a. Routine Referee Upgrading,

(1) General - After gaining initial certification and additional experience, upgrading is accomplished by being assessed while officiating matches. An appropriate level Assessor observes every call and fills out a Referee Assessment Report while the match is in progress. Subsequently the Assessor analyzes his/her observations, takes into account the number of decisions the candidate made, and the number of marginally incorrect or clearly incorrect calls made. Following each observed match, the Assessor summarizes his/her observations and recommendations in the candidate's Upgrading Certification Booklet.

A referee may make no more than ten upgrade attempts at each level. Matches without sufficient decisions do not count as attempts, unless the candidate's performance is unsatisfactory. Assessors record all attempts, whether they count or not.

The NDO make evaluate any candidate and assign an appropriate level to him/her at any stage of the certification process.

(2) To State Referee (C) - Upgrading to State Referee (C) can be achieved by receiving a total of:

The level of the matches may be club, local team, or tournament competition involving A players (skill level above 5.0). The candidate must make at least ten correct decisions in each match and perform competently for the match results to count.

Successfully completing the Referee Instructor course also results in State Referee (C) certification.

(3) To Regional Referee (B) - Upgrading to Regional Referee (B) can be attained by receiving a total of:

The matches must be competitively equivalent to the quarterfinals of a major state or district championship or the early rounds of the U.S. National Championships. The candidate must make at least fifteen correct decisions in each match and perform competently for the match results to count. Each Assessor must conduct an oral debriefing.

(4) To National Referee (A) - Upgrading to National Referee (A) can be achieved by receiving a total of five "pass" recommendations from at least two Certified Assessors. The matches must be competitively equivalent to those involving the top twenty U.S. men and top ten U.S. women. The candidate must make at least twenty correct decisions in each match, including a sufficient number deemed "difficult" by the Assessor, and perform competently for it to count. A minimum of two of the matches must be "very difficult" (A+), with the remainder of "moderately difficult" caliber (A). Each Assessor must conduct an oral debriefing.

(5) From National Referee (A) to International Referee - To achieve International Referee status, a National Referee must referee at least fifteen matches at the international level, be nominated to the WSF by US Squash, and be observed and assessed by top players. The athletes' assessments are reviewed annually by an international panel of assessors, which makes the final decision.

b. Foreign Equivalency Policy.

US Squash recognizes it is often appropriate to certify referees from other countries residing full time in the U.S. above the Club Referee (D) level initially and to accelerate the subsequent upgrading of some. Accordingly, upon application from a referee who presents appropriate certification materials from his/her home country:

- A referee from Canada with Squash Canada certification will be granted a like U.S. certification.

All other initial certifications above the entry level will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the US Squash office through the NDO or by referral to a Regional/District Assessor or National Assessor, as appropriate.

c. Accelerated Referee Upgrading.

(1) General - Accelerated upgrading (i.e., double upgrading) may be appropriate for seasoned hardball squash referees and softball referees with extensive experience in other countries who demonstrate superior officiating skills. After attending an officiating clinic, these candidates may be upgraded at an accelerated rate upon recommendation from the NDO or a DDO.

Accelerated upgrading from Club Referee (D) to National Referee (A) is not permitted.

(2) From Club Referee (D) to Regional Referee (B) - Double upgrading to Regional Referee (B) can be achieved by receiving a total of three "pass" recommendations from at least two Certified Assessors. The matches must be equivalent to the quarterfinals of a major state or district championship or the early rounds of the U.S. National Championships. The candidate must give fifteen correct decisions in each match and perform competently at this level for it to be counted. Each Assessor must conduct an oral interview.

(3) From State Referee (C) to National Referee (A) - This double upgrade will be considered only in exceptional circumstances. When authorized by US Squash, it can be achieved by receiving a total of three "pass" recommendations from at least two Certified Assessors. The matches must be competitive ones equivalent to those involving the top twenty U.S. men and top ten U.S. women. A minimum of two of the matches must be very difficult (A+), with the third being difficult (A). The candidate must make at least twenty correct decisions in each match, including a sufficient number deemed difficult by the Assessor, and perform competently at this level for it to be counted. Each Assessor must conduct a debriefing.

d. Supplementary Upgrading System.

(1) General - Good officiating requires experience, experience, experience. To progress successfully a referee must work numerous matches. The Canadian experience suggests that by following the regular upgrading process a candidate may spend eight or more years advancing from Club Referee to National Referee. With that in mind and to encourage referees to seek experience, an alternative upgrading system exists to give credit for matches worked that fall short of an Assessor's signature.

In matches with too few decisions or too few correct decisions for a signature, the Assessor can grant up to three points for the referee's effort, depending on the difficulty of the match and/or the Assessor's judgment of the refereeís achievement.

Assessors are authorized to "pool" matches in which they have observed a referee officiating during a single tournament in order to award the candidate a signature. However, pooled matches that result in a signature replace points granted for those matches.

(2) From Club Referee (D) to State Referee (C) - A combination of three signatures and ten points will qualify the candidate for upgrading.

(3) From State Referee (C) to Regional Referee (B) - A combination of four signatures and fifteen points will qualify the candidate for upgrading.

(4) From Regional Referee (B) to National Referee (A) - A combination of four signatures, including one very difficult (A+) match, and 30 points.

C. Refresher Courses

Every four years the Rules of World Squash Singles are reviewed and usually revised slightly. In the event of rules changes, certified referees will be required to receive updating training. The NDO will specify what form that updating will take. In the event of extensive changes, it may be necessary to require attendance at a seminar conducted by a Referee Instructor based on instructional material the NDO prepares. More likely, updating will involve reading an update briefing prepared by the NDO.

D. Revalidation/Downgrading

To stay qualified a referee needs to work matches and receive feedback. To retain certification, each referee is required to be assessed at least once per year. The Assessor can be any other certified referee of equivalent or higher level. The DDOs will manage the revalidation for Regional (B), State (C), and Club (D) Referees in their districts. National (A) Referees should submit a completed assessment form directly to the NDO at least once annually. Referees also are encouraged to maintain a summary record of their officiating activity using the Activity Record form such as that shown in Part 4 of this Handbook.

In the event an official no longer meets the standards of his/her rating, US Squash will downgrade or decertify the official. Cases involving extenuating circumstances' preventing an assessment should be submitted to the NDO for resolution.

E. Retirement

When a certified referee does not receive an assessment at least once annually, that referee shall be treated as retired and carried on the US Squash rolls as a "Referee Emeritus." Returning to active status requires successful assessment and the approval of a DDO for Regional Referee (B) through Club Referee (D) or NDO approval for a retired National Referee (A).

Figure 1. REFEREE CERTIFICATION AND UPGRADING SUMMARY

Starting

Level

Level

Sought

Certification

Clinic

Advanced Officiating Symposium

Referee Instructor Course

#

Passes

Min. #

Certified Assessors

#

Referee

Assessors

#

Correct

Decisions

Caliber

of

Play

Remarks

None

Club

YES

 

Self-test available

None

State

 

YES

YES

 

None

Reg/ Natl

HANDLED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS

Club

State

 

YES

YES

3

2

 

10

See Note #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

1

2

10

 

 

Club

Regional

 

3

2

 

15

See Note #2

Each Assessor must conduct a debriefing.

Club

Natl

CANNOT BE DONE

State

Regional

 

3

3

 

15

See Note #2

Each Assessor must conduct a debriefing.

 

 

 

3

1

2

15

 

 

State

Natl

 

3

2

 

20

See Note #3

Each Assessor must conduct a debriefing.

Regional

Natl

 

5

2

 

20

See Note #3

Each Assessor must conduct a debriefing.

1. Inter-club, local team, or individual tournament competition involving "A" players (skill level above 5.0).

NOTES: 2. Equivalent to the quarterfinals of a state or district championship or the early round of the U.S. National Championships.

3. Equivalent to those involving the top twenty U.S. men and top ten U.S. women. A minimum of two of the matches must be very difficult matches, with the third being moderately difficult.