Roller Derby Officials Certification FAQ

We’ve transitioned to a new online learning platform. Read the FAQ for more information.

Are there any changes due to COVID? My games are expiring!

Answered 2020-11-13

Due to COVID, we have made some adjustments to the usual rules for applying for Certification:

  • Games stopped expiring on 2020-03-01. So as of that date, any games that counted still count!
  • Overviews of Officiating Skill stopped expiring on 2020-01-01. So any OOS written for you since that date is still valid — they no longer expire after 90 days.
  • Level 3 Certification is open with no additional requirements. Anybody qualified to apply to Level 3 is welcome to do so. We may institute additional requirements to be able to apply for Level 3 in the future.

What does it mean to be “Certified”? What does the Certification mean?

Answered 2018-05-22:

There are two kinds of Certification:

  • Recognition, which means that the Certification Committee recognizes that you have the basic understanding of how to officiate the sport, based on completion of coursework and passing tests, and
  • Certification at a numeric level, which indicates proven performance:
    • Level 1 indicates that you have proven performance for regulation games and games that don’t meet the WFTDA regulations
    • Level 2 indicates that you have also proven yourself for sanctioned play that affects rankings but doesn’t “make or break” a team’s ability to compete on a national stage such as Playoffs or Continental Cups, and
    • Level 3 indicates that you have proven yourself for high-stakes sanction play including Playoffs and Continental Cups.

See also our webpage, What Do Certification Levels Mean?

How can I enter the Certification system?

Answered 2018-05-22, update 2024-08-04:

Please see our page, “How to Get Certified.”

How do I know when to go up for Cert? What does advancement look like?

Answered 2018-05-22:

Here is a handy flowchart!

Roller Derby Officials Certification Flow Chart - Non-Legacy

Who should I ask to write my OOSes and evaluations?

Answered 2018-05-22:

See our page: How To Review An Official

I referee and NSO. Should I sign up for two accounts or seek Certification as two people?

Answered 2018-05-22:

No, you should only create one account per human being. You can use this account to apply for Certification on and off skates. Many officials officiate on and off skates, and this fact is not lost on Certification — people who do everything tend to have a more holistic view of the sport, so it benefits your certification application to have all of your data in one place.

But I referee under a different name than I NSO!

You can choose an identity like, “Ref Name / NSO Name (League Affiliation).” Your identity text is up to you, but, you can only have one identity in the Certification system.

Can I assume that further down the road there will be methods to update outdated information?

Answered 2018-05-22:

Yes, you can use the Identity Change Request form.

What if I have the same name as someone else?

Answered 2018-05-22:

Your identity involves your Derby Name, your league affiliation, and your pronouns. If you have another official with the same name and pronouns in your same league, or if you are both Independent, you can add extra context by just updating your identity. For example, you could be “Vanna Whiteboard (from San Francisco) / Independent.” Use this form to update your identity.

How do JRDA or USARS games fit into the Certification Games Requirements?

Answered 2018-05-22, Updated 2024-08-04

Please see the Officiating History Document Manual which provides comprehensive instructions as to which games count for what.

What do I need to do to apply for Initial Certification?

Answered 2018-05-24, updated 2024-08-04

Please see our page, “How to Get Certified.”

How much does it cost to become Certified?

Answered 2018-05-22:

Currently it costs $30 to purchase a login to the WFTDA Learning Management System (LMS). One single fee provides access to everything an official needs to apply for Certification at any level, including Legacy Certification, both on and off skates.

I am currently uncertified, but I’ve been working hard for several years. My peers and head officials think that I should be Level 2 in the new system. Can I apply for Level 2 directly?

Answered 2018-05-27, updated 2024-08-04

Certification is heavily invested in certifying people to the correct level. The advanced panel will grant Level 1 if that’s appropriate, and the Level 1 panel will “bump” a strong packet for additional review. The level you select is used for informational and initial routing purposes only. So, choosing a higher level does not change the likelihood of getting that level.

I just got certified at Level 1, but my review was very positive. It said I only needed a few more evaluations at my current performance level to make it to Level 2. How long do I need to wait before I can apply to go up for Level 2?

Answered 2018-05-22:

We understand that different officials will apply to enter the system or apply to advance at different points in their career. For people who believe that, based on a significant body of evidence (including but not limited to a prior Certification review, with concrete steps on how to get to the next level, plus evaluations that illustrate that those steps have been met), they can go up when they feel ready. In this case, explain why you are applying early in your application.

Is there support for non-native English speakers?

Answered 2019-01-14:

While many people are fully capable of officiating Roller Derby in English, that doesn’t mean that they are comfortable speaking it. If you would like to provide your self-summary, or if a reviewer would like to provide an evaluation, or an overview of officiating skill in a language other than English, email certification@wftda.com with the language you would like to speak, and we will try to find a translator.

Which version of the WFTDA Officiating History does Certification require?

Answered 2024-01-21:
As of April 1, 2024, version 3.1 or later is required. To check your version, click on the “Learn More” tab, under “Release Notes.” The most recent version listed is correct. If your officiating history does not have a “Learn More” tab, it is too old and must be updated before you apply for Certification.

I’m an independent official. Who should fill out my “Skater” Overview?

Answered 2020-02-09, updated 2024-08-04

Certification would most like to hear from an athlete who you have officiated many times, regardless of what league they or you are from. However, this is not always possible, in which case this Overview can be filled out by anybody representing a roller derby league or governing body. This does not have to be a WFTDA league, and it can be a GTO. Just be sure that they fill out the Overview from the perspective of the athletes.

I completed some courses or test on the old LMS (TalentLMS). Do I need to complete them again on the newer LMS?

Answered 2020-10-11

Certification has taken a snapshot of all courses and tests that were completed in the old LMS, so the only requirements you need to take in the new LMS are courses you did not fully complete, or tests you did not pass. Email certification@wftda.com with your old username, if you don’t remember, and we’ll look it up for you.

Find more information in the Certification LMS system FAQ.

Are there application deadlines? Should I try hard to get all of my materials in by a certain date?

Answered 2020-11-13

Applications are processed in the order in which they are received, based on our capacity. Then, panels and panelists review the packets once they have been prepared, and so on. Every day is a good day to apply for Certification!

The one thing of note is that Certification usually takes the month of December off, so processing will shut down for that month. Applications in mid-to-late November may also be affected as they will be mid-process when we take our break.

I’m certified now! How do I get a patch to display on my uniform?

Answered 2021-07-16, Updated 2024-08-04

All of our partners at https://wftda.com/shop/ are authorized to print the patch directly onto a jersey if you order one from them! If you need a patch for an older jersey, contact certification@wftda.com.

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