Questions and discussion are an important part of shadow judging, but when and how those discussions occur matters.

Questions should be discussed quietly and professionally with the Judge of Record at an appropriate time.

A Shadow Apprentice should avoid:

• Debating a call where an exhibitor can hear the discussion.
• Reacting visibly to a Judge of Record’s decision.
• Correcting the Judge of Record in front of an exhibitor.
• Discussing another exhibitor’s run with competitors or spectators.
• Creating the impression that there are two officials making separate decisions about the run.

If you see something differently, that is an excellent educational opportunity.

Make a note of it and discuss it privately with the Judge of Record.

Different observations are often the beginning of some of the best apprentice-judge discussions.