Water Polo Planet

Having received many emails about this from referees all over the USA, let me provide a summary of my answers (in no particular order) in hopes it helps clarify things.

(1) the requirement for annual referee (re)training remains unchanged. I update the master instructional database four times per month and post it on the WPA web site as well as send it to both USA TWPC Chair Jim Cullingham as well as SCAF President Mike Reid. If you look on that list and find that you are current, all you need to do is be sure your USAWP referee membership is current and you will be a fully-certified referee. If you are not current (defined as within the previous twelve months) in your training, you are out of date and need to enroll in, and pass, online theoretical training in addition to updating your USAWP referee membership;

(2) the theoretical training curriculum is as follows, and listed in what would be the ideal order for students to take:
Introductory Refereeing - this is for those who have never whistled or have never had any training whatsoever
Intermediate - Minor Fouls
Intermediate - Major Fouls
Intermediate - The Center
Intermediate - Tactics of Offense
Intermediate - Tactics of Defense
Advanced - Advantage

(3) these courses are all offered monthly with a ten-student minimum size. You will get much more out of taking NEW courses than taking the same old ones over again. You can enroll in whatever you wish to take on the WPA web site;

(4) attending the FINA Referee School supersedes any of this theoretical training;

(5) the on-deck instructions, grading, and evaluation structure is being put together at the upcoming ODP meeting in Huntington Beach. Details to follow;

Does that help?

It is time for an update:

(1) the requirement for annual referee (re)training remains unchanged. If it changes, it will be posted on the USAWP web site as well as reported here;

(2) I update the master instructional database four times per month and post it on the WPA web site as well as send it to both USA TWPC Chair Jim Cullingham as well as SCAF President Mike Reid. If you look on that list and find that you are current, all you need to do is be sure your USAWP referee membership is current and you will be a fully-certified referee. If you are not current in your training, you are out of date and need to enroll in, and pass, online theoretical training in addition to updating your USAWP referee membership;

(3) the theoretical training curriculum is as follows, and listed in what would be the ideal order for students to take:
Introductory Refereeing - this is for those who have NEVER whistled or have NEVER had any training whatsoever
Intermediate - Minor Fouls
Intermediate - Major Fouls
Advanced - Advantage (Minor Fouls and Major Fouls are a prerequisite)
Advanced - The Center (Advantage is a prerequisite)
Advanced - Tactics of Defense (Advantage is a prerequisite)
Advanced - Tactics of Offense (Advantage is a prerequisite)

(4) these courses are all offered monthly with a ten-student minimum size. You will get much more out of taking NEW courses than taking the same old ones over again;

(5) last year, SCAF offered the equivalent of Introductory Refereeing and Minor Fouls to all its members. Going forwards, the recommendations for SCAF members who did this last year are to select from one of the following choices:
> Minor Fouls (repeated) - Major Fouls
> Minor Fouls (repeated) - Major Fouls - Advantage
> Major Fouls
> Major Fouls - Advantage
> Major Fouls - Advantage - any other advanced course(s)

(6) You can enroll in whatever you wish to take on the WPA web site;

(7) attending the FINA Referee School supersedes any of this theoretical training;

(8) the on-deck instructions, grading, and evaluation structure is being put together at the upcoming ODP meeting in Huntington Beach. Details to follow;

Does that help?

We have updated the theoretical training curriculum. It now looks like this:

Beginner Level:
Introductory Refereeing Instructor April 1-6 and May 1-6

Intermediate Level:
Minor Fouls April 8-13 and May 8-13
Major Fouls April 16-21 and May 16-21
Review of Fouls (pre-requisite Minor Fouls and Major Fouls) April 23-28 and May 23-28

Advanced Level:
The Advantage Rule (pre-requisite Minor Fouls and Major Fouls) April 23-28 and May 23-28
Whistling the Center (pre-requisite Advantage) April 1-6 and May 1-6
Tactics and Techniques (pre-requisite Advantage) April 8-13 and May 8-13

Although the content of each course is both valuable and unique, for those whose primary interest is recertification within USAWP, the MINIMUM you have to do is:
(1) pass both Minor Fouls and Major Fouls;
(2) take and pass at least one course each calendar year*.

* to provide referees with maximum schedule flexibility, any course taken in November or December (2008 in this case) will count for the following year's (2009 in this case) certification. Anyone certified in any given year (2008 in this case) will be allowed a four month grace period (through the end of April 2009) before your certification lapses.