Eligibility and selection criteria for the 2023 Junior and Cadet World Championship Teams can be found here.

How the 2023 Junior and Cadet World Championship Teams are Named

• A total of 10 male and 10 female athletes will represent USA Judo at the 2023 Cadet World Championships.
• A total of 9 male and 9 female athletes will represent USA Judo at the 2023 IJF Junior World Championships.
• The Cadet and IJF Junior Gold Medalists in each division from the 2023 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships will be offered the direct qualifier spot in their division.
• The silver medalists in each division will become the first alternates.
• The third-place athletes in each division will become the second alternates.
• The fourth-place athletes in each division will become the third alternates.
• The teams (Cadet and IJF Junior Worlds) will also include two male and two female wild cards, if applicable. These wild cards will be the two male and two female athletes with the most points on both the USA Judo National Cadet and IJF Junior roster as of end of day June 17, 2023. It is not possible to combine points from multiple divisions. In no case can any country have more than two athletes in one division.
• To qualify as a wild card athlete, it is not mandatory to compete at the 2023 USA Judo Junior Olympics National Championships.
• The wild card members cannot be in the same division.
• If the IJF changes the number of athletes that can participate in these tournaments, then USA Judo reserves the right to adjust the criteria.

All athletes must be members in good standing of USA Judo, including individuals without citizenship who are competing in events that are not a trials. Athletes may compete in the USA Judo Junior Olympic Championships if they meet the following eligibility requirements and there is no conflict regarding weigh-in and competition schedules.

Per the USA Judo Athlete / Event Payment Policy, any individual who has an outstanding debt from an international trip and has not made the required payment(s) within the payment window outlined in the policy will not be eligible to compete until the payment has been made. 

All athletes must be current members in good standing of USA Judo in order to compete in the national competition regardless of citizenship

• U.S. Citizens OR
• Athletes with a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or visas OR
• Athletes with an approval letter from an IJF-recognized international federation OR
• Athletes who meet the criteria of the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) refugee program and are currently approved with proof of documentation/acceptance from the IJF to participate in the refugee program are eligible to compete in the following categories OR
• Non-U.S. citizens who meet one (1) of the following criteria:

• Proof of athlete’s integration within a school or university system for at least one (1) year OR

• Proof of athlete’s Parent/Guardian residency WITHIN the U.S. for at least one (1) year

All necessary documents referenced above must be sent to Austin.Leath@usajudo.us.

All athletes must be current members in good standing of USA Judo in order to compete in the international competition, except athletes with international federation approval letters.

• Regular Categories: All ranks eligible
• Novice Categories: White, yellow or orange belts only

Point Roster criteria can be found here.

If a novice athlete has entered and medaled* in a regular category at a USA Judo national event, the athlete is not eligible to compete in any USA Judo national event novice categories during future tournaments.

Examples:

• If an athlete entered and medaled in a regular category at the 2022 President’s Cup, the athlete will not be eligible to enter novice category in 2023 and beyond in a USA Judo national event.
• If a novice athlete entered and medaled in a regular category at the 2023 Youth Nationals, the athlete is NOT eligible for novice categories at future USA Judo national events, including the 2023 Junior Olympic Championships.
• Uncontested categories are exempt.

*If an athlete medaled in a regular category without winning a match, he or she is still allowed to compete in the novice division.

Any club whose athlete violates the above novice eligibility policy may be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to, the withholding of coaching credentials for future national events.

Early Online Entry: May 25

Regular Online Entry: June 8

NOTE: Walk-up registrations WILL NOT be accepted at the USA Judo Junior Olympic Championships

Thursday, June 15, 2023
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Hilton Shreveport (Room: Market 104)

Get the Junior Olympic Championships started with your judo friends and family from throughout the nation at a special pre-tournament dinner open to athletes, coaches, family members and more.
Admission: $18 (All Ages)
Menu:
House Salad
Spaghetti & Meatballs/Meat Sauce
Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Cheese Garlic Bread
Cookies and Brownies
Only 200 tickets available, purchase yours now.
Deadline: Monday, June 12. 

Purchase TicketU.S. citizens and athletes who meet the criteria of the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) refugee program, and are currently approved with proof of documentation/acceptance from the IJF to participate in the refugee program, may compete in all categories in the national competition.  Please provide a copy of the necessary documents to Austin.Leath@usajudo.us.

Special Thanks To:

U.S. Army

Shreveport Bossier Sports Commission