Para Officiating

In order to be a Para-Certified Official, one must currently be a certified USATF Official In good standing. This of course means having:

A current USATF membership
A current Background Screen
A current SafeSport training
Having Officials certification for the current Olympiad

If you are not current on any of those, update them today.
If you are not currently a certified USATF Official, become certified today!

Note To become a certified Para official, one must currently be USATF Association level Official, or higher. But fear not, USATF Apprentice Level Officials may still take the test, receive a score, be listed in the Find an Official app, and be able to officiate at Para events. The designation of certified Para Official will be bestowed upon attaining USATF Association level.

Becoming a Certified Para Official

Take the Para Level 1 Official’s Course
NOTE: Test Reference document
Take the Para Level 1 Officials Test and score 80% or higher
The results will automatically be sent to the National Office and the
Association’s Officials Certification Chari.

Para Rules and Rule Books

Also, keep in mind the portion of the USATF Competition Rules that deal with Para:

Rule 307.3 (Special Events and Programs — Youth Paralympic Pilot Program) [Pg. 182]
Rule 307.4 (Special Events and Programs — Para Athletics Program) [Pg. 182]
Appendix 3 (SPECIAL SECTION, ADAPTATIONS TO USA TRACK & FIELD RULES OF COMPETITION FOR PARA-ATHLETES (ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES) [Pg. 212]

What is one of the coolest parts about being a certified Para Official?
Helping and supporting amazing athletes do amazing things.

What is one of the coolest things a Para Official sees?
So many of these athletes could use a variety of excuses not to compete, but they don’t. Instead, they just want to compete in spite of the challenges they face. And speaking of faces, seeing the smile on the faces of so many of the competitors! Don’t you want to be part of that?