NAWGJ CANONS – REVIEWED, REFINED AND REINFORCED
 
What are our Canons, you ask?  Canons are acceptable criteria or rules of judgment as pertaining to our behavior as professional gymnastics judges.  We have always had them but our National Governing Board (actually the Constitutional Committee) has reviewed them and clarified them.

Basically the Canons say that we should respect the gymnasts, coaches, other judges, support staff at a meet (e.g., parents, siblings, etc.), spectators, and vendors – even aliens if they show up!  Our job, as judges, is to show up prepared, judge to the best of our ability without bias or even the appearance of bias, and go home.  Meets, judgments and people at the meet are not to be discussed.

The August Canon is our one new Canon (#16).  It reads “A judge should exercise good judgment when using social networking media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, texting, e-mail, etc.) i.e. avoid communicating with coaches or gymnasts during, before or after a competition; or refrain from making inappropriate statements about fellow judges, coaches, gymnasts, clubs or parents.”  Social Networking is an extremely powerful tool.  When something is put on the internet it can go anywhere.  A judge should NEVER put something on the internet that

1. Shows disrespect to anyone and

2. Gives any appearance of bias.

When you say a meet was poorly run you are disrespectful.  When you complain about the food, you are disrespectful. When you contact a gymnast or a coach after a meet to compliment them on a routine, you are showing bias. Use “common” sense.”

Remember the old but true adage……………………….. If you can’t say something nice,
Don’t say anything at all!

 

CANONS 

CANON 1: A judge should assist in maintaining the integrity and competence of the profession of judging women’s gymnastic events.

CANON 2: A judge should assist the Association in fulfilling its duty of making judges available for women’s gymnastic events.

CANON 3: A judge should assist in improving the system of judging women’s gymnastic events.

CANON 4: A judge should avoid even the appearance of professional impropriety.

CANON 5: A Judge should be well qualified in gymnastics, know the rules and be thoroughly prepared for each assignment.  Each team, meet contestant and participant, as well as the spectators, are entitled to the official’s best efforts to administer the rules of the sport.

CANON 6:  A judge should prepare for each judging assignment and should, through study and clinics, keep her/his judging knowledge current.

CANON 7:  A judge should fulfill all assignments accepted and be punctual. A judge should also attend all judging and other meetings which are intended to promote a well ordered and conducted meet or event.

CANON 8:  A judge should be alert at all times, quickly yet accurately produce her/his scores and have a basis for the scores derived and prepared. If a legitimate need should arise, the judge should explain and support such scores by working through conferences and dealing with inquiries in a dignified, professional manner.

CANON 9:  A judge should not solicit meets for herself/himself or for others.

CANON 10:  A judge shall be completely unbiased.  A judge should not give any appearance, especially at a meet, of any particular friendship with any coach or competitor.  Also, a judge should decline any assignment in which affiliation with a team or individuals would tend to influence the judge’s ability to be fair and objective.

CANON 11:  A judge should treat gymnasts, coaches, judges, promoters and spectators with respect. A judge should respect the privacy, property and feelings of any judge or other person with whom such judge is living during the event being judged, and should not do anything which would embarrass or offend such person.

CANON 12:  A judge should at all times both look and act professionally.  A judge should maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance when judging. He/she should wear the uniform of the Association (except where other dress is permitted).

CANON 13:  A judge should not be overly officious. She/he should not criticize other officials or attempt to explain other officials’ judgments.

CANON 14:  A judge should confine her/his duties to the purposes of judging; i.e., coaching or meet directing are not included in a judge’s responsibilities.

CANON 15:  A judge should never consume alcoholic beverages or drugs prior to a judging assignment where such consumption is evident by odor, conduct or appearance.

CANON 16: A judge should exercise good judgment when using social networking media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, texting, e-mail, etc.) i.e. avoid communicating with coaches or gymnasts during, before or after a competition; or refrain from making inappropriate statements about fellow judges, coaches, gymnasts, clubs or parents.

Revised 7/2011

By Hilary Carlson, RJD, Region V