Foundations

Arbitrator Duties

How arbitrators resolve disputes and oversee ring officials.

Key takeaways

Arbitrators roam the whole competition floor, not a single ring — they're the escalation point judges and instructors go to.
An arbitrator can replace a judge, scorekeeper, or timekeeper mid-competition for cause.
Persistent complaints about a ring get escalated to the Judging Coordinator, not resolved by the arbitrator alone.

Role in the championship

The arbitrator is the neutral escalation point for the entire competition floor. Where a center judge runs one ring, the arbitrator's job is to move between rings, resolve what individual judges can't, and step in when a decision is disputed.

A wide view of a WTSDA competition floor with many rings of competitors warming up and waiting to compete at once. — Arbitrators resolve any issues during competition to ensure fair and consistent judging.

Assists the Competition Manager.
Must be thoroughly trained in all WTSDA rules and regulations.
Roams the competition floor throughout the event.
Is consulted on issues judges can't resolve themselves.
Resolves competition questions from instructors, students, and parents fairly.
Investigates judges who have problems or complaints about a center judge and handles it accordingly.

Repeated complaints go up the chain

A ring with persistent or repeated complaints gets reported to the Judging Coordinator (Chief Arbitrator or Competition Manager), who decides whether to replace officials — it isn't a call the arbitrator makes solo.

Grounds for replacing ring officials

An arbitrator can replace a judge, scorekeeper, or timekeeper in a ring for any of the following:

Lack of attention to duty.
A prejudiced decision.
Insufficient knowledge of rules and/or regulations.
Not following rules and regulations.
Bad manners.
Getting complaints because a decision wasn't explained clearly enough — words or hand signs.