Over 80 coaches gathered at the Nationalparkzentrum in Mittersill on 8 January for a comprehensive seminar addressing the latest developments in judo coaching and refereeing. The event, held midway through the training camp day, provided crucial insights into rule changes and strategic priorities for European judo in 2026.
EJU President Dr László Tóth opened the seminar by commending the work of the EJU Coaching Commission and emphasising the importance of enhanced communication and collaboration amongst coaches across the continent. His message set the tone for a session focused on strengthening the foundation of European judo through unified understanding and application of competitive standards.
Coaching Seminar
Urška Žolnir Jugovar, Head Sport Director of the European Judo Union, led the coaching seminar session, outlining the commission’s strategic objectives for the year ahead. She reinforced the President’s emphasis on continued communication and collaboration, identifying key priorities for the Coaching Commission.
“One of the main goals for our Coach Commission in 2026 is to continue working closely with the IJF Referee Commissioner before the IJF Tour,” Žolnir Jugovar explained. “We are truly grateful to the IJF for allowing us to cooperate so well and express our opinions. Our coaches attend meetings with the referees, which is extremely valuable. However, the most important challenge we face is determining how to disseminate information from these meetings to other coaches, particularly throughout Europe.”
She emphasised the commission’s structure and collaborative approach: “We have nine coaches in the Coach Commission. I urge all coaches to connect with the coaches and communicate with them. This creates a strong foundation of coaches who understand the rules and know how to apply them with their athletes. Through this approach, Europe can become considerably stronger in the upcoming Olympic Games.”
When asked about extending outreach beyond the continent, Žolnir Jugovar clarified that the primary focus remains on EJU coaches: “They are our engine, along with the athletes. We need to deliver them a strong foundation.”
Coaches were also informed of the full Olympic Training Camps (OTCs) scheduled for 2026 and the forthcoming IJF/EJU Referee and Coaching Seminar taking place on 28–29 May 2026 in Sarajevo. The Coaching Commission encouraged all coaches to submit observations, ideas or questions to [email protected].
Referee Seminar: Navigating New Competition Rules
EJU Referee Commissioner, Nuno Carvalho, conducted the refereeing component of the seminar, providing detailed analysis of the recently published IJF video outlining updates to competition rules. The session covered several critical areas:
- Yuko scoring criteria
- Non-yuko situations
- Grip breaks
- Time-wasting penalties
- Neck and spine safety / Ushiro-sankaku
- Non-combativity
- Injury, illness or accident protocols
The rule changes naturally prompted questions and vigorous debate amongst attendees. Sample videos were utilised throughout the presentation to illustrate practical applications of the new standards.
When asked about the most challenging aspect of the new rules, Carvalho emphasised the psychological adjustment required: “The mindset needs to change, especially regarding scoring criteria for yuko. This will be the most challenging for everyone. However, like all rule changes, these are implemented for improvement. I believe we will see considerably more scores with these changes, though we must observe how athletes adapt and how the rules are applied in practice.”
Regarding the most positive development, Carvalho highlighted clarity: “Clarifying and simplifying the scoring criteria is crucial. There have been moments of doubt about whether something constitutes a score. By clarifying the criteria, we remove ambiguity. For me, this is the most significant improvement.”
Addressing the stricter application of injury and bleeding protocols, Carvalho explained the rationale: “Applying this rule more strictly helps avoid time-wasting. Some athletes have taken advantage of the rules to rest or disrupt their opponent’s rhythm when they feel under pressure. Stricter application prevents this exploitation. Statistically, over the years we have seen increasing scores and decreasing penalties. We are moving in the right direction.”
Coaches are encouraged to submit observations, ideas or questions to Mr Alexandr Jatckevitch, EJU Head Referee Director via [email protected].
The day also featured the official opening ceremony of the training camp, where Thomas Ellmauer, Mayor of Mittersill, welcomed the international judo community: “Welcome to Mittersill. I hope you have excellent days here. We are truly happy and proud to welcome you all to our town. All the best and good luck.”
The seminar provided essential preparation for coaches and referees as they navigate the evolving landscape of competitive judo, ensuring that European athletes benefit from unified understanding and consistent application of international standards throughout the 2026 season.
Author: Szandra Szogedi