How the RefCrew Pathway Works
The RefCrew pathway takes you from learning the fundamentals to demonstrating your skills in the game. Progress through structured training, knowledge assessment, practical evaluation, and certification. Then continue developing and earning more credentials through advanced training and additional certifications.
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LEARN
Officials master the foundations of their sport by finishing RefCrew's sport-specific training course and modules.
TEST
Review all video lessons and pass the mandatory RefCrew Certification Exam for your specific sport.
EVALUATE
Succeed in a live or video game review hosted by an official RefCrew Evaluator to get certified.
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Certification Ladder
Progress through each level of the RefCrew Certification Ladder as you build knowledge, demonstrate your skills, and advance your officiating credentials.
Credential
Training
Exam
Evaluation
Who Provides It?
RefCrew Trained
✓
✓
No Game Evaluation
RefCrew Instructor / Individual
RefCrew Certified
✓
✓
Game Evaluation from a RefCrew Evaluator
RefCrew Certification Center / RefCrew Instructor
RefCrew Advanced
✓
✓
Multiple Game Evaluations from a RefCrew Evaluator
RefCrew Certification Center / RefCrew Instructor
RefCrew Instructor
✓
✓
Instructor's Evaluation
RefCrew Certification Center / Individual
RefCrew Evaluator
✓
✓
Evaluator's Evaluaiton
RefCrew Certification Center / Individual
RefCrew Premier Official
✓
✓
Multiple Evaluations Across Certifications
RefCrew Certification Center / RefCrew Instructor / Individual
Sports We Support
Explore RefCrew training and certification opportunities across a growing range of sports, with each program designed to develop knowledgeable, confident, and game-ready officials.
Football - Coming Soon
Develop the knowledge and mechanics needed to confidently officiate football and work effectively as part of a crew.
Baseball - Coming Soon
Learn the rules, positioning, mechanics, and decision-making skills needed to become a confident baseball umpire.
Softball - Coming Soon
Develop essential softball officiating skills, from rules and mechanics to positioning and game management.
Soccer - Coming Soon
Learn the fundamentals of soccer officiating, including positioning, foul recognition, and communication.
FAQs
What is the difference between RefCrew Trained and RefCrew Certified?
RefCrew Trained means you have completed the RefCrew educational course and passed the Certification Exam. RefCrew Certified goes a step further. You must complete the required training, pass the certification assessment, and successfully demonstrate your skills through a practical game evaluation.
Does completing the RefCrew course automatically certify me?
No. Completing the course and passing the Certification Exam only makes you RefCrew Trained. To become RefCrew Certified, you must also pass the Certification Exam and practical game evaluation from a Certified RefCrew Evaluator.
Does RefCrew Certification replace league, conference, state, or governing-body requirements?
No. RefCrew Certification does not replace any exams, fees, registrations, or other requirements established by a state, league, conference, association, or governing body. Those requirements must still be completed separately when applicable. We don't want you to be throw into games with no confidence. RefCrew is designed to go beyond simply meeting administrative requirements of a governing body by providing in-depth, practical officiating training focused on rules knowledge, mechanics, judgment, communication, game management, and real-game scenarios. Our goal is to prepare officials for the game and support their long-term development and advancement in the officiating profession.
What are the advantages of becoming RefCrew Certified?
RefCrew provides a comprehensive, start-to-finish approach to officiating - not simply a rules course or exam. Developed through more than eight years of research, development, and insights from officials at the highest levels, RefCrew teaches rules, mechanics, positioning, communication, judgment, game management, and real-game scenarios. Certification verifies both your knowledge and your ability to apply it through practical evaluation. RefCrew is designed to complement, not replace, league, association, and governing-body requirements.
What is a RefCrew Certification Center?
A RefCrew Certification Center is an approved organization, recreation department, or facility that provides RefCrew training and certification opportunities. Certification Centers have authorized RefCrew Instructors who can help officials complete their training and game evaluation.
What is a RefCrew Independent Instructor?
A RefCrew Independent Instructor is an individual who has met RefCrew's instructor requirements and is authorized to provide RefCrew training independently. Independent Instructors allow officials to access RefCrew training even when they are not part of a recreation department or Certification Center.
What is a RefCrew Certified Evaluator?
A RefCrew Certified Evaluator is an individual authorized by RefCrew to assess an official's practical officiating performance. Evaluators use RefCrew's established game evaluation criteria to determine whether an official meets the requirements for certification.
What if I don't have access to a Certification Center or Instructor?
You can still complete RefCrew's training and take the exam independently. If you do not have access to an approved Certification Center or Instructor for your game evaluation, RefCrew may review your situation and available game footage on a case-by-case basis to determine whether a remote certification evaluation is possible.
How long does RefCrew Training and Certification take?
Training time depends on how you choose to learn. Independent training is completely self-paced. You can work through the curriculum until you feel ready to take the Certification Exam. Instructor-led training follows the schedule established by your RefCrew Instructor or Certification Center and may be offered as an intensive course or multiple sessions. Simply completing the course and passing the Certification Exam makes you RefCrew Trained. The RefCrew Certified credential requires passing the Certification Exam and completing a practical game evaluation from a Certified RefCrew Evaluator.
Can I become RefCrew Certified entirely online?
Not normally. Online training in our course can help you become RefCrew Trained, but full RefCrew Certification requires practical evaluation by a Certified RefCrew Evaluator. In limited circumstances, RefCrew may offer a remote evaluation pathway on a case-by-case basis.
How can I become RefCrew Certified?
Complete the applicable RefCrew training, pass the Certification Exam, and complete a practical game evaluation through a RefCrew Certification Center, authorized instructor/evaluator, or an approved remote evaluation pathway.
How long does RefCrew Certification last?
RefCrew Certifications are issued for a defined period and may require renewal or continuing education to remain active. Your certification status and expiration date will be displayed on your RefCrew profile.
Can I earn certifications in multiple sports?
Currently, we only offer training and certifications for basketball officials. However, RefCrew is designed to grow across multiple sports. Over time, officials will be able to earn sport-specific certifications and build a broader RefCrew credential profile as they develop.
Can I earn additional certifications after becoming RefCrew Certified?
Yes. RefCrew offers opportunities to continue developing through position training, specialty certifications, and advanced credentials.
How can I verify a RefCrew Certified Official?
Every RefCrew Certified Official receives a unique RefCrew Certification ID, digital credential, and certification badge connected to their RefCrew profile. Assignors, recreation departments, tournament directors, leagues, coaches, and other authorized organizations can use the RefCrew verification system to confirm an official's current certification and training history. This allows organizations to verify that an official has completed the required RefCrew training, assessments, practical evaluations, and any additional certifications or position training they have earned. Simply search or scan an official's RefCrew credential to confirm their qualifications and certification status.
Will I receive a physical RefCrew ID card?
Certified officials will have the opportunity to receive a RefCrew Official ID Card displaying their certification information and unique RefCrew ID. The card will include a verification feature that allows others to confirm the official's current credential.
Can my recreation department become a RefCrew Certification Center?
Yes. Recreation departments and other organizations can partner with RefCrew to provide structured training and certification opportunities for their officials. Partner organizations can also have a designated RefCrew Certified Instructor to support their local officiating program.
Choose Your Path
Whether you are learning to officiate for the first time, working toward RefCrew Certification, or continuing your development as an experienced official, RefCrew provides a structured pathway to help you learn, train, demonstrate your skills, and advance.
RefCrew Trained
Learn the Game. Build the Foundation.
Build your officiating knowledge through structured RefCrew training covering rules, mechanics, positioning, communication, decision-making skills, and game management. Complete the training and knowledge exam to earn your RefCrew Trained credential.
Completing RefCrew training and the knowledge assessment earns the RefCrew Trained credential. It does not make an official RefCrew Certified. Study independently and take the exam or find an instructor to assist you through training.
RefCrew Certified
Don’t Just Learn It. Prove your skills
Take your officiating development to the next level. Complete RefCrew training, pass the certification assessment, and demonstrate your officiating skills through a practical game evaluation to earn RefCrew Certification.
RefCrew Certification requires both successful assessment and a practical evaluation. Completing training and passing the exam alone does not make an official RefCrew Certified.
RefCrew Advanced
Continue developing your officiating skills through advanced education, assessments, practical evaluation, and specialized training designed for officials who want to strengthen their knowledge, judgment, communication, mechanics, and game management.
RefCrew Advanced opportunities are designed for officials who have already built a strong foundation and want to deepen their expertise to progress to the highest levels of officiating.
Develop Beyond the Basics.
Specialized Trainings
Keep Learning. Keep Advancing.
Build a more complete officiating profile through additional sport certifications, specific position training, and specialty certifications. Expand your skills and demonstrate continued development throughout your officiating career.
Additional certifications help officials broaden their skills and demonstrate ongoing development across sports, positions, and specialties.
RefCrew Instructor
Teach the Game. Develop the Next Generation.
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively teach the RefCrew curriculum. Learn RefCrew's instructional standards, training methodology, certification process, and best practices for developing knowledgeable and confident officials.
Completing RefCrew Instructor Training, passing the Instructor knowledge assessment, and successfully demonstrating your ability to teach RefCrew material earns the RefCrew Certified Instructor credential. Instructor certification does not require an in-game officiating evaluation, but practical officiating or teaching experience is strongly recommended. Become an instructor through RefCrew Instructor Training and help develop the next generation of officials.
RefCrew Evaluator
Evaluate the Game. Verify the Official.
Develop the knowledge and skills needed to accurately evaluate an official's practical performance. Learn RefCrew's evaluation standards, scoring criteria, observation techniques, feedback methods, and certification requirements.
Completing RefCrew Evaluator Training, passing the Evaluator knowledge assessment, and successfully demonstrating your ability to evaluate officiating performance earns the RefCrew Certified Evaluator credential. Evaluator certification focuses on your ability to assess an official's on-court performance, not your ability to officiate a game. Practical officiating experience is strongly recommended. Become a RefCrew Certified Evaluator and help maintain the standards of RefCrew Certification.