I am a Judge... I am The Law!

It's quite noticeable how fencers don't really like acting as judges for steam foil matches. This is particularly prevalent amongst the young fencers, the majority of whom seem to just disappear into some wonderful world of gazing into the distance or biting their nails, when called to judge. This doesn't apply to all of them but it also appears to happen to some adult fencers as well, so what is it about judging that causes such a malaise and how can it be made more engaging as an activity? There are some basic things to remember:
• Make sure you know which fencer you should be watching and keep focussed on them. In other words you are watching the fencer in front of you to see if they are hit not if they made a hit.
• Keep behind the fencer on your side at all times. I've seen judges get hit because they stood too close. Ouch.
• Do not talk to 'your' fencer, even if he is your best mate. Never offer advice!
• Put your hand up when you've seen a hit; Presidents are not psychic! Many a time I've stopped a fight when presiding because I've seen a hit and then the judge agrees with me, despite not having put their hand up. If I hadn't seen it what would have happened?
• Avoid scratching your head, out of the corner of the President's eye this can look like you're signalling a hit!
• Always use definite and clear language when responding to the President. All that is required is 'on target', 'off target', 'no hit' or 'abstain'. Anything else is superfluous.
• Avoid subtle and well intended hints to the President like "do you mean the initial hit?" thus implying that the President has missed something. This is not your call to make and an electric box would not tell the President the right of way when simultaneous hits occur so neither should you.
• If you don't know, do not under any circumstances make it up!
To my mind, if you get all the above right there seems to be quite a lot going for judging; it gives you an insight into how someone fences and it gives you an insight into the ways fights can ebb and flow. It also gives you confidence that you are 'seeing' the situation correctly. In general it boosts your understanding of the whole thing but I suppose in our quick-fix age it's not 'doing anything' so it's regarded as rather dull. The other great thing is that all you have to do is watch; you don't even have to make any decisions as that's the President's job. No opinions necessary, just a good eye and attention span. A final thing to remember is that if you are participating in a poule and you are not taking your judging responsibilities seriously it will quite probably rebound on you at some stage... No one likes to have their best hit missed by a non-attentive judge and what goes around comes around eventually!