2023 Cadet and IJF Junior International Team Criteria

Updated:2/16/2023

In 2023, the following event(s) are scheduled to take place:

  1. Cadet and IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships (September 7-10, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
  2. Cadet World Championships (August 23-27, 2023 - Zagreb, Croatia)
  3. IJF Junior World Championships (October 4-8, 2023 - Coimbra, Portugal)

Cadets:

  • Age: The age division for 2023 includes birth years 2006-2008 for the Cadet category.
  • Weight divisions: The contested weights for the Cadets will be: Female 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, +70kg and Male 50, 55, 60, 66, 73, 81, 90 and +90kg.

IJF Juniors:

  • Age: The age division for 2023 includes birth years 2003-2008 for the IJF Junior category.
  • Weight divisions: The contested weights for the IJF Juniors will be: Female 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78, and +78kg and Male 60, 66, 73, 81, 90, 100 and +100kg.

How the Team is Named:

2023 Cadet and IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships Team

  • A total of 10 male and 10 female athletes will represent USA Judo at the 2023 Cadet Pan American/Oceanian Championships.
  • A total of 9 male and 9 female athletes will represent USA Judo at the 2023 IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships.
  • The Cadet and IJF Junior Gold Medalists in each division from the 2023 USA Judo Youth 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 Pan Am/Oceanian and IJF Junior Pan Am/Oceanian) will each also include two male and two female wild cards for both the Cadet and IJF Junior ages (4 wild cards for the Cadet Pan Am/Oceanian team and 4 wild cards for the IJF Junior Pan Am/Oceanian team), 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 rosters as of end of day March 19, 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 Youth National Championships.
  • The wild card members cannot be in the same division.
  • If the PJC or IJF changes the number of athletes that can participate in these tournaments, then USA Judo reserves the right to adjust the criteria.

2023 Cadet and IJF Junior World Championships Teams

  • 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 2022 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.
Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the 2023 USA Judo Cadet and IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships Team and/or the Cadet World Championships Team and/or the IJF Junior World Championships Team, athletes must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must have been born 2006-2008 if competing under the Cadet division.
  2. Must have been born 2003-2008 if competing under the IJF Junior division.
  3. Must be a United States citizen, unless they 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 this program. Please provide a copy of the documents to alex.bates@usajudo.us.
  4. Athletes currently approved under the IJF refugee program must have also followed the same steps above to earn their spot on the 2023 Cadet Pan American/Oceanian Championships Team and/or 2023 IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships Team and/or 2023 Cadet World Championships Team and/or 2023 IJF Junior World Championships Team.
  5. As long as an athlete meets the criteria of the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) refugee program and is currently approved with proof of documentation/acceptance from the IJF to participate in this program, then the athlete may compete at USA Judo sanctioned point events and earn points on the USA Judo national roster.
  6. If you are a recent citizen or hold dual citizenship, you must have secured the necessary approvals to be eligible to represent the United States Internationally.
  7. Must be a current member in good standing with USA Judo.
  8. Please note, in order to be a direct qualifier for the 2023 Cadet and IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships Teams and/or the 2023 Cadet and IJF World Championships Teams, you must finish in the top 4 in your division at the 2023 USA Judo Youth National Championships (Pan American/Oceanian Team) and/or the 2023 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships (World Team).
  9. The Wild Cards are the ONLY athletes that will be chosen off the USA Judo National Cadet and IJF Junior rosters as of end of day, March 19, 2023 for the Cadet and IJF Junior Pan American/Oceanian Championships Team.
  10. The Wild Cards are the ONLY athletes that will be chosen off the USA Judo National IJF Junior roster as of end of day, June 17, 2023 for the Cadet World Championships Team and the IJF Junior World Championships Team.