OFFICIATING

 

Certification Program - Singles

 

Certification Steps

  1. Attend a certification clinic
  2. Complete a written multiple choice exam
  3. Complete a certification practical examination

 

Certication Clinics

Certification clinics are similar to rules clinics but are much more in depth.  The fee for the certification clinic is $40.00 per adult participant and $35.00 per junior participant (includes GST, the clinic, manual and exam). Should a member club wish to host a certification clinic, please contact Squash Ontario.  Registration fees are payable in advance to Squash Ontario using VISA/MC.
The clinic combines classroom instruction and on court practical simulation.  A certification clinic is approximately six hours and there must be eight registered participants for a course to proceed.  These clinics are open to anyone who is interested in becoming a certified official.

 

Certification Exam

This consists of a 40-multiple choice question exam followed by a practical examination.  Only those individuals who have attended a certification clinic may attend an examination.  In order to proceed to the practical exam, participants must achieve 80% on the written exam.  During the practical portion of the exam, the candidate is observed officiating during a tournament.  Having passed the written and practical portions of the program, the candidate is given an initial grading.  Exams are conducted in conjunction with tournament or league play to provide actual pressure situations.  It was determined that simulated matches are incapable of creating that "win or lose" stress situation.

 

Rating System

The rating system combines a letter representing the refereeing level and a number representing the marking level.  The rating given to a newly certified official is D4.  There are four levels of referees and four levels of marking. These levels may be combined to produce the following ratings for officials:
A-1, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4

 

Upgrading/Assessments

Upgrading opportunities are available only to certified officials who wish to improve their grading.  To be upgraded, officials must be observed refereeing actual tournament matches.  These matches must be of significant quality and difficulty to be useful for assessment.

Each season, a number of major tournaments are designated as upgrading opportunities.  At these tournaments, an Assessor will be assigned if prior upgrading registration is sufficient.  Upgrading may take place at any tournament providing the matches are of significant quality and the assessor is a higher certified official.

 

Officiating Development Model