Referee Latest News
Posted 28th June 2010
CRB Checks for EKF Officials
CRB checks are currently being offered free by the EKF to all EKF officials. However there are conditions.
- You must have a current EKF registration chit, or an EKF Registrations approved alternative. An association licence alone is not enough.
- All applicants licence details will be checked to ensure they are an EKF member and not just an association member.
- The offer currently applies to judge B upwards, including KATA officials
- All officials from judge B upwards must apply for an EKF CRB, even if you already have one.
- IF you already have an old type white CRB application form, I must receive it by the 15 July latest. Any received after that date will not be processed (as the CRB will not accept them anymore) and will be returned to you with the new purple type form for you to fill in.
- I am only sending the new type purple forms out now, please go onto the EKF website for help with filling it in. My details are there if you wish to contact me.
For more general information on EKF CRBs please click here »
John Moreton, EKF CRB Officer
Posted 17th June 2010
Coaching Tatami Courses
Regarding Tatami coaches badges there is a course in July 2010 Ripon, (further courses to be arranged through 2010). The accreditation will come into force 1st January 2011 if you wish to coach at next years (2011) EKF events, but as places will be limited for each course, please watch website for updates should you wish to attend. For further information please contact Chief Referee Dale Gamble chief-referee@englishkaratefederation.com
Posted 15th June 2010
EKF Referees & Judges list published
EKF Referees & Judges list published as of June 12th 2010 - click here to read (PDF) »
Updated 19/06/10 to include BKF, European and WKF Referees and Judges
8th European Regional Team Championships - Warsaw 27th - 30th May
Attendance; Dale Gamble, Brian Noble, Terry Pottage, Peter Bibby, Ivor Thomas, Steve Coupland
This is the only chance for prospective candidates to take exams in Europe either moving up qualifications of just starting out, the candidates were myself going for Kata judge A, Peter Bibby going for Kata judge B and Kumite Judge B, Steve Coupland going for Kumite referee A and Ivor Thomas going for Kumite ref B. After registering on Thursday afternoon which took 3 hours and our wallets 250 Euros lighter per exam ,we went to the theory briefing which took a further 3 hours.
Friday morning theory papers for Kumite and Kata were passed successfully by all of us, myself and Peter then went to the Kata practice which involved Kata been taught by the European commission members including our own EKF commission member Terry Pottage, who showed Annan. Then later that afternoon the practical exams began, we were joined by Rab McQueen from Scotland who was there to take his Kata judge B. Myself, Peter and Rab had to perform two Katas each one from our own style and one from another, answer all aspects of questions relating to the two katas and general kata judging.
We went to the referees briefing that night were we met up with the others and Brian was informed he was part of the appeals jury for the competition the next day.
Saturday
At the competition Kata teams were on first and myself and Peter were involved in judging these as part of our exam. To mine and Brian's great delight we were selected to be in charge of an area a piece as match controllers. Peter, Steve and Ivor were on the other areas doing their practical examinations. The competition went well with teams from all over Europe competing.
Sunday
This is finals day and English officials were involved again, Brian judged on the womens team kata and Steve on the men's team kata finals. Brian was again part of two more finals, the womens junior cadet teams and womens senior team and was a referee on the deciding bouts on both occasions. I was part of the refereeing panel for the men's final between France and Turkey and I was the referee for a quite exciting 2nd bout with a winning jodan kick from France
This could be the last occasion any of us referee a final in this format, due to the new rules that come in effect in November regarding refereeing/ corner judging.
Crunch time - exam results;
- Peter Bibby passed up to Kata Judge B
- Steve Coupland passed up to Kumite Referee A and is now a Karate Referee in Europe
- I was passed to Kata Judge A so I am now a Karate Referee in Europe
- Ivor unfortunately did not get through but retained his qualification as Kumite Judge A for a further 3 years
[ Rab from scotland passed to Kata Judge B ]
All in all this was good championship with good exam results for England and everything went well, the same can't be said for my journey home due to Warsaw airport being closed because of thunder storms , I missed my connecting flight in wroclaw which resulted in me staying overnight in a hotel and getting another flight home on monday.
Dale Gamble
EKF chief referee
EKF Senior European Championship, Athens Greece May 2010, Chief Referee's Report
Referees in attendance: Dale Gamble, Billy Brennan, Vince Parker, Steve Coupland and Ivor Thomas
Well after cancelled flights, general strikes and volcanic ash we finally arrived in Athens! Vince and myself had to travel to Gatwick on Wednesday after our flights had been cancelled, we met up with Billy, Steve and Ivor on the Thursday morning at Gatwick airport. Due to us arriving differently to what had been planned we did not know if there would be anyone to pick us up and we ended up traveling with the French team to our hotel.
We arrived at the referees briefing just in time and Billy, Vince and Steve requalified their positions by sitting the theory exam. The main points on the agenda was the new Kumite rules which will come into force after the World Championships. In brief this entails four corner judges for scoring and referee for penalties. Other changes brought in at these championships are compulsory body protectors, lesser verbal interaction with fighters and scoring to the face will be permitted with slightly more than touch contact.
Day 1
We were all kept busy Vince judged on a bronze medal final and judged on the ladies individual Kata final, Billy also judged on the men's kata final and the 68kg and above Ladies Kumite final. Ivor judged matches in the eliminations and Steve judged on a semi final in Kata. I refereed ten bouts in the eliminations and judged on three bronze finals.
Day 2
Another busy day Steve was involved in the semi-final kata match between France and Italy, Billy refereed the under 55kg female final and judged the female team kata final. I refereed a bronze final which was my first bout as referee of the day, judged on the male under 60kg final between Italy and Turkey which really brought the competition alive with lots of techniques and scoring, it went into an extention and the Italian then won 6 - 0.
Day 3 - Team Kumite
We had an early morning briefing and we were told only referee A's and B's would be used and rotation of the panel would be from round one, this now will be implemented at all European and World events. All though were we all used in various team matches none of us managed to referee a final today.
Debriefing
It was announced that Billy had been put forward as a trainee Tatami chief and over the next two years he will be involved in various courses working towards this, obviously this is great news and everyone was really pleased for him and this will help enhance the English referees department. This was a good championship for the English referees and I would like to say well done to the four of you for keeping up all your hard work over the three days. The next trip is the European regionals in Warsaw where we have four officials taking exams.
Dale Gamble
EKF Chief Referee
EKF National Championship 2010 Chief Referee's Report
We had an excellent turn out of 31 officials on day one plus time keepers which enabled us to constantly operate six areas, an outstanding 47 officials plus time keepers attended on day two again ensuring six areas were smoothly operated.
For the first time at a National event we were able to run full bout times and repechage in accordance with WKF rules. The overall standard of fighting was excellent which makes the refereeing easier, there were no major injuries reported and no official complaints received.
A good standard or rapport was achieved with most of the coaches there were a couple of queries about scores. A mention must go to the Tatami chiefs Tony Dent, Harold Stevenson, Peter Bibby, Dave Robinson and Gordon Harrison who worked tirelessly over the two days and gave feedback to new officials, judges and referees, also special thanks goes to Billy Brennan for his contribution on Sunday as my assistant. A thank you goes to everyone who, as always, played their part including all the time keepers who helped make this event a success. A special mention goes to Paul Campbell and Sarah Knight who, as organisers, kept the competition running smoothly.
The following officials were awarded the the following qualifications;
Kumite Judge B Kumite Judge A |
Kumite Referee B Kumite Referee A |
Dale Gamble, EKF Chief Referee
Chief Referee's report - Izmir, Turkey February 2010
Overall everything went really well, I retook my theory exam without any problems and Tony Dent was also in attendance at this event.
During the referees briefing on Thursday evening, the chairman of the referees commission for Europe, advised everyone that a new zero tolerance ruling had been brought in regarding alcohol for any official at a European or World event. Anyone found in breach of this will have their qualifications withdrawn, not just at this event but all future ones. Also, we were informed that a strict check of gi's would be carried out by the arbitrator at the beginning of each bout, this was in regards to length of trousers, sleeves and the Gi top. Additionally, a change had been made in regards to attempted throws, if this manoeuvre is attempted and fails, this is now classed as a category one penalty.
Day 1
Today was really cold in the sports stadium, brass monkey weather! Tony Dent and I both judged Kata, I also refereed and judged Kumite which included refereeing one semi final and two bronze fight offs. We both managed to watch some of the England fights and could hear the strong vocal support they were receiving.
Day 2
Sadly, today was no warmer, but I was feeling a bit better as I was armed with my trusty long johns, Tony was a bit envious! I refereed two semi finals and one bronze fight off, I was not as involved as much today due to there being some really good England perfomances on my area. Tony and I watched some of these bouts with National Coach Wayne Otto OBE, and was impressed by the high standards and results the fighters were achieving.
Day 3
The long johns were in action again! Once again, due to the great performances of the English fighters, I could only referee when an English fighter was not involved in the ensuing matches on my area but, I did manage to get picked to judge on the bronze final. Tony was also picked to judge on a Kata bronze repecharge event.
There was the referees’ debriefing and the Commission were pleased regarding the small number of injuries at this event, there was no protests received and they were quite pleased with the behaviour of the coaches around the areas. Chico Mbakwe (from Wales) announced that this would be his last championship in Europe or at a World level and everyone stood and gave him a round of applause and he was presented with a framed picture.
Overall a good championships with some excellent results from England.
Posted 2nd January 2010
Chief Referee and Referee Assistants
The Chief referee will now have the option of having up to 5 assistants, the assistants will have input into courses and be able to make recommendations.
A payment will be made to 2 assistants at a referees course and other referees can be used as and when required, payments to assistants will be made from the chief referees fee. These payments will ensure that referees assistants get paid for attendance and will assist in providing enough cover at courses.
All referees courses will now be held on squad training days at the same venue this will reduce costs and will enable referees and athletes the option of travelling together which helps reduce costs for those attending and also gives the referees the ability to join the squads during the course for practical training.
A new group of elite referees will be created, A* assistant tatami chiefs and tatami chiefs which will be approx 18.
These people will be invited onto the elite courses for tatami training and for European / World preparation.
Everyone will have to pay on these 2 elite courses but European and World qualified officals are not required to pay on any of the other referees courses.
There will be 6 open kumite courses, 2 kata courses and 2 Elite courses per year these will be held at various venues in the North, Midlands and South ensuring that everyone has access to them.