For Officials

To become a USA Triathlon official, one must participate in one of the many clinics held around the country each year. There is no charge for attending a clinic. One must be a member of USA Triathlon and bring the membership card or join at the clinic. Clinics are held in conjunction with a sanctioned event, and will have USA Triathlon officials assigned to marshal the race. The Officials Certification Clinic consists of about three hours of classroom lecture and discussion. Each clinic has a limited number of spaces and applicants are urged to contact the clinic instructor to reserve a space early. Each participant is sent files for the Officials Manual and a take-home exam that must be completed and returned to the instructor prior to the beginning of the class. Classroom portions of the clinics are taught on the day or evening prior to the triathlon or duathlon. On race day, the clinic participant will be assigned to marshal some portion of the race, under the supervision of the clinic instructor. USA Triathlon officials uniforms are issued to each new official on race day.

Upon completion of the Officials Certification Clinic (classroom, examination and race practicum), the graduate is classified as a Category 4 Official. Cat 4 Officials have 12 months from the date they attend a clinic to become fully certified as Cat 3 referees. Full certification requires the Cat 4 Referee to work an additional two races under a USAT referee's supervision, and in a volunteer capacity. To remain active, Cat 1, 2 or 3 officials are required to attend a certification clinic every two years and to successfully pass a certification examination.


The job description of a USA Triathlon official:

The best job description of a USAT Official is that described in the Competitive Rules under Section 9:

9.2 Head Referee. Beginning with the start of the event and until all scores are finalized, the decisions of the Head Referee are final and binding with respect to all competition matters pertaining to the event, with the exception of decisions by the Protest Committee.

9.3 Powers of the Head Referee. The Head Referee shall be empowered:

(a) To interpret and enforce these Competitive Rules and any other regulations or policies of USA Triathlon;
(b) To supervise and control the general conduct of all participants, to require that a participant withdraw from an event, and to intercede during a competition at any stage to ensure that the Competitive Rules are observed;
(c) To invoke and impose penalties for violations of these Rules and to prominently post a list of all violations and penalized participants designated by race number at a site located near the finish of the event;
(d) To make decisions on any point not specifically covered in these Rules;
(e) To instruct, direct, assign duties to, and delegate authority to all other race officials;
(f) To examine the equipment or other items of any participant at any time to check compliance with these Rules, and to make the final and binding decision as to whether any equipment or other item is improper or unauthorized;
(g) To overrule any Judge, Marshall, or other race official on any point of interpretation of these Rules, and to resolve differences of opinion between or among Marshals, Judges, or other race officials;
(h) To establish all aspects of protest procedure, including the time and place of hearing, to impose sanctions for noncompliance with established procedure, and to assess penalties in accordance with the resolution of any protests; and
(i) To prepare a report of actions taken and decisions rendered by the Protest Committee and to make recommendations on improving race operations.

9.4 Duties of the Head Referee. The Head Referee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) The Head Referee shall wear distinctive clothing or other means of identification;
(b) The Head Referee shall establish an officials' headquarters located near the finish of the event;
(c) The Head Referee shall use and maintain a violation posting board erected by race management;
(d) The Head Referee shall process violations reported by Marshals diligently and as soon as possible and shall reviewevery violation with the appropriate reporting Marshal;
(e) The Head Referee shall determine the relative severity of any offense or violation;
(f) The Head Referee shall assess an appropriate penalty;
(g) The Head Referee shall retain the results of reported violations and decisions and shall review the information in connection with all protests; and
(h) The Head Referee shall submit all appropriate data that affects final results to the Head Timer for incorporation into final race results.

The categories of officials (Cat I, II, etc) and how to upgrade:

CAT 5 (clinic participant only)
1. Attend, participate, and complete classroom session of clinics.
2. Satisfactorily complete the written examination of the Competitive Rules.
3. Demonstrate a sincere interest in officiating.
4. Be in good physical condition, weigh less than 215 lbs, and be capable of riding for hours at a time as a passenger on a          motorcycle.
5. Be a member of USA Triathlon.
6. Participate satisfactorily in the race practicum.

CAT 4
1. Satisfactorily participate in the clinic and related race event.
2. Be recommended by the clinic instructor to the Regional Coordinator.
3. Be a member of USA Triathlon.
Note: Cat 4 serves in a probationary period.

CAT 3
1. Satisfactorily assist in two (2) sanctioned events within 12 months, supervised by a Cat 1, 2 or 3.
2. Supply the Regional Coordinator with application for advancement and all appropriate documents of experience including letters of recommendation from supervising officials.
3. Satisfactorily complete a certification clinic every two (2) years.
4. Be a member of USA Triathlon.
Note: Cat 3 may operate as Head Referee.

CAT 2
1. Serve as a Cat 3 for at least one (1) year.
2. Satisfactorily work at six (6) events including service as Head Referee at two (2) of those events after advancing to Cat 3.
3. Satisfactorily complete a certification clinic every two (2) years.
4. Be recommended in writing by two Cat 1 or Cat 2 referees as having demonstrated superior officiating skills and judgment.
5. Submit application for advancement, with documentation to Regional Coordinator.
6. Be a member of USA Triathlon.

CAT 1
1. Serve as a Cat 2 for at least one (1) year
2. Satisfactorily work at eight (8) events including service as Head Referee at four (4) events after advancing to Cat 2. One of the Head assignments must be at a “Pro rules” event.
3. Satisfactorily complete a certification clinic every two (2) years.
4. Be recommended in writing by two Cat 1 or Cat 2 referees as having demonstrated superior officiating skills and judgment.
5. Submit application for advancement, with documentation to RC.
6. Be a member of USA Triathlon.

Races that require officials (championships, etc):
Only championship and Grand Prix events are required by USAT to have officials. However, every race director is required by sanction to enforce the Competitive Rules. Wise race directors will usually contract to have USA Triathlon certified officials present, as they are the only people specifically trained and experienced to handle the myriad problems that rules enforcement entails.

How officials are chosen for high profile races:

The Regional Officials Coordinators choose the appropriate officiating team for all USA Triathlon events where officials are requested. The most experienced officials are assigned to pro-rules events, USAT Grand Prix events, and USA Triathlon championships.

Value to athletes and race directors of USA Triathlon officials at events:

Though race directors can provide safe, challenging and fun events, only properly trained officials can bring fairness to the athletes. Triathletes look for and count on USA Triathlon Officials to enforce the Competitive Rules at triathlons and duathlons. The absence of officials usually means that “anything goes” and athletes have not been given an opportunity to fairly measure themselves against their competitors.

Race directors count on USA Triathlon Officials to take care of all the rules enforcement, leaving the race directors free to do what they know best: coordinate a safe and challenging event, and take care of their customers.

Organization structure:

The Officials Program is governed by the Commissioner, who reports to the Event Services Director of USA Triathlon, and the Regional Officials Coordinators who manage the program within each of USA Triathlon's geographical regions. The Commissioner and each of the Regional Coordinators work closely with USA Triathlon administrators, race directors, and athletes in order to provide the best trained officials to sanctioned events around the country. Fairness and consistency are our primary goals.

Regional Coordinators and Contacts: