Referee Certification Seminar with Greg Domashovetz (Remote and In-Person!)

This is an official USA Fencing referee seminar for those wishing to become certified referees with USA Fencing. Greg Domashovetz, a Certified Referee Instructor with USA Fencing, will lead the seminar. Greg is an active FIE-licensed foil referee, has refereed epee internationally, and referees saber at the national level. Greg's full-time job is the Head Coach and Owner at Roaring Fork Fencers Club and serves as a member of USA Fencing's Coaches Committee.

This seminar will be available live at Denver Fencing Center and over Google Meet.

This seminar is one part of three required to receive certification alongside an online exam and practical observation. The online exam may be completed at any time (see below).

You may have your practical observation within one year of completing this seminar. We are offering the chance to be observed at the ROC/RPC of the Rockies taking place the same weekend as the clinic. To arrange observation, please use the "Contact the Organizer" button to arrange as such with Greg. If you cannot arrange immediate observation, you can be observed at any appropriate tournament.

For Colorado Division members, we are working with the Executive Committee to arrange reimbursement of the seminar fee if you are observed during the 2024-25 or 2025-26 seasons.

Time: 5 pm - 10pm mountain.

Cost: $75/person (financial aid upon request). Cash, check, card, and Venmo accepted.

Google Meet link and payment information will be sent out via email the week before and day before to all pre-registrants.

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Prerequisites:

* Please download a copy of the rulebook here: https://www.usafencing.org/rules-compliance#USA_Fencing_Rulebook_csec

Required reading is as follows:

1. All of "Book 1: Technical Rules" (pp 1-66)
2. Part C of "Book 2: Organization Rues" (pp 90-109)
3. Emphasize general structural rules over rules specific to international events.
4. Chapters 1 and 2 of "Book 3: Material Rules" (pp 114-142)
5. Please do not spend significant amounts of time memorizing too many details from the material rules, but instead focus on the practical applications of those rules.

* Read and be familiar with the study guide found here: https://www.usafencing.org/become-a-referee

* Spend a little time practicing using actions form Fencing Database in the weapon(s) of your choice: https://www.youtube.com/c/FencingDatabase

* Optionally, take the online exam which is found here: https://www.usafencing.org/become-a-referee. Please note that while you have unlimited attempts, you only have 48 hours from time of purchase to pass the general section and any weapon-specific sections in which you enroll. The exam is "open book" and it is advisable to reference the rulebook while taking the exam. You may also take the exam after the seminar.

* (Optionally) Add the +CheckEd option to your USA Fencing membership. This enrolls you in SafeSport training and a background screen. You must be +CheckEd compliant to referee competitions. If you have a +Coach membership, that already includes +CheckEd. This requirement only applies to referees 18 years and older.

*** (While not a strict prerequisite for the seminar, you must add +CheckEd and pass the training/screen before working your first event as a referee, INCLUDING THE OBSERVATION EVENT THE WEEKEND OF THE SEMINAR. This process, especially the background screen, occasionally takes a week or two.) This is not required for referees under 18 years old. ***

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The referee certification involves three total steps: this seminar, the practical observation, and the online exam. All three must be completed to become a certified referee with USA Fencing. As stated above, the online exam may be taken at any time. However, the practical observation may be taken only after completing a seminar

This seminar is not intended to immediately transform attendees into professional referees. It is intended to serve as the first "Big Step" in a long process of referee growth and development. We will cover the most frequently applied rules as well as address the "soft" skills that referees use to arbitrate fair bouts. Additionally, we will go over the various organizational expectations of a referee, from filling out bout sheets to dress code and more.

We will cover foil, epee, and saber by demand. Material is prepared for each weapon and we will determine which to cover based on participant demand.

Please direct questions to Greg Domashovetz at greg@roaringforkfc.com or 970.924.0459.