An apprentice assignment is much more valuable when you approach it as an opportunity to develop specific skills rather than simply another set of runs toward a requirement.

Before leaving an assignment, you should be able to identify something you learned.

For example:

“I learned why that hide placement was appropriate for Level II but would not have been appropriate for Level I.”

“I consistently noticed the same deductions as my Judge of Record, but I was scoring them more severely.”

“I need more practice timing while watching the handler.”

“I didn’t notice the tight leash until my Judge of Record pointed it out.”

“We disagreed about a call, reviewed the rule together, and now I understand how to apply it.”

That is the purpose of shadow judging.

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What Shadow Judging Is — and Isn’t

Shadow Judging IS	Shadow Judging IS NOT
Active participation	Standing quietly and accumulating runs
Learning course design	Simply helping move equipment
Practicing timing and scoring	Producing the official score
Identifying deductions	Making official judging decisions
Discussing calls privately	Debating calls in front of exhibitors
Learning from experienced judges	Expecting every judge to make every call exactly the same
Preparing for greater responsibility	Acting as a backup judge