Refereeing and referees
Good refereeing is essential for safe, fair sumo competition. In the UK, refereeing is controlled by British Sumo as the national governing body, with referee training delivered through seminars run via the International Sumo Federation (IFS) .
EnglandSumo helps to develop and support referees in England so that domestic events meet international standards, and so that English athletes are familiar with the same rules and decisions they will face in European and World competition.
Domestic EnglandSumo events follow EFS and IFS competition rules, with England's no direct headstrikes exception: first offence stops and restarts the bout; repeats can mean disqualification and disciplinary action.
Last updated: 2026-08-29.
See also: Competition rules, Governance and eligibility, What is sumo, and Glossary.
How refereeing is organised
- British Sumo controls refereeing for sumo in the UK, including who is authorised to officiate at affiliated competitions.
- International Sumo Federation (IFS) training is the basis for referee qualification. Referee seminars (Seminar 1, etc.) are delivered under IFS standards and are the route to certification recognised internationally.
- EnglandSumo supports referees based in England — encouraging members to attend seminars, develop their skills, and officiate at domestic events such as the English Sumo Nationals.
2026 Seminar 1 attendees (EnglandSumo members)
- Ben Grief
- Damien Gardach
- Guy Simpson
- Lai Shih-Hsiang
- Lance Wicks
- Lorren Hollingworth
- Mandeep Singh Kundi
- Tom Ferrari
2025 Certified Seminar 1 referees
- Adam Lloyd
- Henrique Ferreira
- John Gardner
- Kevan Mellor
- Nicholas Pratt
- Will Bowles
Becoming a referee
If you are interested in becoming a sumo referee in England, the route is:
- Be an active EnglandSumo member training with an affiliated club.
- Watch for IFS Seminar 1 (and higher) referee training opportunities communicated through British Sumo.
- Get experience officiating at club and domestic events, and progress through the IFS-recognised seminar pathway.
- Contact us at info@englandsumo.com to express interest, and we will pass details on to British Sumo where relevant.