Referee Education
Referee Education Pathway
Wresting rules must be interpreted and applied with absolute consistency wherever and whenever the competition is taking place. United World Wrestling therefore developed a training and education system for our referees to ensure that refereeing standards continue to improve and the rules of the game are applied.
The newly improved Referee Education Pathway provides a clear career path for wrestling referees to advance their levels internationally. Centred on building practical skills and improve referee performance, this new system allows wrestling referee education in compliance with the international education standards and ensure the quality consistency across the globe.
Pathway at A Glance
United World Wrestling awards four levels of licenses for refereeing internationally in wrestling competitions.
The new referee education pathway comprises the following:
- ‘Introduction to Refereeing’ and ‘Next Level Referee’ modules are aimed at national level referees and coaches (can be included in the Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches)
- Four (4) levels of international referee certification courses for promotion
- One (1) level of course for the top-level (IS) referees (control)
- One annual global seminar for IS referees (control)
Competency-based theoretical examinations and practical evaluations are applied to assess each of the referees attending the course holding or wishing to obtain a valid UWW license for refereeing internationally. Specific training and experience requirements must be met.
UWW utilizes a virtual learning platform known as Nearpod. Nearpod allows participants to complete all or a portion of the theoretical portion of his or her respective course privately, at a pace conducive to their lifestyle and in the language of their choice.
Related documents:
UWW Referee Scholarship Programme
United World Wrestling (UWW) has instituted a specialized scholarship program with the objective of nurturing the development of international referees.
Categorized into two segments, these scholarships are strategically customized to facilitate the professional advancement of referees, with an emphasis on prioritizing referees from smaller wrestling nations and/or countries facing financial challenges.
- Full Scholarship:
Chosen referees receive extensive support, including round-trip flights and accommodations throughout the event.
- Partial Scholarship:
UWW provides support by covering accommodations for referees participating in competitions.
This initiative reflects UWW's commitment to empowering and advancing the skills of referees on the international stage, reinforcing their crucial role in the world of wrestling.
Each year, UWW awards around 20 scholarships worldwide, ensuring gender parity, to enable recipients to participate in promotion competitions pivotal for their career progression. Notably, applications for the UWW Referee Scholarship Program must be submitted by the National Federation before the end of December, preceding the upcoming year.
Rules and Conditions:
- The scholarship program is exclusively available to National Federations (NFs) from developing countries with limited financial resources.
- Eligible candidate categories are II, I, or IS.
- Each candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 competitions.
- UWW may submit a maximum of 10 candidatures (for 2 competitions) or 15 candidatures (for 1 competition).
The list of submitted candidates will prioritize maintaining a gender balance (50/50), in addition to considering the aforementioned points.
Decisions on applications will be rendered by the UWW Refereeing Commission no later than 30 January of the ensuing year, ensuring a timely and transparent evaluation process.
