Become a Referee
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.
The Officials Training and Certification Program (OTCP) made changes back in 2014 for the purpose aligning the referee development system with water polo’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) pathway model and with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) for water polo. The OTCP courses and the requirements for each certification levels are based on the LTAD philosophy of being athlete-centered, coach-driven, and administration/sport science/sponsor-supported.
Evaluation standards highlights
- Regional “trained” referees will eventually be required to complete 3 successful evaluations with the tool in order to complete certification. These evaluations will occur at 12U, 14U or Masters events;
- Provincial “trained” referees will eventually need to complete 6 successful evaluations with the tool in order to complete certification. These evaluations will occur at 16U, 19U or Masters events;
- National “trained” referees will eventually need to complete 6 successful evaluations with the tool in order to complete certification. These evaluations will occur at 19U or Senior National events;
- 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.
National Championship Standards
In the National Championship League (NCL), officials need to be at least provincial trained in order to be a referee at these events.
See list of certified Referee Developers
Do not hesitate to contact your Water Polo Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) for more information.
Here is the competency-based OTCP model that is based on the LTAD. Please click here to download the diagram below in PDF format.
Officials Training and Certification Program Overview
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.
The Officials Training and Certification Program (OTCP) made changes back in 2014 for the purpose aligning the referee development system with water polo’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) pathway model and with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) for water polo. The OTCP courses and the requirements for each certification levels are based on the LTAD philosophy of being athlete-centered, coach-driven, and administration/sport science/sponsor-supported.
Key Evaluation Information
- 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
Do not hesitate to contact your Water Polo Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) for more information.
