Axe Throwing Judges Roles
Axe throwing as an organized sport has started to gain popularity in recent years. The codified rules, high-level competitions, multiple venues, and organized leagues for the sport have started to gain popularity around the world. Being an organized sport has necessitated the use of official judges to regulate play and enforce rules. What are the roles of axe throwing judges? Keep reading to find out.
What Do Axe Throwing Judges Do?
Axe throwing judges are the governing officials and scorekeepers during organized axe throwing events. Their duties include setting up competitions, judging the scores of a round of throws, enforcing the rules of the competition, and ejecting bystanders and players when it is deemed necessary. Part of the duties of an official that are expected prior to a match include checking the condition of the targets, maintaining the axes, and ensuring all players competing are accounted for.
During the course of the competition, the judges are the governing body and officials of the throwing event that score throws, calculate the total scores, enforce penalties, and determine the winners of a tournament, exhibition match, or single event. Judges are encouraged to have no tolerance for any trash-talking, belittling language, or distracting throwers when a competition is underway. Anything deemed to disrupt the flow of the contest or in any way pose a disadvantage to the competitors is supposed to be punished as the judge deems fit.
In axe throwing, penalties are imposed in a three-strike system by judges. The first offense is a warning, the second offense results in a scoring penalty, and the third results in disqualification or expulsion from the match. In essence, the judges of an axe throwing event allow the sport to run smoothly and remain competitive.
What Are the Roles of Axe Throwing Judges?
The primary role of an axe throwing judge is to enforce the rules and regulations of axe throwing. This is done through careful monitoring of the alleys in which the axes are being thrown and having an in-depth knowledge of all types of axe throwing competitions, including hatchet throwing, big axe, and dual matches.
Another role of axe throwing judges is to occasionally act as coaching staff for newcomers to the sport. This aspect, however, is not universal and depends on the establishment for which the judge works. Judges for axe throwing also act in a capacity to regulate the sportsmanship of events and have the power to eject, disqualify, or enforce penalties on throwers who violate any of the rules or codes of conduct in axe throwing.
What Types of Judges Are There?
Within the WATL, there are head judges and lane judges. All judges are expected to be able to perform the various functions required at different events, but certain judges have more specific roles. Lane judges, specifically, focus on the axe throwing lanes, while head judges are supervisors of the entire axe throwing event. Some judges may be specialized in certain competitions or have a better understanding of the rules of certain types of axe throwing, but all judges perform the same basic responsibilities.
FAQ
How do you become an axe throwing judge?
To be an axe throwing judge for the World Axe Throwing League (WATL), an application must be submitted through the WATL website. From that point on, a potential judge must become certified and show that they have a deep understanding of all rules and aspects of axe throwing. An $85 invoice will be delivered to the potential judge following training, and, upon payment of this invoice, the candidate will become a certified WATL judge. For venues or competitions not held by the WATL, the judges are normally just employees of the venue or alley hosting an event, and the training and methods of becoming a judge are determined by the axe throwing hall in question.
What are the requirements to be an axe throwing judge?
To be a certified axe throwing judge, a deep knowledge of the rules and procedures of axe throwing is a necessary prerequisite and job requirement. This includes knowing what constitutes legal throws, the method of scoring, the penalties for late arrivals, correct penalties for infractions, and the types of axe throwing competitions. The judges are also expected to know how to maintain the axes and the targets the axes are thrown at. To fulfill these requirements, a training course is undertaken by judges of the WATL.