
            1. If the potential judge is already an approved judge in one specialty, he/she will “shadow” one (1) of the required positions (test chair, test secretary or chief steward) for the entire day at one test of the specialty for which he/she is applying.
            2. If the potential judge is not an approved judge in either specialty, he/she will “shadow” two (2) of the required positions (test chair, test secretary or chief steward) for the entire day at two (2) separate tests for which he/she is applying.
When the shadowing alternative is approved, the WDC will provide the applicant an evaluation sheet(s) to be completed after each test by the chair, secretary, or chief steward mentoring the shadowing experience. The two judges at each test will also sign the evaluation sheet attesting to the active involvement throughout the test by the potential judge. 
Test chairs, secretaries, chief stewards, and those “shadowing” those positions are permitted to exhibit at tests. However, to meet the “shadowing” requirement, the evaluation(s) must be very positive in nature and attest to the prospective judge’s active involvement throughout the test.
The prospective judge will submit the shadowing evaluation form to the WDC following the applicable event(s).

III. Testing and Observations

            1. When the above-listed prerequisites have been successfully completed, the applicant will request the appropriate test (water or draft) from the WDC. The applicant will take this test as an open-book test. Upon completion, the applicant will return the test to the appropriate WDC contact for grading. The contact will notify the prospective judge if the test has been passed. If the applicant does not receive a passing score, he/she must wait at least thirty (30) days before requesting another test.  This will allow the applicant additional time to study the Regulations and/or the Draft Test Equipment Guide, as appropriate. 
            2. Once an applicant has passed a written test, he/she may contact a test committee and the judges of an upcoming test to ask permission to observe at that test. (Observers are not permitted at National Specialty tests.) The WDC will approve an observation provided signatures have been obtained by both judges and the test chair and the judging panel consists of at least one mentor judge, combined with either another mentor judge or with a partner judge. The appropriate WDC contact must receive the observation request at least thirty (30) days prior to the upcoming test to allow for approval to be sent back to the applicant.

An applicant must successfully complete 2 observations with the following conditions:
      1. Each judge involved in the observation must provide positive written reviews. 
      2. The observations must be in two (2) different locations and with four (4) different judges, using the criteria listed above for judging panels which are allowed to have an observer. 
      3. Applicants must wait for notification of the results of their first observation assignment from the chair of the WDC prior to applying for a second observation.
Following completion of two, successful observations, the WDC chair will advise the applicant that all requirements have been met successfully and that applicant has been granted provisional judging status. The new judge’s name will be added to the judges’ list on the NCA Website.

IV. Requirements of Provisional Judges

            1. Provisional judges must judge a minimum of three (3) judging assignments. These tests must be with at least two (2) different judges and in at least three (3) different locations.
            At the first two (2) assignments, the mentor judging with the provisional will provide the WDC with a written evaluation of the provisional judge’s performance. However, the provisional judge may not accept a second judging assignment until he/she receives confirmation that the first evaluation has been reviewed by the WDC, which will provide the provisional judge with summaries from the comments received. The WDC chair will advise the provisional judge of the status of the evaluations.
            If the two evaluations contain sufficient positive feedback, the provisional judge will be approved to continue judging without need for further formal evaluations. Feedback from exhibitors will also be considered before advising the provisional judge that he/she has successfully completed the evaluation requirements. Additional evaluations may be required.
            2. Provisional judges must exhibit a dog at least once every three (3) years in whatever type of test is appropriate, water or draft. Requalifications are allowed, and the exhibition does not need to result in a passing performance. However, for the exhibition to qualify for this requirement, the dog must complete the test and participate in each of the exercises.
            Provisional judges who are delinquent in the exhibiting requirement may not accept judging assignments. Their judging status will be flagged on the NCA Website until they have completed the necessary requirements.
            3. Provisional judges are encouraged to continue their experience and education. See Section IX for suggested activities.

V. Advancing from Provisional to Partner Status

Once the provisional requirements have been fulfilled, a judge will move to partner level provided he/she has earned at least one additional WRD (DD) title. A partner judge will have a minimum of three (3) WRDs (DDs) total.

VI. Requirements of Partner Judges

            1. Partner judges must judge a minimum of four (4) assignments. These tests must be with at least three (3) different judges, in at least two (2) different locations, and for at least two (2) different clubs. “Different” is defined as in any previous assignments on any level.
            2. Partner judges must exhibit a dog at least once every four (4) years in whatever type of test is appropriate, water or draft. Requalifications are allowed, and the exhibition does not need to result in a passing performance. However, for the exhibition to qualify for this requirement, the dog must complete the test and participate in each of the exercises.
            Partner judges who are delinquent in the exhibiting requirement may not accept judging assignments. Their judging status will be flagged on the NCA Website until they have completed the necessary requirements.
            3. Partner judges are encouraged to continue their experience and education. See Section IX for suggested activities.

VII. Advancing from Partner to Mentor Status

            1. Once the partner requirements have been fulfilled, a water judge will move to mentor level provided he/she has earned at least one additional WRD title. A mentor water judge will have a minimum of four (4) WRDs total.
            2. Once the partner requirements have been fulfilled, a draft judge will move to mentor level provided he/she has earned at least one additional DD title and at least one team draft title. A team is defined as a minimum of two (2) Newfoundlands, at least one of which has not previously earned a team title. A mentor draft judge will have a minimum of four (4) DDs and one (1) TDD total.
            3. Mentor judges are encouraged to continue their experience and education. See Section IX for suggested activities.

VIII. Continuing Education and Experience

Judges at all levels are encouraged to continue their experience and education. Suggested activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Exhibit in tests.

• Steward or assist with the smooth operation of tests.

• Serve on a test committee.

• Attend continuing education seminars provided at National Specialties, or by requesting an electronic version (CD, DVD, VHS), etc. of the seminar if unable to attend. A sign-up sheet and list of those who have requested an electronic version of National Specialty seminars will be provided by the host of the seminar to the WDC for documentation in each judge’s individual record.

• Read the Judges’ Corner newsletter, which is designed to keep judges informed about the latest issues related to judging, and completing the “open book” review sheet at the end of each issue. Review sheet questions may cover water or draft test Regulations, the Draft Equipment Guide, or content from any current or past Judges’ Corner.

• Participate in regional working dog seminars as instructors, trainers, or trainees.

• Assist at as many working events as possible during the year, in addition to exhibiting and judging.

• Attend dog training seminars for a variety of dog related activities conducted by well-known trainers.

It is recommended that judges submit verification of their continuing education and experience to the WDC within six (6) months of participation. A form for reporting this information, which will be added to a judge’s record, is available on the NCA Website. Judges must also provide documentation of completing the exhibiting requirements.  Documentation of completing the requirements to move to the next judging level should also be provided within six (6) months of the events applicable.

IX. Approval for Judging Panels

• Judging panels for Water or Draft tests consisting of Mentor/Mentor or Mentor/Partner, Mentor/Provisional or Partner/Partner judges will receive automatic approval from The Working Dog Committee.

• Once in rare circumstances would a partner/provisional judging panel be approved.

•  Only in emergency situations would a panel consisting of two provisional judges be approved. 

• For a draft test to be approved, at least one (1) of the two proposed judges will have earned a Team Draft title, as defined in this document.  Those draft test judges who have earned a Team Draft title will be designated on the NCA website, so that the test committees may make appropriate selections.

• For a water or draft test to have an observer approved to join the judging panel, that panel must be made up of mentor/mentor judges, or of mentor/partner judges.  Only one observer is allowed at each test.  Those judges who have an observer with them are required to submit their evaluation of the observer within two (2) weeks of the test so that the observer may be promptly notified of his/her status by the WDC.

• Observers are not allowed at tests held in conjunction with a National Specialty.

• As of the date these requirements are approved by the NCA Board, those judges currently on the Water or Draft test judging list are “grandfathered” to the level in which they appear at that time. Those judges who have not yet completed their second judging assignment will need to fulfill the requirement for second, positive evaluation by a mentor level co-judge as indicated in the requirements for new, provisional judges.

X. Reporting Requirements for Judges

• Judges must report the completion of required, ongoing experience at tests during the year, with details regarding exhibition requirements met, with examples of continuing education opportunities, and of documentation, including titles earned which support the move up to another judging level to the appropriate WDC contact who keeps the judging statistics.  Each individual judge will be responsible for ensuring the WDC has the correct names of co-judges, dates of all requirements met, locations and club names, etc., for recording of their judging experiences and for titles earned.  Judges will provide documentation of the above items within six (6) months of each event applicable.

• An official form, created for this purpose will be used to record accomplishments and compliance with required exhibition or experience gained, or to advise the WDC that the judge has completed all requirements to move to a higher level of judging status. This form will be available on the NCA Website. The form will be sent by each judge to the appropriate WDC contact keeping judging statistics.  Documentation of those in attendance or requesting audio/visual copies to be viewed of continuing education offered at National Specialty events will be provided to the WDC by the host of these National Specialty seminars.  This documentation will be added to each judge’s record.

• The NCA website will be updated at least once monthly with transitions in judging status, to record judges who cannot accept judging assignments due to required exhibition requirements outstanding, as well as the names of judges who are able to accept assignments once again after any lapse.  The WDC will also use the documentation provided by the judges to flag the names of all judges who have earned a Team Draft Dog title. 

effective 11/1/07

Back