Candidate Requirements

If you are interested in becoming a USRowing Referee please contact Lucinda Keck, USRowing Events and Referee Coordinator, at lucinda@usrowing.org or call (609) 751-0706. To become licensed as an Assistant Referee, a Candidate needs to:

• Be a USRowing member.
• Attend a Referee clinic covering the Rules of Rowing.
• Be at least 21 years of age, or a college senior and a participant in an intercollegiate rowing program.
• Have normal sight, hearing, and mobility, sufficient to sustain routine activities.
• Show proof of the ability to swim 200 yards.
• Observe the following positions to understand their roles and responsibilities: Marshal, Chief Referee, Starter, Referee at Start, Referee and Dockmaster.
• Pass the Assistant Referee exam, a written test covering the Rules of Rowing, after meeting the above requirements.

Assistant Referee Requirements

To become a fully licensed Referee, an Assistant Referee must:

• Be a USRowing member.
• Attend a clinic every year.
• Work a minimum of four regattas per year.
• Be exposed to the following positions for the minimum number of times indicated and complete an evaluation form each time: Marshal - 2, Referee at Start - 5, Starter - 5, Chief Judge - 5, Referee - 10, and Control Commission - 2.
• Work for a minimum of 14 regattas before sitting for the Referee exam. Minimally, 12 must be sprint races and two must be head races.
• Work two National Standard Regattas.
• Work at a minimum of four different race courses. It is recommended that one of these be out of the Assistant Referee’s home region.
• Submit a Referee Data Form to the Referee Vice-Chair every year. This form is mailed to all referees by the committee in September.
• Pass the Referee exam after meeting the above requirements and 24 to 48 months after passing the Assistant Referee exam. The exam has both practical and written parts and is conducted by a three-person panel.

Referee Requirements

To maintain a license once earned, a Referee must:

• Be a USRowing member.
• Attend a clinic every year.
• Work a minimum of four regattas per year.
• Officiate at a minimum of four different race courses within any two-year period. It is recommended that one of these be out of the Referee’s home region.
• Officiate at a minimum of one National Standard Regatta every other year.
• Participate in a biannual evaluation program conducted by a clinician. The objective of this evaluation is to provide feedback regarding strengths and weaknesses including ideas for continued education and improvement.
• Participate in a re-certification exam every four years. The next re-certification exam will be given in 2003.
• Submit a Referee Data form to the Referee Vice-Chair every year.

2009 National Standard Regattas

National

• USRowing Youth National Championship Regatta
• USRowing National Championship Regatta
• USRowing Club National Championship Regatta
• USRowing Masters National Championship Regatta

Mid-Atlantic

• Virginia State Championships
• Stotesbury Cup
• EAWRC Women's Sprints
• Dad Vail Regatta
• IRA Championships
• Independence Day Regatta
• Head of the Occoquan
• Head of the Ohio
• Head of the Schuylkill 
• Scholastic Rowing Association of America Championships 

Midwest

• Midwest Scholastic Championships
• Midwest Junior Championships
• Midwest Junior Regatta
• Indianapolis Collegiate Invitational
• Head of the Rock
• Head of the Des Moines
• Midwest Scholastic Regatta

Northeast

• New England Rowing Championships
• ECAC Championships
• EARC Men's Sprints
• Head of the Textile
• NEIRA Championship

Northwest

• Green Lake Spring Regatta
• Green Lake Summer Regatta
• Green Lake Frostbite Regatta
• NCRC Championships
• USRowing Northwest Junior Regional Championships
• USRowing Northwest Masters Regional Championships

Southeast

• USRowing Southeast Regional Championships
• Southeast District Youth Championships
• SIRA Championship
• South Central Sprints (Aramark)
• John Hunter Regatta
• Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta
• Head of the Chattahoochee
• Head of the South
• Head of Tennessee

Southwest

• San Diego Crew Classic
• USRowing Southwest Junior Regional Championships
• Pac-10 Championships
• WIRA Championships
• Head of the American
• USRowing SW Masters Regional Championships