It is important to clearly distinguish between Shadow Apprentices and Supervised Apprentice Judges, as their roles and permissions differ significantly.

Shadow Apprentice Judges

Shadow apprentices are in the observation and learning phase of their development.

• May observe, discuss, and participate in course setup and evaluation
• Should be actively engaged in learning through discussion with the Supervising Judge
• May NOT judge any runs
• Do not make official scoring decisions

This phase is focused on building foundational knowledge, understanding process, and developing confidence before taking on judging responsibilities.

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Supervised Apprentice Judges

Apprentices who have been approved for supervised judging assignments may take a more active role.

• May judge some or all of a class under direct supervision
• May evaluate and score runs, with oversight from the Supervising Judge
• May judge all entries in the class, including dogs owned or handled by the Supervising Judge, provided direct supervision is maintained
• All decisions remain subject to review and confirmation by the Supervising Judge

Important: When a Supervising Judge is running their own dog, it is essential to avoid the appearance of impropriety at all times. Professionalism, transparency, and appropriate oversight must be maintained to ensure confidence in the judging process.

This phase is designed to transition the apprentice into independent judging by providing real-world experience with guidance and feedback.

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Clear understanding of these roles ensures consistency, fairness, and a structured path for apprentice development within the NASDA judging program.