Referee Training Requirements and Information

[LABertocci]

The generalized repeating monthly schedule going forwards, as of 1 November 2008, is as follows:
Day 1-6
Introductory Refereeing
Intermediate Refereeing (The Center)
Day 8-13
Intermediate Refereeing (Minor Fouls)
Intermediate Refereeing (Tactics of Offense)
Day 16-21
Intermediate Refereeing (Major Fouls)
Intermediate Refereeing (Tactics of Defense)
Day 23-28
Advanced Refereeing (Advantage)
Overflow of any intermediate course that cannot wait another month

Introductory Refereeing is designed for those who have NEVER whistled or who have NEVER had any referee instruction. If you have ever whistled or have ever had formal referee training, this content will bore you.

Although they can be taken in any order, the ideal order in which to take the intermediate courses is:
Minor Fouls
Major Fouls
The Center
Tactics of Offense
Tactics of Defense

The content delivered in any advanced course will presume that you know the content within Minor Fouls and Major Fouls. If you are not confident of your knowledge of the content in those two courses, you may find some of the content in the advanced courses to be (at times) a bit mysterious.

All content has been refreshed to reflect the instructions most recently delivered during the FINA Referees School held in Miami earlier this month (October 2008). To the extent possible, this should keep everyone as current as it is possible to be.

As for what is or is not REQUIRED, those decisions are still being made by the decision-makers within USAWP. For now, know that any course taken as of 1 November will count towards any year-2009 certification and that the tuition will go up slightly as of 1 January 2009.

Any other questions, contact me directly at labwp@att.net

[LABertocci]

At this point, policy decisions about the requirement for this, or for any, online referee training are being reviewed.

Sorry, but there are more than a few issues to be resolved.

For those of you who are interested in more than just minimal recertification, instead wanting cutting-edge training, we are open for business. For those of you who want minimal recertification only, watch this space and if things change, we will let you know. Otherwise, enjoy whistling and we will (may?) see you next year.

[LABertocci]

Current Certification Policy (excerpted) from the USAWP Web Site:

Please note: The term “within the past 12 months” shall refer to anytime within the previous calendar year prior to certification.

Level I Referee Rating:
A referee shall be certified as a Level I referee if (s)he has:
1. Within the past 12 months:
A. Instructional – completed the Introductory Referee Course
B. Passed the Level I rules test.
C. Practical - completed 4-6 hours of documented satisfactory “on-deck” observation as authorized by Zone
NRC Representative.
AND
2. Maintained current year USA Water Polo “Referee” or “Coach/Referee” membership.


Level II Referee Rating:
A referee shall be certified as a Level II referee if (s)he has:
1. Within the past 12 months:
A. Instructional – completed at least two (2) Intermediate Referee Courses.
B. Rules test – passed the Level II rules test.
C. Practical – any two (2) of the following:
a. Received a grade (from a member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps or Zone Designee) of 75 or better
on at least two (2) “level 2 difficulty” games.
b. Received a grade (from a member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps) of 80 or better on at least one (1)
“level 2 difficulty” game.
c. Completed 6-8 hours of documented satisfactory “on-deck” observation as authorized by Zone
NRC Representative. (These hours may include “graded” games.)
AND
2. Maintained current year USA Water Polo “Referee” or “Coach/Referee” membership.


Level III Referee Rating:
A referee shall be certified as a Level III (see level title) referee if (s)he has:
1. Within the last 12 months:
A. Instructional – completed at least two (2) Intermediate Courses and at least
one (1) Advanced Referee Course.
B. Rules test – passed the Level III rules test.
C. Practical - any three (3) of the following:
a. Received a grade (from a member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps) of 80 or better on at least
three (3) “level 3 difficulty” games.
OR
b. Received a grade (from a member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps) of 85 or better on at least two (2)
“level 3 difficulty” games.
OR
c. Been assigned to the championship game at a USAWP National Championship aged 18U or younger
and received a score 85 or better.
OR
d. Earned a USAWP “National” referee rating prior to 2008.
OR
e. Completed 8-10 hours of documented satisfactory “on-deck” observation as authorized by a
member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps. These may include “graded” games.
AND
2. Maintained current USA Water Polo “Referee” or “Coach/Referee” membership.
AND
3. Received recommendation from their USAWP Zone Management.
a. Required participation in a Zone sponsored referee development program and National Championship
Qualification Tournaments, including Zone based selection tournaments.


Level IV Referee Rating:
A referee shall be certified as a Level IV referee if (s)he has:
1.Within the past 12 months:
A. Instructional
a. Completed at least two (2) Intermediate Referee Courses (On-Line or In-Person) and at least one (1)
Advanced Referee Course.
OR
b. Attended a FINA Referees School.
B. Rules Test
a. Passed the Level III rules test.
OR
b. Passed the FINA Referees rules test.
C. Practical - any two (2) of the following:
a. Received from a from a member of the Delegate/Evaluator Corps:
1. A grade of 85 or better on at least two (2) “level 4 difficulty” games.
AND
2. A grade of 90 or better on at least two (2) “level 4 difficulty” games.
OR
b. Been assigned to an advancement game (top 4) at a USAWP National Championship
(20/Under or Older) and received a grade of 85 or better.
OR
c. Complete 8-10 hours of documented satisfactory “on-deck” observation as authorized by a
member of the Delegate/Evaluation Corp. These may include “graded” games.
AND
2. Maintained current USA Water Polo “Referee” or “Coach/Referee” membership.
AND
3. Received recommendations from their USAWP Zone Management and the USAWPTC.
a. Required participation in a Zone sponsored referee development program and National Championship
Qualification Tournaments, including Zone based selection tournaments.


Personal Commentary:
I hope everyone out there has some appreciation for the fact that we as an NGB just got back from the Olympics, that Guy Baker is now in a new job with (among other things) the duty of trying to implement a coherent system of coach and referee training, and that others involved (namely Jim Cullingham and I) are both trying to juggle "day jobs" at the same time. I hope everyone has some patience as we do work out the bugs of what will be a VERY MUCH SUPERIOR system of training and evaluation than there is anywhere else in the world (not hyperbole, just confidence in the major players).

For now, those of you who are going to need to get your certifications, all seven referee courses are ready for enrollment. As we make progress, we will get the news out.

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To answer what seems to be a commonly asked question:

If you join USAWP now, your membership is valid for the rest of 2008 and through to the end of 2009. For those of you who wish to take referee training and get the USAWP member price, the easiest way to do all of this at once is to join/renew through 2009 and at the same time get the USAWP member price on your tuition.

This is yet another USAWP member benefit.