Rules for Judges, Student Judges and Stewards
date of issue: 01.01.2008
1 General
1.1Principles being a FIFe Judge
Judges trained and approved by the FIFe are—besides the cats themselves—the most important representatives of the cat fancy and have great responsibility toward the values and principles promoted by the Federation.
A cat show is the arena where many potential cat fanciers become active after having been a visitor. Information about the cat fancy brought to the community through newspapers, radio and television will normally take place in connection with local cat shows.
The skill, behaviour and attitude of the judge are among the first impressions people outside the cat fancy receive. Thus, it is of utmost importance for FIFe that the judge possesses skills and abilities such as:
- knowledge and skill in handling the cat,
- knowledge and understanding of the cat’s anatomy and behaviour,
- knowledge of basic genetics in cats,
- knowledge of the standard and the rules,
- knowledge of organising shows and the various procedures,
- knowledge of FIFe and understanding of the basic values and principles identifying the organisation,
- ability of communication with experienced and new exhibitors and other people,
- self confidence and self control under stressful situations,
- ability to judge in an objective way and being able to give reasons for the various decisions made,
- the ability to focus on the cat, who is the main subject in the fancy in general, and especially at shows.
These are among the skills and talents a judge is expected to possess that will do credit to the Federation.
Some are talents, some are skills that can be acquired through training and studies.
1.2 Judges Training Programme
In order for FIFe to encourage a body of judges who meets the above mentioned requirements it is of utmost importance for the Federation to identify the talents among the applicants.
1.3Code of Ethics
Judges are representatives of FIFe and shall conduct themselves as such.
Participants in the judging programme shall act in a professional manner by displaying a considerate and caring attitude and courteous behavior whether verbal, written and/or as demonstrated by physical actions.
Judges shall make every reasonable effort to keep travel costs, meals and other incidental expenses as low as possible for the hosting club.
Judges should be aware that they are honoured by being asked to judge at a show.
Judges, whether judging, exhibiting or visiting a show, shall not cause disruption during a show.
The rules are also applicable to student judges.
2 Judges
2.1Recognized Judges
The FIFe recognizes as FIFe-judges those who appear on the official list of FIFe. To be considered an active judge in a category means to have carried out at least three judging engagements per category per year (this condition does not apply to the judges of a non-European FIFe member).
FIFe judges are permitted to judge on CFA shows outside of Europe and CFA judges are permitted to judge at FIFe shows outside Europe.
The permission is restricted to the categories in which the judge is licensed by its own organisation.
2.2Honorary judges
The Board of FIFe can appoint honorary judges in acknowledgment of their services to the FIFe.
2.3Judges‘ List
The Board of FIFe publishes an official list of its recognized judges.
The official list contains:
- the name of the judge;
- the address and telephone number;
- the date on which he was appointed;
- the category or categories for which he is appointed;
- the FIFe languages which he speaks fluently;
- the x above the date of appointment indicates that the judge is active;
- the # denotes that the judge has either attended judges seminar licensed by the FIFe, listed in the articles 3.1 and 3.2, or has attended the compulsory student seminar, listed in article 5.1.14.1, and gives the date of the last seminar attended.
Notes:
a) a) To receive a seminar attendance certificate a person must be present for the whole seminar.
b) Attendance to three compulsory student seminars, listed in article 5.1.14.1 will be accredited as such every 3rd time of the 3 years period.
A revised list is issued annually after the General Assembly.
2.4Judges of other federations
Judges belonging to other organizations are authorized to judge those breeds which they are licensed to judge in their own organisationafter being approved by the Board of FIFe separately for each assignment, according to the FIFe standard.
They cannot undertake to supervise a stage or to act as an examiner.
2.5Judge's adherance to FIFe's Rules
2.5.1 Judge's undertaking to FIFe
A judge who is authorized by FIFe must undertake in writing to abide by the Statutes and Rules of the FIFe.
2.5.2 Judges' adherance to FIFe Standards
Judges are required to adhere to the Breed Standards recognized by FIFe.
2.6Judges' membership
2.6.1 Direct attachment to FIFe
An international judge is, as such, directly attached to the FIFe.
2.6.2 Judges as breeders and exhibitors
If a FIFe judge wants to participate in the cat fancy in positions as a breeder, an exhibitor, an official etc., he must be a member of FIFe affiliated member.
2.7Judges‘ Fees
For inclusion in the official Judges Llist, judges are required to pay an annual fee, the amount of which is fixed by the General Assembly. The actual amount is listed in Annex 1 of the General Rules.
The FIFe member will be responsible for submitting the fees of its judges to the FIFe Treasurer by the 31 March each year. Where a judge is not a member of a FIFe member, he must transfer his fee himself to the FIFe Treasurer by the 31 March each year.
2.8Activities and Functions of Judges
2.8.1 Judging Engagements Form
In order to have the indication ‶x※ (indicating the judge was active the previous year, which stands above the date the judge was appointed as International) in the official FIFe Judges List, each International FIFe Judge must annually fill in the Judging Engagement Form, and certify with his signature he judged a minimum of three times in the category/ies concerned.
This form will be made available by the FIFe Secretariat and should be received by the FIFe Secretariat at the latest, on the 31st January each year. Judges are recommended to send a complete List of Judging Engagements to the FIFe Member club to which they belong.
2.8.2 Participation in Non-FIFe Shows
A FIFe judge may with the permission of the FIFe Board and the FIFe member in the country concerned, officiate at a non-FIFe show.
If a FIFe judge officiates at a non-FIFe show, it must be agreed beforehand that the show catalogue will state that he is a FIFe judge. A breach of the current rules will result in disciplinary actions.
2.8.3 Probational Judges
When all the examination papers are received and checked by the FIFe General Secretary the candidate with a successful pass will be awarded the title "Probational Judge".
A probational judge is allowed to judge under the supervision of an international judge providing the requirements laid down in article 2.8.5 are complied with.
2.8.4 International Judges
The candidate is appointed as an International Judge (for one category at a time) after a successful pass of the stages. This appointment will be made by the FIFe General Secretary after having received and checked all necessary reports.
2.8.5 Stages, Probational Judges and Supervisors
To become an International Judge, the probational judge must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 3 judging stages at 3 different shows, totaling at least 75 cats, under the supervision of an international judge who has been active for a period of at least 5 years within the category concerned, and who has participated at least once in three years in the judges seminar organized by FIFe in conjunction with the General Assembly or by one of the FIFe members.
These stages can only be completed at international shows. An exception is made for non-European member countries.
These stages have to consist of at least 75 cats of which
- at least 25 cats are kittens (3 to 10 months)
- at least 50 cats are adult cats in the open/neuter classes up to EP/EC classes.
When the probational judge is already an International Judge in another category he is required to complete only 1 stage of 20 cats, irrespective of their ages or show class. This stage may or may not be completed on 1 show. The supervising judge can approve the stage of this probational judge and with his/her approval the probational judge is entitled to vote on the BIS panel of the show where he completed this stage.
The supervising judge will compile a report, consisting of the number of cats judged in the relevant classes, which will be given to the Probational Judge who has to forward the original to the FIFe Secretariat within two weeks after the show.
Probational Judges must be present during the "Best-in-show".
2.8.6 Functions of judges: Instructor, Supervisor, Examiner, Student
An officiating judge must be given advance notice of the following:
- if he is to instruct a student judge (one only per judge);
- if he needs to supervise a stage (one only per judge)
- if he is to act as an examiner.
Judges may refuse such duties in writing and should make this known to the organizer when accepting the invitation.
2.8.6.1 Instructors
A judge may only accept a student judge if he has completed 3 years of active judging (i.e. with a minimum of 3 judging engagements per year) in the category concerned.
2.8.6.2 Examiners
If the judge is called upon to act as an examiner he should not be given any further function.
2.8.6.3 An officiating judge as examination candidate at the same show
A judge who is officially invited to judge at a show may not take an examination in another category at the same show.
2.8.6.4 Instructors and Examiners: Number of cats to be judged
An instructing or examining judge should not have more than the following number of cats to judge:
- a total maximum of 60 cats to judge during an international two-day show;
- a total maximum of 30 cats to judge during an international one-day show.
2.8.6.5 International FIFe judges, directly attached to FIFe, as students
If an international FIFe Judge, who is not a member of a FIFe member, but directly attached to FIFe, wants to continue his education for another category the responsibility of the FIFe member will be taken over by the FIFe Judges and Standards commission.
2.9Judges on Shows
2.9.1 Invitations to shows
Judges must reply to clubs invitations within a maximum time of one month.
FIFe judges who cancelled an already accepted invitation to officiate at a show are not permitted to accept another invitation for the same date.
2.9.2 Selection of judges by show organizer
The organizers of international shows are required to select judges from those named in the official list of FIFe appointed judges (ref. to Art. 2.3, 2.4).
2.9.3 Number of cats to be judged
Under normal circumstances a judge should not have more than:
- 80 cats to judge during a two-day show;
- 40 cats to judge during a one-day show.
2.9.4 Language of Judges’ Report
Judges are required to write their assessment reports either in one of the three official FIFe languages (i.e. French, German or English) or in the official language (or one of the official languages) of the country in which the show is organized.
The judges reports must be readable.
2.9.5 Assistance by stewards
A judge must be assisted by at least two stewards, and can further be assisted by a secretary who is appointed by the organizer.
Where the exhibitors are presenting the cats themselves to the judge, only one steward is necessary.
2.9.6 Reimbursement for judges
2.9.6.1 Daily Allowance
Judges officiating at a show are entitled to:
- reimbursement of travelling expenses (1st class train fare, or economy class air fare);
- the provision of food and accommodation for the duration of the show and, if necessary, an additional night's meal and accommodation before returning home;
- an allowance fixed by the General Assembly; The actual minimum net amounts are listed in Annex 1 of the General Rules.
A show organizer is free to grant a further allowance above this amount.
2.9.6.2 Reimbursement for Probational Judges
A Probational Judge, who is carrying out an international stage and performing the function of a full judge, shall be fully reimbursed.
2.9.7 Consideration for the age of an exhibit
In assessing an exhibit judges must take into consideration the overall condition of the exhibit with regard to its age. The date of birth appears on each report.
2.9.8 Transfer of an exhibit during judging
A judge cannot transfer an exhibit from one class or variety or breed to another class, variety or breed unless an administrative error is established.
The judge should submit a transfer proposal for the next show. A cat being in the wrong category or variety receives a full report with the proposed breed or colour variety, but without classification.
2.9.9 Prohibition of possession of a show catalogue during judging
It is prohibited for judges and student judges to possess a show catalogue before the "Best-in-show" has taken place.
2.9.10 Exhibition of cats when officiating as a judge or as a student judge
A judge or student judge may only exhibit their own cats “Out of Competition” at a show where they are officiating.
On a 1-certificate FIFe show, divided in categories during 2 or more days, it is not allowed to officiate as a judge on the one day and exhibit on the other day.
Exhibits belonging to members of an officiating judge or student judge's household, (husband/wife, children or grand-children, father/mother, brother/sister) cannot compete at that show.
2.9.11 Wearing coloured spectacles
Officiating judges may only wear coloured spectacles which have been prescribed for medical reasons.
2.9.12 Mobile phones
It is forbidden for a judge, student judge or steward to have a mobile phone or similar electronic devices in operation during judging and Best-in-Show (OFF-mode).
This is also valid for exhibitors in the judges’ ring.
2.10 Judge’s Updating
The General Secretary will send a questionnaire to each International FIFe judge (and International FIFe judges for shows organized by members outside Europe) by the end of June every three years.
The questionnaire will be made by the Judges and Standards commission.
The answers to the questionnaire shall be sent directly to the Judges and Standards commission no later than the end of September. A warning letter will be sent one month later. No answers will be accepted after the end of November.
