Squash Ontario works in cooperation with Squash Canada and the World Squash Federation in an effort to ensure that all matches (singles and doubles) are contested safely and fairly. Ontario is extremely lucky to have one of the most active communities of certified squash officials in the world and we are proud to have such a talented group officiate our Provincial events and represent Ontario at National and International competitions.
We recommend that all squash players take the initial Club Referee course and exam in order to play safe and make sound judgements on the squash court. After initial official certification, anyone may upgrade their certifications by following the procedures outlined below.
singles
certification
assessor LEVELS:
Provincial Assessor National Assessor
CERTIFICATION LEVELS:
Club Referee
Local Referee
Provincial Referee
National Referee
getting started
Initial certification is offered through the Club Referee Course and Exam which is located at https://thelocker.coach.ca/. You will be required to have an NCCP number to access the course/exam. Simply create a profile if you don’t have one.
After logging into your NCCP profile, click on ‘eLearning’, filter results by choosing ‘squash’ in the dropdown menu, and click on the ‘Online Referee Certification’ on the left hand side.
The tutorial will take approximately 60 minutes to complete, but you can go at your own pace and complete it in stages. The only exception is the final exam — once you start this, you must answer all questions. If you quit the program before answering all the questions, you will have to start from the beginning of the final exam the next time you log in. The cost is $35.00.
Successful completion of this course and exam will lead to a Club Referee designation.
Once a referee has achieved the ‘Initial Certification’ in the Officiating Program, the journey begins towards the successive levels of Local Referee, Provincial Referee & National Referee. Sign into your referee account at www.squashcanadaofficial.com to check your status at any time.
If you have completed some credits towards an upgraded level prior to the launch of the new Officiating Program in April 2016, please see the Squash Canada Equivalency document.
Find resources, forms, and certification information through:
official upgrading
Assessor Upgrading
To upgrade to the next officiating certification, officials must obtain the following credits. Click on the image to enlarge.
Provincial Assessors
To become a Provincial Assessor, a candidate:
Must be nominated by Squash Ontario
Must be a ‘Provincial’ or ‘National’ Referee
Must complete the Assessor Training Course found at www.squashcanadaofficial.com
Must pass the Assessor Training Course exam by attaining at least an 80% mark
Must attend a consultation session with a National Assessor for a complete review of the full Certification Clinic to the satisfaction of the Assessor – all in preparation for a shared clinic presentation
Must share the presentation of a Rules Clinic (or full Certification Clinic) with the same Assessor – and be assessed in that role to the satisfaction of the Assessor.
Must be assessed by a National assessor while conducting an assessment of a Referee seeking a ‘Local’ signature
Responsibilities:
Conduct Certification and Rules Clinics in cooperation with their Provincial/Territorial Associations.
Assess and upgrade other Referees up to their own level of certification.
Given that a “National Assessor” must first be a “Provincial Assessor”, all the stated functions of a “Provincial Assessor” may therefore be performed by a “National Assessor”.
National Assessors
To become a National Assessor, a candidate:
Must be an active National Official,
Must have at least 3 years’ experience as a Provincial Assessor,
Must have been nominated for appointment by the Squash Canada Officiating Committee,
Must pass an assessment by another NA while performing an assessment and subsequent debriefing of a candidate seeking a National signature.
Responsibilities:
Assess and upgrade officials to the ‘National’ level
Certify new Provincial and National Assessors
Assist in the reviewing and updating of technical materials used in the Squash Canada Officiating Program
There are two levels of referees: Provincial and National. To become a certified official,
a candidate must:
Attend a full certification clinic
Pass the written examination
Pass the practical test
Doubles
Certification
Certification
Clinic
The rules of squash and their interpretation are presented. There is also a practical demonstration during which candidates are given the opportunity to practice officiating.
The written examination is usually taken following the certification clinic, but may be taken at a later date. The examination consists of True/False questions and Short Answer questions on the rules and their interpretation. It tests the candidate’s knowledge of the responsibilities of the Referee and Judges. The written examination must be conducted by a National Examiner. The written examination must be successfully completed (minimum of 80%) prior to attempting the Practical Test.
If a candidate fails the written examination, he/she may retake it once without having to retake the clinic, provided the initial failure mark is not below 65%.
Written
Examination
Practical
Examination
The practical test will be held in conjunction with competitive play, either a tournament or league match. The initial referee assessment involves giving at least 10 correct decisions and being competent and consistent in the interpretation of the rules. The initial assessment must be given by a National Examiner. If a candidate fails the practical test, he/she may retake it without having to retake the clinic.
Candidates who take the certification clinic and pass both the written examination and practical test will become certified officials at the Provincial level.
Officials who become certified may improve their level of certification through a process of upgrading. Upgrading is achieved by gaining practical experience and being observed and assessed by National level officials (i.e., National level referees and National Examiners).
To upgrade to a National level referee, the candidate must obtain five recommendations, from National level referees and National Examiners, by refereeing competitive matches equivalent to those involving the top 40 Canadian men or women (the assessors shall determine equivalencies). At least two of the recommendations must be at the “A” (very difficult) level, with the remaining recommendations being at the “B” (difficult) level. The candidate must give a minimum of 10 correct decisions in each match, of which a sufficient number are deemed to be difficult by the assessor, and demonstrate competence at this level. At least one of the recommendations must be given by a National Examiner and this must be an “A” recommendation.
Upgrading
Definition of “A”
Recommendation
The Squash Canada Doubles Officiating Committee believes that the credibility of the entire program is dependent on the setting and maintaining of high standards. By achieving the National level in the doubles officiating program, a referee is supposed to be able to handle any match played in our National Championships. In order to prove to any assessors that they can perform to that level, referees must actually do it – that is, referee satisfactorily a very difficult match – one which the Committee has defined as an “A” match.
In order to achieve National level, a candidate must referee at least 1 match that that is assessed by a National Examiner and qualifies as an “A” recommendation. The decision as to whether the match qualifies as an “A” recommendation rests with the assessor, who will take into account the following factors:
the number and difficulty of the referee’s decisions
the behaviour and personalities of the players
the crowd – its mood and reactions
the “importance” of the event
the physical surroundings
the competence of judges
the presence of an assessor
The Committee recognizes that any or all of these factors can contribute to a match becoming very difficult, and wants the assessor to have some confidence that the candidate is able to handle any or all of these pressures. This is not to say that all of these factors must be present for a match to be considered worthy of an “A” recommendation. However, the assessor must be satisfied that, based on the candidate’s performance, none of these factors would likely cause the candidate any trouble.
Each year, the Squash Canada Doubles Officiating Committee reviews the program needs and, as required, invites applications from the Provincial/Territorial Associations for National Examiner positions. To be confirmed as an National Examiner, a candidate must be a National level referee, and be observed by another National Examiner while performing an assessment and subsequent debriefing of a candidate seeking an National level recommendation.