skip navigation

Officials

USA Wrestling has set forth a requirement that all officials working USA wrestling sanctioned events must be members of USA wrestling.  If all officials are not USA members, the tournament’s USA Wrestling sanction and liability coverage will be invalid.

There will be 2 options available.

Option 1
Register as a Volunteer Member on the www.usawmembership.com website. Complete the SafeSport certification course and have a current background check; this is available at no cost. You can officiate at our events, but not receive any membership benefits from USA Wrestling, including any insurance protection. There is not charge for either the SafeSport certification, background check or Volunteer membership.

Option 2
Register as a Wrestling Leader on the www.usawmembership.com website. Complete the SafeSport certification and have a current background check. Both the SafeSport certification and the background check are available at no cost. You will receive all the USA Wrestling benefits, including insurance. The membership includes insurance that covers you during the USAW event and while you are traveling to and from the events. Go to http://content.themat.com/forms/Insuranceinfo.pdf if you want to see the complete summary of coverages.

Exceptions

Wrestlers under the age of 19 will be permitted to be used as officials at local tournaments when supervised by their school coach or a registered official.

Additional requirements

To be a USA Wrestling-Kansas Kids registered official, you must observe the following:

  1. Register with KSHSAA as an official and pass the required test.
  2. Register with USA Wrestling-Kansas Kids.
  3. An official referee uniform is mandatory during all competition.
  4. Failure to honor a written contract is grounds to revoke certification.
  5. Must officiate at least one Kids’ tournament to be considered for the qualifiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to work districts?

Get in contact with district director to find out who is the head official for that district. It is required you have worked at least one kids tournament during that season and are KSHSAA certified, on top of being USAWKS certified.

How do I get to work at a state tournament?

Officiate a district tournament, receive a recommendation from a lead official in your respective district, be in good standing with your District, and gain approval from the official’s director. It is required you have worked at least one kids tournament during that season and are KSHSAA certified, on top of being USAWKS certified.

What gear is needed to become an official?

Grey pinstriped official’s shirts, black pants, black socks, black shoes with or without white highlights, black belt, whistle, green and red wristbands, green and red flipper. Also, a good attitude is required!

Can I get reimbursed for my first year expenses?

You can get reimbursed for your 1st year of officiating up to $200 in expenses. (Uniform, registration fees, etc.) send receipts to Kurt Lang

What is the best place to buy my gear from?

I have always had good experiences with Cliff Keen Athletic and Epic sports to purchase shirts, whistles, flippers, and armbands. I typically purchase golf-style pants.

Where can I get training to become or improve as an official?

Some of the best training you can get is to find a mentor and have them shadow you at various events. It is also largely beneficial to watch high-level officials and learn from the best. We will be hosting clinics yearly to further improve.

What kind of pay is typical for different events?

You can typically expect to earn $30/hour and up officiating a USAWKS event. This number may vary depending on your certifications, experience and size of event you are working. 

How many officials should a tournament have?

A good rotation is to have 3 officials for every 2 mats. This prevents you from getting stuck on the mat for hours at a time.

Who can I contact with questions not asked in the FAQ?

Contact the USAWKS Officials Director found here

 

Dylan Eck

USAWKS Officials Director

Phone: 316-641-3890

News