Officials

Officials Certification Chair: Kevin Harrison
Phone: 816-436-5954
e-mail: kharrison@us.ibm.com

Officials Certification Coordinator: Jonathan Epps
phone: 913-707-6842
e-mail: jonathaneppssr@gmail.com

Track and Field officials help to ensure fair and safe competitive opportunities for athletes. USATF requires training and certification for officials. This process promotes a serious and professional approach to officiating, and ensures an official's commitment to excellence.

As an official gains experience, exposure to correct officiating practices, and additional training, USATF recognizes this skill development through progressive levels of certification, which includes Association to National to Master.

A full listing of opportunities for officials at events across the United States is available at http://www.usatf.org/calendars/officialsNeeded.asp.

USA Track and Field also publishes guidelines and procedures, application forms and more on its website. Please click here to visit the site.

Also see: USATF National Officials Committee Web Page


Official News
Newly Implemented Changes Recommended by Official's Task Force
June 27, 2009
Official's Certification Process Change & Officials Meet Registration System Created
In April 2009, an Officials Task Force was established.  The idea for the Task Force came out a February 15, 2009 social meeting of Association officials.  The Task Force was established to consider and make recommendation regarding (1) the officiating needs of the sport at all levels within the Missouri Valley Association, and (2) what the Association can do to improve on services provided officials.  The Officials Task Force has made the following recommends which have been implemented within the Missouri Valley Association:
  • As a way of Improving the Association's officials certification process,   the Task Force recommended the Association create a new position,  the Certification Coordinator. Jonathan Epps is the new Certification Coordinator. Officials will submit all certification applications to the Missouri Association Office, attention Jonathan Epps. As the certifying agent, the Certification Coordinator will be responsible for checking all certification applications for accuracy and completeness. Once the Certification Coordinator determines certification applications and accompanying documents are complete, all certification applications will be  submitted to  the Certification Chair, Kevin Harrison, so that badges may issues in coordination with the National Officials Certification Chair.
  • The Task Force also recommended the Association create an online Official’s Meet Registration System which  will make it easy for officials to register to officiate at track & field meets within and outside the Missouri Valley Association.  Officials are encouraged to add your contact information to the Online Official's Registration database at the Missouri Valley Association website.
  • The Task Force recognized the need for more officials and recommended that the Association reach out to Youth, High School and collegiate coaches and others to encourage them to become USATF Certified Officials.  Finally, the Task Force recommended, that the Association increase the number of Certification Clinics be conducted to  Association fulfill its   goal to Increase the number of officials by conducting more officiating clinics.  The first clinic was held May 3, 2009. Over twenty two (22) new officials attended that clinic.
  • I
  • The next step in improving the officials certification process is to apply the new certification process to eliminate the current backlog of officials currently in the certification pipeline.
Change takes time.  I am asking officials to be patient as we work to implement these new systems. 
 

 

Officials Need For Upcoming Championships

May 5, 2009
Conference USA Championship
The University of Tulsa will be hosting Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 14-16. Officials are needed in almost every area. Housing will be provided if needed. If interested, please contact Steve Gulley, University of Tulsa Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach, by phone at (918) 631-2545 or by e-mail at steven-gulley@utulsa.edu.

Missouri Valley Assocation and Region XI Championship
Official are needed for both the USATF Missouri Valley Association Championship Meet on June 12-13 and the Region XI Championship meet July 7. A registration page will be coming soon for sign up.