Who can become a WFTDA Certified Referee?

• Any referee regardless of league affiliation is eligible to become a WFTDA certified referee.
• During the first six months of referee certification (July – December 2008) a grandfathering period will occur.  Only referees who are affiliated with a WFTDA league are eligible to apply for certification during this period.

I am an active skater on a team (home or travel). Am I able to be a WFTDA Certified Referee?

• TBD by vote.

What are the levels of certification and the requirements for each?
Level 1 - non-skating official or non-skating referee

• One (1) Referee Performance Evaluation from a WFTDA member league (other than the referee’s home league)
• Verification of passed league-administered rules test
• Signed WFTDA Referee Code of Conduct Agreement
• Signed WFTDA Non-Disclosure Agreement

Level 2 -  able to perform skating referee duties for a WFTDA Sanctioned Interleague Bout

• All Level 1 requirements met
• Must pass league-administered skating skills test

Level 3 - able to exceptionally perform referee duties for a WFTDA Sanctioned Interleague Bout, infield referee duties at WFTDA Regional Tournaments, and outside pack duties at WFTDA National Tournaments

• All Level 2 requirements met
• Must have officiated at least two (2) WFTDA Interleague Bouts (regulation or sanctioned)  prior to application
• Two (2) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (other than the referee’s home league)

Level 4 - able to exceptionally perform infield referee duties for the highest level of WFTDA competitive play, infield referee duties at WFTDA National Tournaments

• All Level 3 requirements met
• Must have officiated at least six (6) WFTDA Interleague games (regulation or sanctioned) prior to application
• Five (5) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (other than the referee’s home league), weight given to leagues that have hosted a tournament
• Three (3) of the Performance Evaluations must be from skaters
• Letter of recommendation from at least one (1) Level 3 or higher certified referee.

Level 5 - able to exceptionally perform all tasks of a WFTDA Tournament Head Referee.

• All Level 4 requirements met
• Minimum one (1) year experience/six (6) WFTDA Interleague Bouts (regulation or sanctioned) AFTER earning Level 4
• Referee Performance Evaluations from five (5) WFTDA Class A leagues
• At least 3 of the Performance Evaluations must be from skaters
• Recommendation letters from at least three (3) Level 3 or higher certified referees

What are all of the documents and who should turn them in?

• Referee Certification Application: To be filled out by applying referee
• Referee Code of Conduct: To be filled out by applying referee
• WFTDA Non-Disclosure Agreement: To be filled out by applying referee
• Referee Skating Skills Evaluation: To be filled out by the applying referee’s League
• Referee Performance Evaluation: To be filled out by a WFTDA member league other than the referee’s home league. (Can be emailed to the panel by the league filling out the document or by the applying referee)
• Referee Rules Test: To be administrated and graded by a WFTDA League Representative.

Where can I find these documents?

• During the six month grandfathering period, all documents, except for the rules test key will be stored on the peanut, which only WFTDA League Representatives have access to.
• After the six month grandfathering period (January 2009), all documents, except for the rules test and key, will be stored at www.wftda.com. The rules test will remain on the peanut.
• A WFTDA League rep must email the Referee Certification Committee to receive the rules test key.

Where should the completed documents be emailed to?

• East Region: refcert_east@wftda.com
• South Central Region: refcert_southcentral@wftda.com
• North Central Region: refcert_northcentral@wftda.com
• West Region:  refcert_west@wftda.com

I failed the rules test, what happens now?

• Any referee, who fails the rules test, must wait 1 month before retaking the test.

I’m a referee who is with an aspiring WFTDA League, how can I get a hold of the test?

• The rules test must be administered by a WFTDA League Representative. In order to take the test a non-WFTDA affiliated referee must contact the nearest WFTDA league to schedule a time to take the test with their league representative.

Which games can I use when asking another league to fill out an evaluation card?

• An evaluation card must be written by a WFTDA member league that participated in either a WFTDA Regulation or Sanctioned Bout.
• WFTDA Sanctioned Bout is a WFTDA Interleague Bout between two chartered teams that will count towards the leagues’ rankings.
• A WFTDA Regulation Bout is a between two WFTDA leagues that follows all current WFTDA rules but does not count towards the leagues’ rankings.

How do I know what region a league is in?

• Map of the WFTDA Regions.

How  will I know if all of my documents are turned in?

• Referee Certification Application Status: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pprCTxCPFvSNhQIMzDjN7Qg&hl=en

What happens once all of a referee’s documents are turned in?

• All documents will be verified for accuracy. Once verified the panel members review all documents and vote whether or not to grant certification
• For Levels 1-4: a referee must receive at least 4 out of 5 votes for certification to be granted
• For Level 5: a referee must receive 5 out of 5 votes for certification to be granted
• The Referee Certification Panel can award a higher or lower level of certification at their discretion

What happens if I do not receive enough votes to become a Certified Referee?

• If a referee does not receive enough votes for certification to be granted, certification will not be granted. The referee may reapply after 6 months.

How long does certification last for?

• Certification is good for 1 year. Each referee must reapply after year even if it is for the same level.