Referees
Being a referee can be a very enriching experience that is accessible to all members of the Quebec Racquetball Association.
Being a referee : summary of all levels for the Officiating Certification Program
There are five levels in the Racquetball Canada officiating certification program. The first step is to be certified as Tech A. This will enable you to referee matches at a sanctioned tournament. A clinic held by a Level 2 or higher referee which covers basic rules and situational analysis will qualify you as Tech A. There is a written exam which must be successfully completed to pass Tech B.
The next step is Level 1. This requires completion of a written exam and also displaying a basic level of proficiency while officiating in a sanctioned tournament.
Level 2 is achieved by passing the Racquetball Canada level 2 written test which includes knowledge of rules, visual analysis and interpretation of rule application as it pertains to court situations. The emphasis is on game situations, as proper interpretation of the rules is critical. The individual must also achieve a passing grade by refereeing a minimum of two open-level doubles matches and two open-level singles matches. They are observed by two Level 3 referees who use an evaluation form to assess rule knowledge, procedures and rule application.
The final step is Level 3 Certification. The accredited Level 2 referee has a one year waiting period in which they practice their skills in sanctioned tournaments. They are then observed by two Level 3 referees, in two open-level doubles matches and two open-level singles matches. Upon passing they will be certified as Level 3 referees.
Certification as an international referee can be achieved by attending an international event and passing the written and observational criteria. All Racquetball Canada Level 3 referees are eligible to apply for the officiating positions at international events. Individuals who contribute in local and provincially sanctioned tournaments will be given primary consideration.
The Officiating Committee is under the Portfolio of the Vice President of Technical. As you can see, it can be a relatively arduous process to achieve the Level 3 Certification, as this can only be administered by the existing Level 3 referees. We need to create more Level 3 referees to open up the bottleneck inherent in this process. If we have more Level 3 referees, then we can develop greater numbers at all the levels below.
This can be achieved by working together to facilitate requests for evaluations, and through improved communication and knowledge of the process. The evaluation forms will be made available on this web site. Officiating can be a very rewarding experience that is available to all members of Racquetball Canada.
If you wish follow an Officiating certification program, please contact Robert Melançon at (450) 465-8742 or by email: tibob999@hotmail.com.