Become a Referee

Water Polo Canada uses the Officials Training and Certification Program (OTCP) as its officials’ education and development tool. Officials include both referees and minor officials.  

In 2023, WPC's OTCP underwent an overhaul to include new rules and regulations set forth by World Aquatics, previously FINA - Fédération Internationale de Natation, new terminology to better align the Canadian water polo referee development system with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), WPC's safe sport compliance roles and WPC's registration categories, as well as an update to its Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity (LTDSPA), previously Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), content. 

WPC'S OTCP OVERVIEW

Water Polo Canada's OTCP consists of three referee levels: 

1. Community Sport Referee (previously Regional Referee)
2. Provincial Competition Referee (previously Provincial Referee)
3. National Competition Referee (previously National Referee)

COMMUNITY SPORT REFEREE

The Community Sport Referee level is an entry-level referee program targeting teenagers and adults with little experience with the rules of water polo. This referee has typically been playing water polo at the club level for a couple of years or is a parent of an athlete who has been involved in the sport. 

The minimum age for training is 14 years old and the minimum age for certification is 16 years old. The Community Sport Referee typically officiates athletes in the Learn to Train (male 9-12 +/- and female 8-11 +/-), Train to Train (male 12-14 +/- and female 11-13 +/-), and Active for Life (all ages) Long-Term Development stages. 

The Community Sport Referee course typically involves six (6) hours of classroom training and three and a half (3.5) hours of practical training. 

PROVINCIAL COMPETITION REFEREE

The Provincial Competition Referee level targets officials with knowledge of the rules of water polo and athletes who are refining their competitive skills at the provincial and national levels. The typical Provincial Competition Referee has three to four years of playing experience and another couple of years of referee experience. Referees at the Provincial Competition level are expected to have a good understanding of the rules of water polo and are looking to refine their knowledge of the game in a competitive environment.

Provincial Competition Referee Trained is the minimum referee level needed to begin officiating at National level events (e.g., the National Championship League and the National Provincial Championships). Referees interested in becoming a Provincial Competition Referee must be “certified” as a Community Sport Referee.  

The minimum age for training is 16 years old and the minimum age for certification is 18 years old. The Provincial Competition Referee typically officiates athletes in the Train to Train (male 12-16+/- and female 11-15+/-), Train to Compete (male 16-19+/- and female 15-18+/-) and Active for Life (all ages) Long-Term Development stages. 

The Provincial Competition Referee course typically involves six hours of classroom training and five and a half hours of practical training. 

NATIONAL COMPETITION REFEREE

The National Competition Referee level targets officials with prior water polo experience and athletes who are perfecting and maintaining their competitive skills at the national level. Referees interested in becoming a National Competition Referee must be “certified” as a Provincial Competition Referee.  

The minimum age for training is 18 years old. The National Competition Referee typically officiates athletes in the Training to Compete (males ~16-19 years old and females ~15-18 years old), Learn to Win (males ~19-25 years old and females ~18-23 years old) and Train to Win (males 25+ years old and females 23+ years old) stages, as well as Competitive for Life (males and females 13+ years old) Long-Term Development stages. 

The National Competition Referee course typically involves six and a half hours of classroom training and six and a half hours of practical training. 

Please click here to download a PDF version of the Officials Development Model. 

REFEREE EVALUATION STANDARDS

COMMUNITY SPORT REFEREE

• Once a Community Sport Referee completes their training they can begin the process of becoming “certified” by completing the following steps: 
  • Written examination*.
  • Twenty hours of verified practical experience (i.e. scrimmages and games.)**
  • Three evaluations at 12U or older events**

*This exam will be given at the end of the Community Sport Referee workshop

**Practical experience and evaluations may occur at the same time. A Referee does not have to complete all twenty (20) verified hours before requesting an evaluation.

PROVINCIAL COMPETITION REFEREE

• Once a Provincial Competition Referee completes their training they can begin the process of becoming “certified” by completing the following steps: 
  • Written examination*.
  • Thirty hours of verified practical experience (i.e. scrimmages and games.)**.
  • Six evaluations at 15U, 17U or older events.**

*This exam will be given at the end of the Provincial Competition Referee workshop

*Practical experience and observations may occur at the same time. A Referee does not have to complete all thirty (30) verified hours before requesting an evaluation.

NATIONAL COMEPTITON REFEREE

• Once a National Competition Referee completes their training they can begin the process of becoming “certified” by completing the following steps: 
  • Written examination*.
  • Forty hours of verified practical experience (i.e. scrimmages and games.)**.
  • Six evaluations at 19U, Senior or older events.**

*This exam will be given at the end of the National Competition Referee workshop

*Practical experience and observations may occur at the same time. A Referee does not have to complete all forty (40) verified hours before requesting an evaluation.

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Only events specifically identified by WPC and the PSOs will be eligible as evaluation opportunities;
• Only one referee can be evaluated during any given game;
• In order to complete certification at any level, referees must be evaluated by at least 2 different evaluators;
• Cost of evaluation will be covered by the referee waiving their usual remuneration/honoraria for the game during which the evaluation will take place. 

REFEREE DEVELOPERS

Referee Developers are experienced referees that have received specific training so that they can effectively teach and evaluate developing referees. This training will provide referees interested in teaching referee workshops, evaluating referees and/or becoming national event delegates with the tools needed to complete these tasks. Only active Referee Developers are able to teach and evaluate referees. 

The Referee Developer standards for each WPC referee level are listed below: 

• Community Sport Referee workshops and evaluations must be completed by a Certified Provincial Competition Referee who has completed WPC’s Referee Developer training. 
• Provincial Competition Referee workshops and evaluations must be completed by a Certified National Competition Referee who has completed WPC’s Referee Developer training. 
• National Competition Referee workshops and evaluations must be completed by a PanAm Aquatic (PAQ) or World Aquatic (WAQ) Referee who has completed WPC’s Referee Developer training

If you are a referee interested in becoming a Referee Developer, please contact WPC's Sport Development Manager, Rebekka Steenkamer.

REFEREE STANDARDS FOR NATIONAL LEVEL EVENTS

All National event referees must be at least Provincial Competition Referee trained and meet all of WPC's registration and safe sport requirements.