If you’re up to the test … get certified! Highlands Ranch hosted the 2015 U.S. National Singles in May which turned out to be a great event. This type of endeavor doesn’t happen without the concerted effort of many volunteers, and I hope you take a few minutes to salute all those who made this event a success. In addition to the volunteers behind the scenes that handle all the logistics, there are the players themselves that are “voluntold” to referee.
Most are not excited about the venture, but they accept the responsibility as a part of playing tournaments. Racquetball is one of the few sports that requires its own athletes to referee match play, and a shortage of competent officials makes that a challenge at sanctioned tournaments. But those who were USAR certified earned $15 per match at Singles, and likely, had plenty of opportunity to earn back some – if not all – of their entry fee!
So you’re asking, “How do I get in on some of that action?” Short answer – Get Certified …!
This article will detail the process for referee certification that has been updated in the last year by USA Racquetball. Let’s examine the Initial Level 1 online certification requirements as outlined on their website. To get started, you’ll need to:
- View the complete video rules clinic (4 parts)
- Pass the rules test with at least a score of 86 (50 questions)
- Pay the $10 fee to complete certification with the video assessment test
- Pass the video assessment test with at least a score of 80 (25 videos)
Are you up to the test? Anyone can keep score, but do you really know the rules? It’s easy to become an expert with this new online Referee Certification program. It’s FREE to start, then only $10 for added testing, assessment, video tutorials and expert guidance through advanced levels. When you’re ready to begin testing you’ll log in to the USAR membership site with your standard member access, then go to “Courses and Testing” to select “Referee Certification” from the dropdown for a checklist of the items you need to complete.
So get started today – at no cost – by downloading the Official Rules, viewing the video rules clinic and taking the short test. You’ll be well on your way to becoming a valuable asset to the Colorado playing community, a quality referee for fellow players at tournaments, and a knowledgeable advocate for yourself in the heat of battle.
Having gone through the online process, I will confess that the video assessment is not perfect. That being said, both tests represent a fair assessment of your knowledge of the rules. I hear from many players who are not content with their referees, but few aspire to improve the situation by going through the process themselves. The CRA encourages all players to take a few minutes and show that you Know the Rules. If you have any additional questions, please email me at
Dave@coloradoracquetball.com.