If you wish to train across all the breeds catered for by a JPG simultaneously then you need to apply to be a GCCF Junior Judge. Once you have met the criteria listed below you will be able to apply to become a GCCF Junior Judge.
Criteria Needed to Apply to be a GCCF Junior Judge
The extract taken from the Judge Training Programme document explains the criteria you need to meet to become a GCCF Junior Judge.
Applications for Junior Judge status can be accepted from –
- GCCF Student Judges
- Full Judges from other organisations
- Full Judges from another GCCF list
- GCCF Speciality Breed Judge
Appointment as a Junior Judge of the JPG Breed List does not guarantee promotion to Full Judge of this list.
Serving as a Junior Judge
While serving as a Junior Judge it is hoped that you will gain the experience and expertise needed to become a GCCF Full Judge. You will judge kitten and neuter breed classes along with miscellaneous classes from within your section and you will also gain experience by performing tutorials, performing presentations and report writing. With feedback from the BACs and JPG you will be able to progress to the stage where you can take your final assessments and then apply for promotion to full judge.
Minimum Requirements
Below is a brief summary of the minimum requirements you will need to fulfil before you can apply to become a GCCF Full Judge.
- You will need fifteen judging engagements.
- You will need to undertake ten tutorials. (and send in reports on the cats)
- You will need to perform four same breed presentations plus 8 breed specific reports.
- You will need to perform four multi breed presentations plus 8 multi breed comparison reports.
- You will need to submit reports on fifty cats across the breeds catered for by the JPG and this be a minimum of ten per breed.
- You will need to submit all reports as required as a GCCF Judge.
- You will need to undertake a veterinary assessment (if you have not already done one as a student judge).
- You will need to take and pass your online assessment (when available)
- You will need to complete two same breed final assessments with reports.
- You will need to complete two multi breed final assessments with reports.
A fuller explanation of the requirements can be found in the GCCF Judge Training document below.
GCCF Judge Training Document (V7)
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few extracts (that are highlighted in bold) that have been taken from the ‘serving as a junior judge section’ (page 23-31) in the Judge Training Guide V7 as these extracts have often triggered questions from candidates. So please take a look at some of the commonly asked questions which may be of help to clarifying exactly what is required when serving as a junior judge.
From time to time further questions and answers will be added to this page. If you cannot find the answers to your questions on this page please contact your JPG and they will help you.
Serving as a Junior Judge
d) The probationary period for a junior judge shall be for a minimum of 2 years for a candidate’s first group list but may be for 1 year within subsequent group lists. A Judge may undertake more than 1 group list but no more than 2 at any given time and only after being promoted on their first group list.
l) During the training period the Junior Judge should attend any Seminars as may be held by the JPG/BAC but must attend at least one face to face teaching forum during their training period with any one JPG.
Q. Can I apply to more than one JPG at a time?
A. Yes you can. Once you are a full judge across all breeds catered for by a JPG you can then choose to apply to up to two new JPG’s at a time.
Q. Do I have to attend seminars before I apply for promotion?
A. If you feel you are ready to apply and have not attended a seminar then you are able to still apply however there is a real expectation that if there is a seminar then you should attend.
Q. Do I have to be engaged to judge to be able to perform a tutorial, presentation or assessment?
A. No you do not, all that is needed is the permission of the full judge and the show manager if you are not engaged to judge at the show. You can be at the show in any capacity.
Judging Engagements Criteria For Junior Judges
a) Junior Judges must undertake 15 judging engagements wherein they are contracted to do classes of the breed. Double shows will count as two separate shows providing the exhibits are different.
e) In the event of there being no kittens present in the Junior Judge’s Breed class/s, the candidate may request permission of the Full Judge to judge, place and report to the JPG on the equivalent adult and/or neuter Breed class/s and discuss their placings and critiques of such exhibits with any Full Judge of the breed. This class will be accepted by the JPG as a Breed class and the candidate may complete a Tutorial Assessment form with the Full Judge submitting a Tutorial Assessment notification.
g) If the equivalent adult and neuter Breed classes are both being judged by a Guest Judge from another feline registering organisation, the candidate may seek a TA and discuss their placings and critiques with any Full GCCF Judge of that breed present.
N.B. all relevant forms will be electronic but a JPG may disregard any tutorial assessment form that does not have a corresponding tutorial assessment notification from the tutor judge.
Q. When counting judging engagements if I am invited to judge but the class does not get an entry does the engagement still count?
A. Yes, the engagement counts even if no cats are entered. All that needs to happen is that you are at least invited to judge at least 15 shows.
Tutorial Assessment Criteria For Junior Judges
a) A minimum of 10 tutorial assessment forms to be submitted with accompanying reports within 28 days of undertaking.
c) A Junior Judge must be judging at the show, or stewarding for a Full Judge of the relevant breed/s for a tutorial assessment to take place. In Breed Lists with more than one colour or pattern, a tutorial assessment covering more than one Breed kitten class may be undertaken, especially in breeds where entries per class are low.
d) No more than one Tutorial assessment form may be submitted for any one breed class, or breed of the same pattern/colour at the same show.
Q. Do I need to be stewarding or judging at a show to do a tutorial?
A. Yes, you need to be engaged as a judge or as a steward to do a tutorial at a show.
Q. How many tutorials can I do on one day?
A. There is no minimum or maximum so do as many as you feel happy to do.
Q. Is it okay to send the tutorial form by email to the full judge in advance of the show?
A. Yes, but if the full judge prefers a paper tutorial form on show day then it is the student judges responsibility to supply one.
Q. Is there a time limit to submit my tutorial assessment forms?
A. Yes, your tutorial assessment form and your accompanying reports need to submitted to the JPG within 28 days. (the same applies with the full judges tutorial assessment form, for your tutorial to count they must submit their copy of the tutorial assessment form to the JPG within 28 days)
Presentations Criteria For Junior Judges
It is worth remembering that presentations are a learning opportunity and not a test. Performing a presentation with tutor judges and getting the immediate feedback from the tutor judge and then further feedback from the JPG will help you understand where you need to focus your attention.
a) Junior judges must undertake oral breed and breed comparison presentations that must be done at either a show/seminar and assessed at the time by any FJ of the breed/s, preferably on the preferred list if available, within the relevant JPG.
b) All such presentations will be conducted verbally.
k) A Progress in Learning form must be completed by the candidate when undertaking a presentation. The candidate must complete the all areas of the Progress in Learning form within 7 days of their presentation taking place and send to the relevant JPG secretary. Candidates are encouraged to provide written reports on the exhibits used within the presentation.
m)The Full Judge must complete the Assessors Progress in Learning within 7 days to the relevant JPG secretary. They may provide written reports on the exhibits used within the presentation within their feedback if they feel that it is appropriate.
n) If hard copies are used these must be filled in on the day by both the candidate and Assessor Judge and submitted by the candidate to the JPG secretary within 7 days.
u) Every effort should be made to complete any presentations prior to the show opening to the public or any Breeders or Full Judge’s presentation taking place at a seminar.
Q. How many presentations can I do on one day?
A. There is no minimum or maximum so do as many as you feel happy to do.
Q. Is it okay to send the progress in learning presentation form by email to the full judge in advance of the show?
A. Yes, but if the full judge prefers a paper presentation form on show day then it is the junior judge’s responsibility to supply one.
Q. Is there a time limit to submit my presentation forms?
A. Yes, your presentation form and your accompanying reports need to submitted to the JPG within 7 days.
Reports Criteria For Junior Judges
a) Junior Judges must comply with the GCCF rules, as they currently stand, regarding the submission of show reports.
b) Must submit to JPG:
- A minimum of 50 reports (the minimum expectation is 10 per individual breed and to cover as many of the colours/patterns if applicable) that cover all the breeds within the JPG group.
- Junior Judges must send a copy of any relevant show reports to the JPG Secretary within four weeks of the date of the show. This must include reports of cats within the Breed Lists judged by them in Breed classes. If not placed then a selection of no more than 3 exhibits should be reported on and reasons given for not placing them. In the case of minority breeds reports must be on all exhibits judged.
- Minimum of 8 written same breed comparisons with placings and award level indicated.
- These must cover a minimum of two exhibits of the same breed but ideally, more with placings, unless the breed is a minority list breed.
- Minimum of 8 written multi breed comparisons with placings and award level indicated.
- Must cover a minimum of two but ideally more breeds within the JPG list with placings.
- These to be submitted within 7 days of the show/seminar and must be of exhibits handled in an oral presentation and from their Judges Book if not undertaking a presentation.
c) If progress at any time, is deemed unsatisfactory then the JJ must be notified of the specific concerns, and the possibility that further tutorials and presentations may be required sooner rather than later. The offer of mentorship, if they do not have a mentor, with a full judge of their choice from the JPG’s preferred list must be made.
Q. How many reports do I need to submit in total during my training?
A. A minimum of 50 reports, this is not 50 reports per engagement. In theory you can send reports on ten cats at five different shows which would equal fifty cats reported on and this would meet the minimum requirement. However it is expected that you provide at least 10 reports per breed catered for by your JPG.
Q. Is there a time limit to submit my reports?
A. Yes, reports must be submitted to the JPG within 28 days. However, if the reports are part of a presentation the time period is 7 days.
Final Assessments Criteria For Junior Judges
These should only be taken after a competency level of 85% is recorded for all on-line assessments and all other criteria as listed within this stage have been achieved and the relevant JPG should be in a position to ascertain whether the candidate has reached the required standard and is ready to undertake final assessments prior to application for promotion.
i) Every effort should be made to complete any presentations prior to the show opening to the public or any Breeders or Full Judge’s presentation taking place at a seminar.
j) A free choice from all full judges on the JPG preferred list is allowed although the JPG may determine that one or more of these final assessment presentations to be with specific Judges on the JPG’s preferred list, in which case they must ensure there is adequate choice with at least three names provided
Q. Do I have to complete all other criteria before I do a final assessment?
A. Yes, all other criteria must be completed before you do an final assessment.
Q. Do I have to undertake a final assessment before lunch or can I do them later in the day when I have more time?
A. Final assessments should be taken before the show is open to the public.
Q. Can I do final assessments with any full judge of the breeds within that JPG?
A. No, final assessments must be done with a full judge from the JPG’s preferred list of judges.
The extract from the document is correct at the time of publication. It is expected that the GCCF training will evolve over time as indeed will the documentation but every effort will be made to keep this page up to date. Having said that it is advised to double check the document that the extract has been taken from as this will absolutely be kept up to date.
