Southern Area Regional Schools Championships 2027

2027 SOUTHERN AREA
SCHOOL YEARS BANDED OPEN

Venue:                 Woking Leisure Centre, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9BA
Date:                     Sunday 17th January 2027

The Area Regional Schools Events have been developed to allow players to represent their school and enter a series of events leading to the National Schools Championships without the fear of having to compete against a National Medallist.  By competing with players of a similar level it also allows coaches and parents to assess if the player is ready for the opportunity to enter the National Championships.

These events are also aimed to assist the development of young people as referees, table officials and coaches.

This is a Level 2 Development event for Academic Years 4,5 6 & 7 and a Level 3 Development event for Academic Years 8 to 13 and is not open to the following:

Years 4 & 5: No eligibility restrictions.
Years 6 & 7: No eligibility restrictions.
Years 8 & 9, and Years 10 – 13: Any player who has won a medal at the last British Pre-Cadet/ Cadet/ Junior/ Senior Championships (December 2026) is not eligible. EXCEPTION: any player who won less than two contests at either event IS eligible. Any player with 100 points or more on the Cadet/ Junior/ Senior BJA ranking lists is not eligible.

This event is open to all school children who comply with the criteria above and hold a current valid licence of the BJA, Judo Scotland, NIJF, WJA, BJC or AJA.

Players can change weight categories between this event and the British Schools Championships.

 If you attend a British School but hold a licence with an unaffiliated governing body, who are recognised by the IJF, there will be an additional charge. Please enter as usual and once entry has been confirmed the events team will be in contact.

 NO VALID LICENCE - NO CONTEST – NO EXCEPTIONS – NO JUDO

To enter the British School Championships, judoka must attend a school in Great Britain and must have competed in at least one regional schools’ competition between September 2026 to March 2027, (Exceptions may be considered in certain circumstances; any requests must be submitted to the BJA events team via email for approval no later than December 2026).

Those living in Scotland can qualify by competing at either the Scottish National Closed 2026 or Highland Budokan 2026.

By entering and/or attending this event you agree to abide by all British Judo Association policies and codes of conduct. This includes but is not limited to: 

Transgender policy https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/what-we-do/policies/transgender-eligibility-and-participation-in-competition-policy/
Codes of conduct https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/membership-terms-conditions/
Contest rules https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/compete/organising-a-competition/contest-rules/
https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/roles-and-clubs/roles/referees/resources/
Stoma bags: https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/participation-in-competition-with-stoma-bags/
Prosthetic limbs: https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/participation-in-competition-with-prosthetic-limbs/

 You must contact the organisers and [email protected] if you require any support at the event or have any questions regarding the above points. Please note that failure to comply with these policies and codes of conduct may result in not being able to compete/attend this event, or removal from the event, and notification to the British Judo Association. These policies and codes of conduct are in place to ensure everyone attending the event have a good experience.

British Judo Association rules will apply throughout the competition. The method of competition will be compound knockout in categories of 8 or more players and pools and knockout in categories of 7 players or less.

Technical restrictions will apply in Academic Years 4, 5, 6 & 7.
Armlocks & Strangles permitted in Academic Years 10 to 13. This category will be points scoring for eligible players.

Please see the BJA Contest Rules for further information.

Method of Elimination
The British Judo Association rules will apply throughout the competition. The method of competition will be compound knockout in categories of 8 or more players and pools and knockout in categories of 7 players or less.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to combine or alter categories should entries dictate. In the event of any dispute, the decision of the Tournament Director will be final.

Contest Times
Academic Years 4 & 5, 6 & 7: 3 minutes, 3 minutes Golden Score, Referees decision.
Academic Years 8 & 9: 3 minutes, Unlimited Golden Score.
Academic Years 10 to 13: 4 minutes, Unlimited Golden Score.

There is no seeding at this event.
Please note that the minimum grades for regional competitions are lower than the minimum grade for the British Schools Championships. 

Academic Years 4 & 5: (born 1^st September 2016 to 31^st August 2018)
Minimum grade 1^st mon (Bottom Red Belt).
Male: -27kg, -30kg, -34kg, -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, +50kg.
Female: -28kg, -32kg, -36kg, -40kg, -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, +52kg.

Academic Years 6 & 7 (born 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2016)
Minimum grade 4^th mon (Bottom Yellow Belt).
Male: -27kg, -30kg, -34kg, -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, and +55kg.
Female: -28kg, -32kg, -36kg, -40kg, -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, and +57kg.

Technical restrictions will be used in Academic Years 4, 5 6 & 7

Academic Years 8 & 9 (born 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2014)
Minimum grade 6^th mon (Top Yellow Belt).
Male: -34kg, -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg. +66kg.
Female:  -36kg, -40kg, -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, +63kg.

Academic Years 10 to 13 (born 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2012)
Minimum grade 9^th mon (Top Orange Belt) or 4^th kyu (Senior Orange Belt)
Male: -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, +90kg.
Female: -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, +70kg.

Please note, that the Years 10/11 and Years 12/13 are split for the final British School Championships. They are merged for the regional events to increase the chances of having contests. 

Players must satisfy the minimum weight limit for their category, ie for -73kg players must weigh over 66.1kg. For the lightest weight categories, you need to weigh no less than 10%, ie for -55kg you can weigh no less than 49.5kg.

Players may enter a different weight category at the final event than the one they competed in at the regional school event.

OPEN weigh in
All female and male competitors MUST present themselves to the weigh-in wearing competition acceptable judogi trousers and must wear a plain crew neck t-shirt/rash guard for weigh ins.

All competitors will receive a 0.8kg allowance. 

Weigh-in times
Years 4/5: 08:30 - 09:00
Years 6/7: 10:15 - 10:45
Years 8/9: 11:45 – 12:15
Years 10-13: 13:30 - 14:00

Closing date : Monday 11^th January 2027
NO entries will be accepted after the closing date OR when 250 entries are received. A reserve list will be opened if this total is reached before official entry closes.

By entering the event, all participants and parents or guardians of participants are consenting to photography/filming which may be taken by the BJA or an official BJA contractor at the event. You also accept that these photographs or video may be used in future BJA publications or published by the contractors in order to promote the positive aspect of our sport. If you wish to opt out of the above, please contact [email protected] or speak to control at the event.