Becoming a Referee
Become a Referee#
Getting Started: How to Become a Referee
Becoming a referee has never been easier! The first thing to do is go down to your local club. When you see two people fencing, ask them if they would like a referee and when they say, “Yes, please!” go ahead and jump right in. That’s it, you’re a referee!
Of course, there is a great deal more to learn if you are interested in becoming a certified referee, but the first step is to jump in at the local level and referee informal bouts whenever you have the chance. Refereeing even informally among your clubmates can seem intimidating for many because nobody wants to make a mistake, but by practicing to referee you will learn the rules, as well as right of way and improve your own fencing along the way.
Hopefully, with some experience under your belt, you will make the choice to become a certified USA Fencing referee. There are multiple steps to getting your certification that are designed to help ensure a consistency among referees across the United States. Fencing is a constantly evolving sport, and there are always new and sometimes subtle changes in the way rules and convention are applied. The goal of certification is to help ensure all referees are working from the same knowledge base.
The steps involved in getting your certification are:
- Practice in your club at every opportunity, and if possible find a local experienced referee or your coach to help mentor you.
- Read the Rulebook. Since the job of the referee is ensure a fair bout, you have to know the rules. Even if you decide not to become a referee, this step will make you a better fencer so you can advocate for yourself in case a referee misapplies a rule.
- Download the Referee Study Guide. Click on the link to find the updated study guide designed to help with passing the test as well as practical tips to help improve your refereeing. The study guide is laid out to create a learning environment from page one! It will help you conceptualize critical aspects of all three weapons. Get started today!
- Take a referee seminar. Certified Referee Instructors across the United States give refereeing seminars on a regular basis. All certified referees are expected to attend a seminar every two years. All currently scheduled referee seminars can be found here. In the "All Types" box, choose "Referee Seminars."
- Take the online exam. The test is divided into a general section, as well as weapon specific sections. There is a fee to take the exam, but if you fail, can retake the exam within the next 48 hours. Did you pass? Congratulations, you just earned your first referee rating!
- Take a practical examination. By passing the test alone, you earn a P rating (for pass), but in order to earn a local/regional referee rating, you must pass a practical examination administered by a Referee Examiner.
- Get out there and ref! Refereeing is a skill that needs to be practiced. Offer to help at local tournaments and watch as much fencing as you can. Video footage of high level domestic fencing can be found on the USA Fencing Facebook page, and video of international bouts can be found on the FIE YouTube page. As you get better and more experienced, you should consider refereeing at the national level as well.
All USA Fencing referees must be a current member of USA Fencing and referees age 18 and over must purchase the +CheckEd add-on to complete a background check and Safesport training. The +CheckEd add-on can be purchased through your profile in the USA Fencing Membership Database. Referees under the age of 18 do not need the background check or Safesport training. However, upon turning 18 the referee must have the criminal background check and Safesport. A referee who is nearly his or her 18th birthday may contact the USA Fencing Safesport Coordinator to access the Safesport training so that it is completed on or by his or her 18th birthday. The criminal background check cannot be started until the referee has turned 18.
Quick Links
Rating Processes#
Referee Ratings Process
Becoming a certified referee involves multiple steps that are aimed at ensuring a uniform application of the rules and the conventions of right of way. To earn or maintain a referee rating, all referees must meet the following requirements:
- Be a member in good standing of USA Fencing. Referees who let their membership lapse for over one year will lose their rating
- Pass the online exam once every two years with a score of 90 percent in the general section, and 90 percent in each weapon being tested for
- Attend a rules seminar
- Referee at their level at least every two years
- Observe the Referee Code of Ethics and always act professionally
Once a referee has attended a rules seminar and passed the online exam, they earn a rating of “P.”
All referees must pass a practical examination given by a Referee Examiner. Referees must demonstrate proficiency at a certain level to earn a rating. Demonstrated proficiency means showing consistency over time in the following skills:
- Make the calls appropriate for the rated level of fencing (as listed below).
- Knowledge and utilization of correct procedures, terminology and hand gestures.
- Apply penalties correctly and appropriately.
- Maintain composure on the strip.
- Demonstrate control of the strip.
- Comport oneself well, and maintain a professional image both on and off the strip.
- Interact with competitors in a professional manner.
- Interact appropriately with coaches and spectators.
- Demonstrate an ability to handle pressure situations; i.e. make the same calls consistently, no matter the bout situation (same call at 14-14 as at 1-1), bout level (pools, first round of DE, or Finals), or quantity/quality of spectators.
The domestic ratings are listed below, with N1 being the most proficient rating. Ratings require demonstrated proficiency at the following levels or their equivalent:
- P – Passed the appropriate exams for that weapon
- L2 – Beginning referee working at local level events
- L1 – Referee with demonstrated competency to work higher level local events
- R2 – Referee with demonstrated competency to work at regional level events
- R1 – Referee with demonstrated competency to work higher levels at regional events
- N2 – Referee with demonstrated competency to work national Level events
- N1 – Referee with demonstrated competency to work highest level national events
Note: R1 rated referees are eligible for selection to referee at national events, depending on tournament needs.
N2 and N1 ratings will be awarded during the annual Referees’ Commission meeting.
Regional event bid packages will require an N2 head referee.
Referee usage is tracked at every national tournament. The referee’s name is included when a bout’s result is entered into the tournament database. Bout slips where the referee’s name is missing or illegible are entered with the score only, and the referee won’t get credit for working the bout.
At the end of each competition, a referee usage report is generated for the Assigner to review. The report lists all the referees who worked that event. It shows the number of pools and number of bouts in each round of the direct elimination table worked by each referee. The Assigner determines at what level each referee successfully performed, and notes it on the report.
At the end of each tournament, the competition reports and Assigner’s evaluations are collected into a tournament report. Referees with a rating of 5 or lower are reviewed, to see if they successfully worked at or above their current rated level. If a rating renewal or upgrade has been earned, the renewal/upgrade is immediately awarded. The maximum rating that can be earned by this review process is a 5.
At the end of the season, a season ending usage summary report is prepared. Referees evaluated as having successfully performed at a 4 level (or their current rated level, if higher than a 4) or higher at any national tournament during the season are included on the report. International usage is gathered from the FIE and the European Fencing Confederation websites and added to the report.
Before the annual August Referees’ Commission meeting, the season end domestic and international referee usage report is sent to that season’s Assigners who are also 1 or 2 level referees. It is also sent to the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Referees’ Commission. All recipients of the report are asked to provide their opinions regarding what rating each referee listed on the report should have, and invited to add any additional comments about the referee’s work.
The responses from the Assigners and the RC members are collected and added to the season ending referee usage report. At the August meeting, the RC reviews the summary report with all the responses, and votes on the ratings upgrades/renewals for each referee.
The tournament usage reports and year end summary reports for several seasons are available here. Evaluations and comments made by Assigners and RC members for referees are confidential, and are not included.