By Donna Livingston, USRowing Referee Mid-Atlantic Region

How do I become a referee? I have been asked this question several times, as have many other referees. The process of becoming a fully licensed (or plenary) referee has three parts and two tests. And while the requirements aren’t impossible, they’re not easy either. They take a lot of time and work, and the more time you put into the requirements, the better referee you’ll become. And before you ask, referees are volunteers, which means no pay, but if you are lucky, a free lunch.

The first step in the process of becoming a referee is to become a candidate. In my area, this step usually begins at a referee clinic; however, you can begin by just calling up your local referee committee representative. To be a candidate, you must be a member of USRowing, be 21 years of age (or a college senior participating in an intercollegiate rowing program), be physically able to perform the duties of the referee, and be able to swim 200 yards. During your candidacy period, you are required to observe the following positions at least once (more is better) and gain an understanding of the duties of each position: marshal, chief judge, starter, judge at start, referee, and dockmaster. After all observations are completed to the your satisfaction as well as that of your regional representative, you then take the Assistant Referee Exam. This is a closed book, written exam covering the Rules of Rowing. To make sure that we get people who fully comprehend the Rules of Rowing and their applications, you may only attempt this exam twice. If you do not pass it on the second time, you cannot sit for it again.

If you pass the written exam, you advance to Assistant Referee status. In this stage, you must still maintain your USRowing membership and attend at least one clinic a year. You also are required to work a minimum of four regattas a year (again, more is better). And at a minimum, during your Assistant Refereeship, you should observe/work in the following positions for the number of times (indicated below):

· Marshal (2 times)

· Judge at Start (5 times)

· Starter (5 times)

· Chief Judge (5 times)

· Referee (10 times)

· Control Commission (2 times)

These duties are required to be performed at a minimum of 14 regattas. You may have noticed that some regattas have time built in so that referees may rotate duties. An Assistant may be able to fill the requirement for observing or working as many as three positions during a single regatta. Two of the regattas that you work at should be National Standard Regattas (for a list of these, consult the Rules of Rowing), and you are required to work at a minimum of four different racecourses, with at least one being outside your home region. At the end of the regattas, Assistant Referees submit evaluation forms to the Chief Referee or another fully licensed referee who observed them at any given position. After completing all of the required positions and being observed by the other referees in the area, you then may be invited to take the Referee Exam. This part of the process usually takes 24 to 48 months.

To advance to full referee status, the Assistant Referee must complete all of the duties above and pass a written and practical exam. A three-person panel administers the exam. To maintain a Referee license, you must maintain your USRowing Membership, attend at least one clinic a year, work at a minimum of four different race courses within a two year period, officiate at one or more National Standard Regatta(s) a year, and submit a referee data form each year. As a referee, you are also required to participate in a recertification exam every four years.

This is the simplified version of how to become a referee. These requirements only tell part of the story. There are many things to learn during this process for anyone who undertakes this task. And it’s not to be taken lightly. Each referee at an event is responsible for ensuring safety and fairness for each competitor. For this reason, perhaps, there’s always a shortage of referees. If you’re interested, contact your regional representative and they’ll get you pointed in the right direction, or, if you are going to the USRowing Convention, stop by the Referee Commission’s meetings to get a closer, in-depth look at what refereeing is all about.