HOW TO BECOME A USAT OFFICIAL
 
By Donald A. Hodgen
Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator for Officials
 
To become a USA Triathlon Official (a.k.a. USAT Official), one must participate in one of many clinics that are scheduled around the country each year.  There is a nominal $12 charge for attending a clinic which pays for the materials.  This charge is payable to the clinic instructor. (This charge maybe defrayed by the regional association.) One must be a member of USA Triathlon and must bring the membership card or join at the clinic.  The clinics are held in conjunction with a sanctioned event.  The Mid-Atlantic Region will be holding a certification clinic on May 18th and 19th at the Columbia Triathlon in Columbia, Maryland. 
 
An Officials Certification Clinic consists of about three (3) hours of classroom lecture and discussion.  Classroom portions of the clinic are taught the day or evening prior to the beginning of the race. At the end of the classroom instruction, an open-book written exam on the Competitive Rules is handed out.  It is to be completed and returned to the instructor on the following day, prior to the beginning of the race.
 
On race day, the clinic participant will be assigned to marshal some portion of the race (a.k.a. race practicum), under the supervision of the clinic instructor.  USAT 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 CAT 4 Official.  A CAT 4 Official has 12 months from the date they attended a clinic to become a fully certified as a CAT 3 referee.  Full certification requires that a CAT 4 referee work an additional two races under a USAT referee’s supervision, and in a volunteer capacity.  To remain active, a CAT 1, 2 or 3 Official is required to attend a certification clinic every two years, successfully pass a certification examination, and officiate at least one sanctioned USAT event which was assigned by me or by another Regional Coordinator.
 
The best job description of a USAT Official is described in the Competitive Rules under Section 9. (http://www.usatriathlon.org/Officials_program.htm) This site will also provide information on how USA Triathlon Officials advance from CAT 3 to CAT 1, as well as what races require officials, how officials are chosen for high profile races, the value to athletes and race directors of USAT officials at events, who are the Officials Program Regional Coordinators, and currently scheduled 2002 Officials Certification Clinics.
 
For more information or to register for the May 18-19 certification clinic, contact Don at Donald_A_Hodgen@ita.doc.gov.