The European Judo Union has recently published a Code of Conduct designed to help young judoka thrive, not just as athletes, but as individuals. Covering U13/U15 EJU Hopes Tournament, cadets and juniors, it is all about creating a safe, respectful, and positive space for learning and development. We caught up with Matthew Divall, EJU Sport Commissioner, to hear more about the thinking behind the document and why it matters now more than ever.
“First of all, this wasn’t written by just one person behind a desk,” Matthew explained. “It was a solid collaboration between the Education Sector led by Kristiina Pekkola and Sports Sector leader of EJU, Catarina Rodrigues. People from different countries, with different experiences, came together to shape it.”
The goal? To make sure everyone, from coaches and athletes to parents and spectators, understands what is expected. “As a first example, sometimes, at events, emotions can get a bit too intense and behaviours go out of line,” he said. “We are dealing with young people, and it is everyone’s responsibility to set the right example and maintain the values and standards expected.”
The document is already being put into practice, too. At the Cadet European Championships 2025 in North Macedonia, the key points were highlighted during the official draw. “We wanted to make it clear to everyone involved that this is not just a policy document to tick a box, it is about how we should all behave, how we all support each other, and importantly how we help young athletes grow and develop.”
As judo continues to expand at the grassroots level, the EJU now supports competitions for younger age groups. That brings a new level of responsibility. “We are not trying to turn 13-year-olds into Olympic champions overnight,” Matthew said. “It is about long-term development, teaching them the right habits and the right mindset.” Speaking of mindset, Matthew is a big believer in encouraging a growth mindset rather than labelling kids as “talented” from the get-go. “If you are told you are naturally good and then you lose, it feels like you have failed. That can stop young people from taking risks and trying to improve but if we focus on effort and learning, they will keep developing. The emphasis and trust in the process rather than the outcome is what is vital.”
One of the bigger concerns addressed in the new Code of Conduct is weight cutting, something Matthew is passionate about tackling. “Young developing athletes shouldn’t be cutting weight. They need to eat well and grow. We need to educate them and their coaches, as well as the parents about proper nutrition and hydration.”
Further evaluating the document, Matthew firmly speaks about what must come first: respect. However, with athletes and teams coming from all over Europe, cultural differences are inevitable. “What’s considered normal behaviour in one country might come across as aggressive in another,” Matthew explained. “We have got to keep communicating clearly and respectfully.”
Conclusively, Matthew highlighted the milestone presented front of us. “We have got systems in place. This is step one. If a coach or parent behaves in a way that doesn’t match our values, we can call it out. That is part of changing the culture. It is early days to say what works and what doesn’t but we are already seeing progress. People are talking about it. I mentioned it during the draw, and the response has been positive.”
Finally, he compared this initiative to dropping a pebble in a pond. “The ripples will spread. This is just the beginning. If we keep reinforcing the right messages, at home, in clubs, at competitions, we will help shape the next generation of judoka the right way.”
Code of Conduct Document
Code of Conduct Videos
Author: Szandra Szogedi