US Squash Santa Barbara Officiating Clinic by Nick-at-Will February 23, 2014
- Amazing turn out at the first U.S. Squash Officiating Clinic hosted
at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club by head coach Orla O'Doherty, with
over 50 juniors and a few adults from Santa Barbara, San Diego and Los
Angeles attending on Saturday, February 22nd. The clinic's clinician
was Bob Hanscom, nationally certified U.S. Squash referee, assessor and
instructor.
During the two-hour
session, nearly all of the juniors attending brought notebooks, took
notes and asked many questions during the lectures, demonstrations and
question & answer period. According to U.S.
Squash, the game is inherently challenging with Rules that can affect
match outcomes. The presence of qualified referees enhances safety and
produces fairer outcomes. The ongoing development of players’ comfort
in their own refereeing ability, as well as the provision of top level
referees, are both critical parts of the long term growth of the sport
U.S. Squash Referee
Certification is competency-based and requires continuing education and
assessment at each level. There are four levels of referee
certification – Club, District, Regional, and National.
Certification is the
process used to specify an official’s level of technical competence. To
become a certified referee, the first step is completing an online Club
Referee Exam, and in the case of junior players, attending a free
officiating clinic to complete certification at the age-appropriate
level.
All U.S. Squash
members are encouraged to gain Club Referee certification, the basic
level of referee status within the certification levels.
Debbie Brown, Director
of the Santa Barbara School of Squash, whose students attended the
clinic, went on record to say "So. Cal. juniors will be much better
referees after Bob is done with them!" Now...it's off to San Diego on
Saturday, March 8th for another hopefully just as successful
officiating clinic for their juniors.
