January 03, 2003

Maracaibo, Estado Zulia.

República Bolivariana de Venezuela

To:  All the Affiliated National Federations to the Pan-American Union of Judo
Subject:  Modification of the Article 29 (Lesion, Illness or Accident)

Attention: National Refereeing Directors

Distinguished Gentlemen:

I have to well to inform them about the new changes in the competition rules that refer specifically to the doctor's performance during the development of a combat, this topic which has been discussed in the breast of the International Judo Federation Referee Commission and presented by our Referee Director, Juan Carlos Barcos, it contemplates the modifications that it will suffer the refereeing regulation in what refers to the Article 29, which is about the cases of Lesion, Illness or Accident, and that he/she has to do with the performance of the I prescribe to the moment to take place which wants of the previously aforementioned cases.

During the development of the realized Referee Clinic in the last Pan-American Championships of the 2002 carried out in Santo Domingo city (Dominican Republic), this topic was analyzed by the Mr. Barcos, giving a brief explanation of the application and the basic principles for which these changes will be introduced.

The Art. 29 of our current Rules, he/she has changed properly according to that agreed to regulate the performance of the doctors during a combat.

The presentation of the corrections will be made in the following way: The Text in black color is the current text of the one it regulates and the text in the blue color, is the new text (it changed or it amends).

We request to you that have the kindness to put it like it is of habit in practice as rehearsal in their national events in a flexible way to acquire the experience better possible experience.

A definitive decision will be given in our IJF Referee Seminar in Daegu, next month of April.

We think and we hope really the new development of this Article, will allow us we execute combats adapted under better conditions and without the tactical movements, products of the present application of the rule in these moments.

Please, ship us their comment, or you doubt on this important topic, for their best study and popularization before the IJF Referee Commission.

I wait that this new procedure, it can establish a competition but it jousts and equal that will allow to avoid unnecessary delays, as well as a decrease of tactics that they tarnish our competitions.

Finally I want to thank to the Mr. Pepe O. Roses, assistant of Mr. Juan Carlos Barcos, for their work in the preparation of these documents where he has left clear the intention and principles of her, and their translation in the official languages of the FIJ for their best understanding and popularization.

I say goodbye to you,

Sincerely,

Ing. Carlos Díaz
Referee Director
Panamerican Judo Union