The Association Certification Chair Will

USATF OFFICIALS BEST PRACTICES

Duties of the

Officials’ Certification Chair

Consistent with guidelines provided by USA Track & Field's National Officials Committee, each local USATF association is to elect or appoint an Officials Certification Chair. The Chair is to provide an ongoing program to train and certify officials needed for athletic competitions throughout the association.

The Association Certification Chair will:

a.  Maintain contact with the National Officials’ Committee (NOC) Vice Chair for Certification of and act as the Association representative to the NOC. Upon request, provide advice and reports to the NOC concerning association training, certification, and other officials’ activities.

b.  Establish Association procedures and requirements for training and certification of all levels of officials. Prepare and disseminate information pertaining to officials’ certification and training.

c.  Process officials’ applications for certification. Score tests, review qualifications, receive fees, and take or receive photos. Evaluate officials’ experience and training vs. established criteria, and approve certification levels as well as upgrades and downgrades. Maintain records pertaining to certification of officials in the Association and update the National Officials’ Committee (NOC) officials’ certification database.

e. Communicate news and items of interest concerning certification and training to all certified officials in the association via periodic mail/e-mail/newsletter/website/etc.

f. Maintain financial records of revenues received and expenditures of Association funds in connection with certification activities. Prepare and submit budgets to the Association Treasurer or Board. Collect certification fees and clinic fees. Forward national certification fees to USATF.

g. Receive materials from the NOC regarding nominations for officials national awards; solicit nominations from association officials; and submit nominations to the NOC.

h. Upon request from the NOC, evaluate officials being considered for selection to work USATF national championship meets.

Add other duties as may be appropriate for your association; a few examples follow:

·  Establish an association certification fee, if desired.

·  Establish additional association certification criteria, if desired.

·  Organize and conduct, or coordinate the conduct of training/certification clinics, and prepare clinic content and handouts. Develop and maintain other elements of instructional programs for officials.

·  Establish an Association Certification Subcommittee; act as the Chair of the Subcommittee; and appoint its members (preferably an odd number of people) to assist the Certification Chair, and to review or act upon proposed upgrades, downgrades or appeals.

Certif Chair Duties, USATF Best Practices, Nov 17 (Credit: R. Schornstein)