CCA Judges · Licence Module
Become a CCA Judge
Are you a coach with a judges’ licence or do you hold a comparable qualification? If so, apply to join the CCA Judges’ Pool. In the licensing module, you’ll learn about the CCA rules and regulations, scoresheets and our scoring practices – online, with a practical focus and including two supervised work shadowing sessions.
CCA-specific. Practical. Easy to understand.
“CCA Judge” is the quality designation for our pool of judges. It indicates the specialist areas and tasks for which a person is qualified at CCA championships – it is not an externally accredited certification.
CCA-specific
Apply the rules and scorecards consistently.
Practical
Actual assessment situations, feedback, work shadowing.
Understandable
Qualifications and scope of duties documented.
Development
Greater responsibility based on operational experience.
Your place: right on the mat.
Packed halls, strong teams, fair judging – as a CCA judge, you ensure that every routine gets the score it deserves.
Who can apply?
We are looking for coaches with a judges’ licence and people with equivalent qualifications. An external licence is not compulsory: the Head Judge will assess whether your qualifications are sufficient based on the information and evidence you provide.
With a judges’ licence
You are a coach or judge and have completed a judging training course or hold a judging licence from another association or organisation. Please state the provider and the course/licence name, and upload your proof of qualification.
Equivalent qualification
You do not hold a judges’ licence, but you do have a comparable qualification – such as many years’ experience as a coach, a coaching licence or experience as a judge at other competitions. Please describe this clearly and attach supporting documents.
You’re already a CCA judge
Your previous experience will be taken into account. You won’t have to start from scratch: the Head Judge will review your existing evidence and decide which steps still need to be taken.
The application process, admission to the licence module, the licence itself and actual participation in a championship are separate steps. Submitting an application does not in itself constitute admission and does not guarantee participation.
This is how the licence module works
You must complete the course within twelve months of the training. You will receive the dates with your invitation.
- Application – using the form below, stating your route of entry and providing supporting documents.
- Authorisation – The Head Judge will check your previous training, ask any necessary questions and grant you access to the licence module. Only then will the registration fee be charged.
- Online training – approx. 6 hours led by the Head Judge: CCA rules, scoresheets and scoring practice.
- Online exam – You answer the questions via your personal account.
- Two work shadowing placements – you’ll be part of a judging panel at two championships.
- Licence certificate – Once you have passed the exam and completed both work shadowing placements, you will receive your CCA Judges’ licence and be added to the pool.
What is covered in the training course
The online training course lasts approximately 6 hours.
- Regulations: applicable version, validity, areas of application and dealing with unclear provisions
- Scoresheets: Fields, assessment criteria and consistent application
- Marking practice: joint text, image and video cases, justifications and calibration
- Judges Tool: personal access, submission of your own scores, protection of other judges’ results
- Responsibility: Identifying conflicts of interest, raising queries and escalating contentious cases appropriately
Four steps
Your licence is valid indefinitely. The tasks you are assigned depend on your confirmed area of specialism and the role you are assigned to at a championship.
Candidate
From admission to qualification: training, an exam and two work shadowing placements. You observe, practise and receive feedback – but no official assessment yet.
Judge
Provided you have passed the exam and completed both work shadowing placements. You will officially judge in your confirmed specialism and on your assigned panel, justify your decisions, declare any conflicts of interest and refer any contentious interpretations to the Head Judge.
Advanced Judge
The Head Judge awards this based on your experience and performance at the event – you must have competed in at least six CCA championships.
Head Judge
Chairs panels and examinations. The grade is awarded by the Head Judge on a case-by-case basis.
Fees
A one-off payment of 99 euros
Registration for the licence module costs a one-off flat fee of 99 euros. This includes online training, course materials, the examination (including retakes) and the licence certificate. The licence levels are not charged for individually, and there is no annual licence fee.
You will only receive the invoice once you have been admitted. Payment alone does not replace supporting documents or the academic decision.
Assignments at championships are remunerated; we will discuss the terms and conditions before each assignment. Inclusion in the pool does not constitute a guarantee of an assignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take part without a judges’ licence?
Yes, provided you can demonstrate that you have a comparable qualification. The Head Judge will assess whether your experience is sufficient to qualify you for the role. Mere interest without prior knowledge is not enough.
I’m a coach – can I apply?
Yes. Coaching is not a ground for exclusion. How you deal with conflicts of interest – for example, when your own team is launched – is an integral part of the training.
Will my licence from another association be automatically recognised?
No. It is an important indication of your prior learning. We assess the content, subject area and experience, and determine which CCA-specific steps are still required.
I’m already scoring for CCA. Do I have to start all over again?
No. Your existing documentation and assignments will be taken into account. The Head Judge will decide on a case-by-case basis which further steps you need to complete.
What do the two work shadowing placements involve?
You will be scoring at two championships using your own practice scoring panel – with the same interface as the official judges. Your practice scores will remain strictly separate from the official results; there is no results or comparison view. The debriefing will be led by the Head Judge.
Am I already licensed once I’ve passed the exam?
No. Passing the exam results in a certificate of examination. The licence certificate is issued following the two work shadowing placements and the Head Judge’s decision.
What happens if I fail the exam?
You’ll receive detailed feedback and can retake the test up to twice within six months. The retakes are included in the 99 euros.
How long is the licence valid for?
The CCA Judges’ licence is valid indefinitely.
Does my licence cover all categories and levels?
No. Your confirmed area of specialism and your operational role are documented. A higher level does not automatically extend your area of specialism.
How do I become an Advanced Judge or Head Judge?
The Head Judge awards both levels based on experience and performance in the role. To qualify as an Advanced Judge, a judge must have judged at least six CCA Championships.
Is there a guarantee that I’ll be given assignments?
There is no guarantee as such. However, given the number of our championships and their distribution across different regions, every judge should be assigned several assignments per year. Assignments are based on your availability, your area of expertise and any potential conflicts of interest.
Do I have to include a certain number of championships?
There is no minimum number. However, being a judge is all about practical experience: only those who judge regularly can remain confident in the rules and scoring criteria and continue to develop – for advanced judges, for example, the CCA Championships you have judged count towards this.
What documents should I submit?
For Option A, your training certificate; for Option B, verifiable evidence of your experience – along with a list of previous assignments and a brief self-assessment. Please do not include copies of identity documents, bank details or other people’s personal details.
What happens to my application?
We will check that your application is complete and that you meet the entry requirements, and we will contact you if we have any queries. Once you have been accepted, you will receive an invitation to the training course and an invoice for 99 euros. Submitting the application itself does not grant you access to anything.
Is ‘CCA Judge’ an external association certification?
No. It is a mark of quality for the CCA Judges’ Pool. It does not entail accreditation or automatic recognition by other associations.
Join the CCA team.
Apply now – we’ll be in touch with the next steps.
Your application
Please provide a brief summary of your qualifications. We will review the information you have provided and get back to you. There is no charge for applying.