Coaches and Officials Certification Requirements

Coaches (all Sports)

Level 1 Registered Coach

Individuals interested in becoming a USA Roller Sports member coach must submit a coach’s application and fees to the USARS National Office.Upon receipt of the application, the USARS National Office will send the applicant instructions on completing the background screening, a rule book and test.The test is open-book and must be returned to the national office for evaluation.After passing the background check and basic coaching skills test the applicant will be issued a Level 1 Registered Coach membership.Level 1 certification is only valid for one year.After your initial registration, you must upgrade to Level 2.

Level 2 Certified Coach

Level 1 member coaches are required to advance to Level 2 after their first year of membership.The applicant must submit the Level 2 Certified Coach application and fees to the USARS National Office. Upon receipt of the application, the USARS National Office will send the applicant a rule book, certified coaching skills study guide and test. The test is open-book and must be returned to the national office for evaluation. After passing the certified coaching skills test and verifying the background screening clearance, the applicant will be issued a Level 2 Certified Coach membership.Certification at this level is for two years provided the coach maintains membership with USARS.After two years, certification must be extended by participation in an approved conference or seminar, producing national championship placements, attending the world championships or successfully passing a home assessment test.

Level 3 Advanced Coach:

USA Roller Sports member coaches wishing to become a Level 3 Advanced Coach must have held a Level 2 Certified Coach membership for two years and submit a Level 3 Advanced Coach application and fees to the USARS national office.The USARS national office will send the applicant an advanced coaching skills study guide.Advanced Coach’s testing may be conducted at an authorized USARS coach’s conference, the National Championships, or arranged in conjunction with an approved proctor.The test is open-book and must be proctored by an approved USARS representative.After passing the advanced coaching skills test and verifying the background screening clearance, the applicant will be issued a Level 3 Advanced Coach membership.Certification at this level is for three years provided the coach maintains membership with USARS.After three years, certification must be extended by participation in an approved conference or seminar, producing national championship placements, attending the world championships or successfully passing a home assessment test.

Level 4 Elite Coach:

To become a Level 4 Elite Coach an application must be submitted to the Elite Coaches committee for their approval. The application asks for a list of the coaches’ accomplishments and contributions to the sport. Once Elite status has been awarded, membership must be renewed each year as an active coach; however, the Elite status has no expiration date and no further certification testing is required.

Derby Officials

LEVEL 1: Official has demonstrated sufficient competency to officiate sanctioned USARS games.
LEVEL 2: Official has demonstrated advanced competency sufficient to officiate sanctioned USARS tournament games.
LEVEL 3: Official has demonstrated advanced competency sufficient to be a head official in sanctioned USARStournament games.
LEVEL 4: Official that has shown the knowledge and ability to be able to be a tournament head, as well as officiate on the International level.

CERTIFICATION PERIODS AND ADVANCEMENT

Certification will last for two years Officials may petition to advance their certification level yearly. Officials may apply for Level 1 and then work their way up. Certified officials must submit applications to recertify before their term expires, or they will have to start at Level 1 again.

To maintain or advance to a higher-level certification, all requirements must be met when recertifying. Otherwise, the official may be recertified at a lower level or not at all. USARS membership must be

Maintained in order for certification to remain active.

CERTIFICATION POINTS

Points are cumulative within a two-year period and will expire after applied towards a certification.

Points are awarded as follows:

1 point for sanctioned USARS rules game
2 points for sanctioned USARS tournament game
5 points for attendance at a sanctioned USARS officiating clinic (may be applied once per certification)

TO BE A RECOGNIZED OFFICAL *Must be a registered USARS member*Must sign a code of conduct

SKATING OFFICIALS REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

Criteria for Level 1 Skating Official

Must be a registered USARS member.
Must pass a background check and complete the Safe Sport training, through USARS online registration
Must pass basic rules test.
Must pass minimum skills skating requirements.
Must earn 5 points as a skating official.
Must receive positive assessment from HR

Criteria for Level 2 Skating Official

Complete all the above requirements in addition to-
Must pass advanced rules test.
Must earn 10 points as a skating official, including at least 2 points each in two different positions (IPR, OPR, or SR).
Must receive three positive assessments from HR that have participated in games with candidate.

Criteria for Level 3 Skating Official

Must complete the above requirements in addition to--
Must earn 15 points as a skating official, including at least 2 points each in every position (HR, IPR, OPR, SR)
Must get positive assessments from three officials and two coaches or captains that have participated in a game with the candidate.

NON-SKATING OFFICIALS REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

Criteria for Level 1 Non-Skating Official

Must be a registered USARS member.
Must pass a background check and complete the Safe Sport training, through USARS online registration
Must sign a code of conduct.
Must pass a position paperwork test.
Must pass the referee hand signals test
Must earn 5 points as a non-skating official.
Must receive a positive assessment from HNSO.

Criteria for Level 2 Non-Skating Official

Must complete above requirements in addition to--
Must earn 10 points as a non-skating official, including at least 2 points each in two different positions (penalty board keeper, scorekeeper, penalty tracker, jam timer, penalty timer).
Must get positive assessments from three officials that have participated in a game with the candidate.

Criteria for Level 3 Non-Skating Official

Must complete the above requirements, in addition to--
Must earn 15 points as a non-skating official, including at least 2 points each in every position (penalty board keeper, scorekeeper, penalty tracker, jam timer, penalty timer).
Must get positive assessments from three officials and two coaches or captains that have participated in a game with the candidate.

Figure Officials

JUDGES:

“C” Commission: Candidate must be a minimum of 15 years old and a current USA Roller Sports member.The candidate must have the recommendation of a club officer and have served as a trial judge for five competitive events (3 each for a total of 15 events) in dance, figures, and singles in at least three separate contests, or have obtained RSA achievement test commissions at the #1 level for all three disciplines (dance, figures, and free skating).The candidate must successfully complete the written exam.

“B” Commission: Candidate must be a minimum of 16 years old, a current USA Roller Sports member, hold a valid “C” commission, and be fully accredited in all artistic disciplines.Arrangements must be made with the USA Roller Sports national office to have this exam proctored by an authorized individual.Upon successful completion of the written exam, the candidate must complete an oral interview with a USA Roller Sports approved panel.

“A” Commission: Candidate must be a current USA Roller Sports member that has held a “B” commission for at least 2 years and/or an “AA” (alt.) commission for one year.The candidate must have successfully served as a non-compensated invited official at the National Championships.This commission is awarded to National Championship (national panel) judges only.

REFEREES:

“RFC” Commission: This commission entitles the individual to officiate as a figure steward, assistant referee, or referee at interclub contests; figure steward or assistant referee at invitational, promotional state meets and regional championship; and figure steward at the national championships.The candidate must be a current USA Roller Sports member and successfully complete the written exam.

“RFB” Commission: This commission entitles the individual to officiate as a figure steward, assistant referee or event referee at all official championships.Arrangements must be made with the USA Roller Sports national office to have this exam proctored by an authorized individual.Candidates must be current USA Roller Sports members.

“RFA” Commission: This commission entitles the individual to officiate as chief referee at all official championships.The chief referee shall assist the meet director to assure the smooth running of all competitive events to see that all skaters have an equal opportunity to compete.The individual must be a current USA Roller Sports member.

TABULATORS:

“TC” Commission: This commission qualifies one to tabulate at all contests which do not lead to the National Championship.The candidate must be a current USA Roller Sports member that has demonstrated the ability to enter data using the approved USARS computer tabulation program in at least 3 meets.The candidate should be supervised by a current “TB or “TA” tabulator during these meets.The “TC” commission exam must be passed before commission will be granted.

“TB” Commission: The candidate must demonstrate computer tabulation in at least three meets and be hand tabulation capable.The individual must be a current USA Roller Sports member.This commission entitles one to tabulate at qualifying, regional, and national championships or as a chief score at qualifying or regional championships as approved by the state or regional association.The commission will be granted after the “TB” commission exam has been passed.

“TA” Commission: This commission qualifies one to officiate as Chief Scorer at all qualifying championships.The candidate must have worked at least three major invitationals, Regional or National Championships under the supervision of a current “TA” commission holder.Commission will be issued by the USARS National Headquarters upon the recommendation of the supervising “TA” tabulator.The individual must be a current USA Roller Sports member.

CERTIFIED MEET DIRECTORS

All sanctioned USARS activities consisting of club contests, interclub contests, regional championships, national championships and protected competitions shall be under the control of a meet director who, except as otherwise provided in these rules, shall apply, enforce and interpret USARS rules and regulations and who shall have the responsibility and authority to make decisions governing the activity, participants and spectators. For figure skating there are two classes of USARS Meet Directors Certification. They are (A) Invitational, State, Regional, National and Protected Championships and (B) League and Interclub Contests.

The meet director shall be responsible for giving adequate advance notice of the activity to interested and qualified participants, for supervising the registration process and for insuring that an adequate number of qualified assistants, referees, judges and other officials are present. The meet director shall coordinate and supervise the work of all other meet officials. At all qualifying meets the Certified Meet Director shall be responsible for checking commissions of all officials before they are used.

Meet Directors Certification courses are conducted at the USARS National Championships and at USARS coaches’ conferences. Certification is valid for a three-year period, providing USARS does not receive verified complaints on the Meet Director that warrants action by the USARS Board of Directors and that the Meet Director maintains USARS membership. To be eligible to participate in a Meet Director Certification course, an applicant must:

Be a current USARS member
Be a minimum of 25 years of age
Have some experience in conducting USARS sanctioned meets
Obtain approval from the appropriate technical committee (Figure, Speed or Hockey)
Include a list of their activities as a contest official for the past three years Certified Meet Directors must be recertified every three years by attending a Meet Directors Certification course.

Rink Hockey Officials

2023 Ratified Motions- Changes to Current Requirements

Level 1 (Entry Level):The applicant must be a minimum of 16 years old and there is no experience required.The applicant must have basic knowledge of rink hockey rules and pass a written open book test.If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.Once the test is passed the "Level 1" referee may officiate in-house/club games only.

Level 2 (Regional Level):The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years old with verifiable experience officiating house or club games.The applicant must pass a written test proctored by a member designated by the USA Roller Sports National Headquarters (Rink Hockey Referees Committee Member, etc.).If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.The "Level 2" referee may officiate regional tournaments including all tournaments with more than one rink/club.

Level 3B (National Level "B"):The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years old and have at least one year experience officiating regional tournaments as a Level 2 referee.The applicant must pass a written test proctored by a member designated by the USA Roller Sports National Headquarters (Rink Hockey Referees Committee Member, etc.).If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.The "Level 3B" referee may officiate all youth and senior games up to and including "Bronze" division games at the National Championships as an uncompensated referee, entitled to the established "pay per game" rate.

Level 3A (National Level "A"):The applicant must be a minimum of 20 years old and have at least one year experience officiating at the National Championships as a Level 3A referee.The applicant must pass a written test proctored by a member designated by the USA Roller Sports National Headquarters (Rink Hockey Referees Committee Member, etc.).If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.Candidate must also pass a "game" test accompanied by an "A" classified referee and graded by the "head referee" or another "A" referee.The "Level 3A" referee may not officiate and play in Gold division games.At the National Championships a "Level 3A" referee is eligible to serve as a compensated referee, entitled to the established "full compensation" rate.

CERTIFIED MEET DIRECTORS

The meet director shall be responsible for giving adequate advance notice of the activity to interested and qualified participants, for supervising the registration process and for insuring that an adequate number of qualified assistants, referees, judges and other officials are present. The meet director shall coordinate and supervise the work of all other meet officials.At all qualifying meets the Certified Meet Director shall be responsible for checking commissions of all officials before they are used.

Meet Director that warrants action by the USARS Board of Directors and that the Meet Director maintains USARS membership. To be eligible to participate in a Meet Director Certification course, an applicant must:

Be a current USARS member
Be a minimum of 25 years of age
Have some experience in conducting USARS sanctioned meets
Obtain approval from the appropriate technical committee (Figure, Speed or Hockey)
Include a list of their activities as a contest official for the past three years Certified Meet Directors must be recertified every three years by attending a Meet Directors Certification course.

Speed Officials

C” Commission: Used at league, interclub and invitational contests, applicable to any track position except referee.Candidate must be a minimum of 15 years of age.No experience as a speed official is required to take a written commission test that will be formulated with the approval of the USARS Speed Committee.

“B” Commission: Needed to act as a Regional Championship Official.To be eligible for this commission an applicant must have at least one year of experience as a “C” official and have worked at least six contests. No written test is required; however, a candidate must have the endorsement of the league or Regional USARS President or Chairperson.

“A” Commission: Awarded to National Championship supporting official.A “B” commissioned official may apply to the Speed Committee for appointment to the National Championship Supporting Official Panel. This does not include a referee position.If the applicant’s performance at the National Championship meet is deemed satisfactory, they will be upgraded to an “A” Commission.

REFEREES:

“CR1” Commission: The applicant must be a minimum of 16 years old and there is no experience required.The applicant must take and pass a written open book test.If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.Once the test is passed the “CR1” can officiate at league, interclub, or invitational meets as a supporting official and assistant track referee.The “CR1” may also be a non-rolling supporting official at a regional meet.

“CR2” Commission: The applicant must hold the “CR1” commission for 1 year and is expected to work at least 3 league, interclub, or invitational meets as a supporting official and assistant track referee in the previous year.The applicant must take and pass a written open book test to upgrade.If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.The “CR2” can officiate as an assistant referee at a regional meet.

“BR1” Commission: The applicant must hold the “CR2” commission for 1 year and is expected to work at least 3 league, interclub, invitational, or regional meets as a supporting official or an assistant referee in the previous year.The applicant will be required to take and pass a written open book test for this upgrade.If the test is failed the applicant must wait 30 days from the date the test was taken to re-take the test.The “BR1” can officiate as a chief referee at league and interclub meets.

“BR2” Commission: The minimum age for this commission is 23 years old.The “BR2” applicant must hold the “BR1” commission for 1 year and is expected to work at least 3 league or interclub meets as chief referee and/or invitational and regional meets as an assistant referee in the previous year.The applicant must apply as a volunteer at the indoor national championship, where he/she will be assigned to each supporting position and one rolling block by the officials committee.At the end of the indoor national championships the applicant will be verbally reviewed and evaluated by the officials committee and submitted to the speed committee for upgrade.Upon speed committee approval the applicant will be awarded the “BR2” commission.The “BR2” commission holder will then be assigned a number and can officiate as chief referee at invitational meets.

“AR1” Commission: The applicant must hold the “BR2” commission for 1 year and is expected to work at least 3 league, interclub or invitational meets as chief referee and/or regional meets as an assistant referee in the previous year.The “AR1” applicant must apply as a volunteer rolling referee at the indoor national championships, where he/she will be assigned to a referee’s panel by the officials committee.At the end of the indoor national championship the applicant will be verbally reviewed and evaluated by the official committee and submitted to the speed committee for upgrade.Upon speed committee approval the applicant will be awarded an “AR1” commission.The “AR1” commission holder can officiate as chief referee at regional championships.The “AR1” is considered an indoor national championship referee and is expected to apply for appointment to the indoor national championship panel as an assistant referee each year.Any “AR” commissioned official who has not participated at an Indoor National Championship for a period of 3 consecutive years shall revert back to a “BR2” commission level.

“AR2” Commission: The applicant must hold the “AR1” commission for 3 years, have experience as a chief referee at multiple region’s championships and is expected to have worked at least 3 consecutive national championship meets as referee or meet director.The “AR2” applicant must apply as assistant chief referee at the national championship, where he/she will be assigned assistant chief referee’s duties by the officials committee. At the end of the national championship the applicant will be verbally reviewed and evaluated by the officials committee and submitted to the speed committee for upgrade.Upon speed committee approval the applicant will be awarded an “AR2” commission.The “AR2” commission holder can officiate as chief referee at national championships.The “AR2” commission holder is expected to apply for appointment to the national championship panel as an assistant referee each year.The “AR2” commissioned official may also apply to be chief referee at the indoor national championship.Any “AR” commissioned official who has not participated at an Indoor National Championship for a period of 3 consecutive years shall revert back to a “BR2” commission.

CERTIFIED MEET DIRECTORS

The meet director shall be responsible for giving adequate advance notice of the activity to interested and qualified participants, for supervising the registration process and for insuring that an adequate number of qualified assistants, referees, judges and other officials are present. The meet director shall coordinate and supervise the work of all other meet officials.At all qualifying meets the Certified Meet Director shall be responsible for checking commissions of all officials before they are used.

Meet Directors Certification courses are conducted at the USARS National Championships and at USARS coaches’ conferences.Certification is valid for a three-year period, providing USARS does not receive verified complaints on the Meet Director that warrants action by the USARS Board of Directors and that the Meet Director maintains USARS membership. To be eligible to participate in a Meet Director Certification course, an applicant must:

Be a current USARS member
Be a minimum of 25 years of age
Have some experience in conducting USARS sanctioned meets
Obtain approval from the appropriate technical committee (Figure, Speed or Hockey)
Include a list of their activities as a contest official for the past three years Certified Meet Directors must be recertified every three years by attending a Meet Directors Certification course.