Officials Development

The World Obstacle Judge Certification Framework and applies across 3 technical pathways:

• OCR Cross Country
• OCR Track
• Ninja

Each level from 1-3 will require an exam and all the requisite experiences to gain those levels.

Level 1 – Assistant Judge (AJ): Holders of a Level 1 Lisence are Technical Officials (TO) who are eligible to officiate at national competitions according to the national local regulations. In international competitions, they are allowed to perform the role of Obstacle and Arrival Judges. This level is common for all technical pathways.

Level 2 – Judge (J): Holders of a Level 2 Licence are National Technical Officials (NTO) who are eligible to officiate international competitions as the Timekeeper, the Secretary, the Lane/Sector Judge (Assistant CTO/Head Official), the Clerk of Course, and the Starter. There are 3 technical pathways: OCR Cross Country, OCR Track, and Ninja.

Level 3 – International Judge (IJ): Holders of a Level 3 Lisence are International Technical Officials (ITO) who are eligible to officiate international competitions as the Obstacle Event Director (CTO – Chief Technical/Head Official). There are 3 technical pathways: OCR Cross Country, OCR Track, and Ninja.

Senior International Judge (SIJ): FISO SIJs are Senior International Technical Officials (SITO) who are nominated under technical parameters and annually selected from the best Level 3 IJs based upon the previous two seasons. The selected judges will be part of a list prepared by the FISO Technical Officials Committee.

FISO Technical Delegates (TD): FISO TDs are Senior Technical Officials (SITO) who are selected by the FISO Event Management Team for major international competitions.

World Obstacle supports and facilitates training for judges through to International level in compliance with international sport and Games requirements. World Obstacle has IJs on all continents, first developed for obstacle medal events at the 2019 Southeast Asia Games, recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

We train National Federation educators so that the NF can implement the programme nationally. Licensed Judges can then work at Continental and World Championship, World Cups and World Series events to develop experience towards becoming International Judges.

The World Obstacle Judge Certification Framework originated at the 2017 OCR European Championships and was further developed by Henriette Nguyen (DEN) for the 2018 OCREC. This was expanded and refined to meet international sport and Games criteria for ITOs at the 2019 SEA Games (recognized by the IOC), by Nguyen, Thumbie Remigio (PHI), and Ian Adamson (AUS) using their experience as officials at world championships in Triathlon, Pentathlon, and Canoe sports. Dilyara Sadikova (RUS) provided essential input having developed ITOs for the 2019 Ninja World Championships. Nayibe Statia (NED), Shaun Wilde (GBR) and Adamson refined the program in 2021, and then again in 2023 in order to meet the evolving needs of Obstacle Sports.