Shadow Apprentice judging is the first practical stage of NASDA judge education. The goal is to give new judges an opportunity to learn alongside an experienced Judge of Record before they are responsible for making official judging decisions.

However, shadowing should be active—not passive.

A Shadow Apprentice should not simply stand beside the Judge of Record and watch dogs run. This is an opportunity to begin developing the skills they will eventually need to judge independently.

At the Shadow stage, the Judge of Record is judging. The apprentice is learning how to judge.