If you can’t get enough of pickleball, it might be time to consider becoming a pickleball referee. USA Pickleball has a very detailed outline of what you need to do get certified. There are many levels of pickleball ref within USA Pickleball, so here is everything you need to know to become a USA Pickleball pickleball official.
Step 1: Verified Trainee
Your first step to becoming a pickleball referee is to sign up a Verified Trainee.
What is a Verified Trainee?
- A Verified Trainee is on the path to becoming a USA Pickleball referee, and is learning the basic skills to move on to the next level.
- A Verified Trainee may be allowed (at the discretion of a tournament director) to referee tournament matches under instruction until they believe you can referee matches on your own.
- Being a Verified Trainee is only the first step to becoming a credentialed referee and you should gain all the experience you can with that goal in mind.
How to become a Verified Trainee
- Watch this video: Referee Quick Start.
- You should be very well-versed with the USA Pickleball rules, including the Official USA Pickleball Rulebook and USA Pickleball Officiating Handbook (to be accessed only after you join USA Pickleball).
- Take the USA Pickleball Player Test to test your knowledge before moving forward.
- Sign up for a referee training course in your area. You can find a trainer near you at the referee search tool.
- You can also find a course by contacting a pickleball referee training coordinator in your area.
There are many ways you can gain more experience throughout your training, including:
- Shadowing a more experienced referee.
- Record a scoresheet as practice at any non-sanctioned or sanctioned events you are attending.
- Have a more experienced official shadow you while you are refereeing a match.
- Serve as a line judge whenever possible.
The above tips will apply to all levels of becoming a referee.
Step 2: Level 1 Referee
Once you have shown you have the minimum proficient skills to officiate matches and tournaments, you can move on to become a USA Pickleball Level 1 Ref.
What is a Level 1 Referee?
- As a Level 1 Official, you are officially a referee in the USA Pickleball world.
- At this point, you should be reffing as much as you can to gain your skills and confidence as a ref.
- You have committed to becoming a referee and have spent the time to referee matches as a trainee and has passed Level 1 Referee exams.
- Level 1 Referees are capable of refereeing basic non-medal matches at tournaments (but may require some assistance).
How to become a Level 1 Referee
- Continue learning everything you can from your USA Pickleball Official Rulebook and Officiating Handbook.
- Print out sample scoresheets and purchase a clipboard, numbered clip, and a stopwatch.
- Ask your friends if you can practice refereeing or line judging their non-sanctioned pickleball games
- Take the Referee Test.
- Take the Line Judge Test.
- Take the Officiating Procedures Test.
- Take the Pickleball Player Test.
- Obtain your visual acuity documentation (only accessible after you become a USA Pickleball member).
- After you have done all of this, you will want to re-contact your trainer or any Certified Referee so they can assess your refereeing skills.
- Meet all the requirements for a Level 1 Official on the Tiered Referee Rating (TRR) form (only accessible after you become a USA Pickleball member).
Step 3: Level 2 Referee
A Level 2 Referee is a very accomplished pickleball referee who has worked hard to learn the game and get where they are.
What is a Level 2 Referee?
- As a Level 2 Referee, you will have been reffing for a certain amount of time and you have the skills and confidence to officiate championship matches at sanctioned events.
- A Level 2 Ref, you should know the USA Pickleball Rulebook well.
- You will also be able to handle any on-court situations that may arise (including dealing with different personalities).
- Level 2 Officials can officiate at both non-sanctioned and sanctioned tournaments.
- Level 2 Referees are capable of refereeing basic non-medal matches at tournaments (but may require some assistance).
How to become a Level 2 Referee
- Continue studying the Official Rulebook and Officiating Handbook, with the goal of becoming an expert in both.
- The Referee Casebook (only accessible after you become a USA Pickleball member) is another helpful tool you should become familiar with.
- Continue working with your referee trainer.
- Referee as many matches and tournaments as possible.
- When you feel ready, contact your referee trainer or a local Certified Referee to assess your current skills.
- They will assess whether or ot you meet the Level 2 requirements on the Tiered Referee Rating (TRR) form.
Step 4: Certified Referee
A USA Pickleball Certified Referee is the highest credentialed level of referee. You can officiate all different types of sanctioned tournaments, including matches for professional pickleball players.
What is a Certified Referee?
- A USA Pickleball Certified Referee has gone through the arduous process of becoming a Verified Trainee, Level 1 Referee, and Level 2 Referee, as well as all the steps required to become a Certified Referee.
- Certified Referee can travel to all types of pickleball tournaments, including professional events.
How to become a Certified Referee
- Continue refereeing matches so you can gain as much experience as possible.
- Contact a Certified Referee Coordinator (CRC) to help you find a mentor who can prepare you for the certification.
- Pass an Advanced Training Session (ATS) (only accessible after you become a USA Pickleball member).
- Your Certified (CRC) will conduct an interview with you.
- Pass the Referee Test at 90 percent.
- Pass the Line Judge Test at 90 percent.
- Submit your application for Referee Certification.
- This will include your current visual acuity documentation (only accessible after you become a USA Pickleball member).
- Pay an evaluation fee.
- You will then undergo an evaluation of your pickleball reffing skills and rules knowledge during an actual sanctioned tournament.
On-court evaluation
To become a certified referee, you undergo an on-court evaluation where you will be refereeing three doubles matches (minimum), including one with a stacking team. A USA Pickleball evaluator will be judging your skills and rules knowledge. The evaluation is looking for:
- Professionalism in actions, words, and demeanor.
- How you maintain an “efficient flow” of the games.
- Your ability to call faults, especially non-volley zone (NVZ) faults.
- Use a numbered clip to track the serve and servers, changing it to the current server when service changes players.
- How correctly you mark USA Pickleball requirements on the scoresheet, including points, side outs, and any other actions in the match.
- Your ability to follow proper time-out procedures.
- How well you call out-of-position players and incorrect servers.
- Your ability to follow all other USA Pickleball officiating procedures.
After the matches, you will also be quizzed by your evaluator on additional questions related to circumstances that may have arisen but did not during those particular matches.
Becoming a USA Pickleball referee
Becoming an official with USA Pickleball can be a challenging process, but the reward will be worth it. Officials are such an important part of the game, especially for tournaments and professional events, and it’s a great opportunity to increase your knowledge of the game of pickleball while also contributing to the sport.
Learn more about all the steps and tips to become a USA Pickleball referee.