Referee Certification Frequently Asked Questions

Who can become a WFTDA Certified Referee?

Any referee regardless of league affiliation is eligible to become a WFTDA certified referee. Skaters may also apply for certification.

What are the levels of certification and the requirements for each?

Level 1 - Non-skating Official (NSO)

  • Three (3) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (NOT the referee’s home league) must be turned in
  • 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

  • Must have officiated at least five (5) WFTDA Interleague Bouts (regulation or sanctioned) prior to application
  • Five (5) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (NOT the referee’s home league) must be turned in
  • Verification of passed league-administered rules test
  • Must pass league-administered skating skills test

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

  • Must have officiated at least seven (7) WFTDA Interleague games (regulation or sanctioned) prior to application
  • Seven (7) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (NOT the referee’s home league) must be turned in; Three (3) of those Performance Evaluations must be from skaters
  • Letter of recommendation from at least one (1) Level 3 or higher certified referee
  • Verification of passed league-administered rules test
  • Must pass league-administered skating skills test

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

  • Must have officiated at least seven (7) WFTDA Interleague games (regulation or sanctioned) prior to application
  • Seven (7) Referee Performance Evaluations from WFTDA member leagues (NOT the referee’s home league) must be turned in; Three (3) of those Performance Evaluations must be from skaters
  • Recommendation letters from at least three (3) Level 3 or higher certified referees
  • Verification of passed league-administered rules test
  • Must pass league-administered skating skills test

What level can I apply for?

If you are currently not Certified, you can apply for Level 1 or Level 2.

If you are currently Certified, you can apply for a single level higher, or renew at the same level, when your current Certification is up for renewal (12 months after your Certification date). e.g., a WFTDA referee Certified at level 2 on 7/1/2009 may apply for either Level 2 or Level 3 no sooner than 7/1/2010. However, they may not apply for Levels 4 or 5 at this time.

How long does Certification last?

Referee Certification is valid for 1 year from the date granted. After the 1 year period is up, a referee may apply to be Certified at level one above their current standing, or renew at the current level. The referee will be granted a 3 month grace period to get all of his or her required documents in prior to losing his or her Certified status.

If the referee does not turn in all of his or her documents within or prior to the grace period he or she will be eligible to re-apply at the same level for an additional 6 months. If the documents are not received by the end of the 6 months the referee will not be eligible to apply at his or her previous level and must start at levels 1/2.

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

Where can I find these documents?

As of January 2009, all documents, except for the rules test and key and the skating skills test will be stored at wftda.com. The rules test and skating skills 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?

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 with an aspiring WFTDA League. How can I take the test?

The rules test must be administered by a WFTDA League Representative. In order to take these tests 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:

  • A WFTDA Sanctioned Bout is a WFTDA interleague bout between two chartered teams that will count towards the leagues’ rankings.
  • A WFTDA Regulation Bout is between two WFTDA leagues that follows all current WFTDA rules but does not count towards the leagues’ rankings.

Intraleague bouts between teams from the same WFTDA Member League do not count.

How do I know what region a league is in?

Consult this map of the WFTDA Regions

What if this is a non-WFTDA league?

Base your decision on the region of the WFTDA Member League closest in proximity to the non-affiliated referee.

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

Check the Referee Certification Application Status.

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 they may reapply after 6 months.

Are there patches? All WFTDA Referees Like Patches!

We will have more specific information on this very soon. Stay tuned!

My question wasn’t answered here!

We’re happy to help answer questions that are not listed in this FAQ. Send an email to the appropriate region email above with the specifics of anything not listed here.

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