How to Become an Official

LEVEL 1 - Assistant

1. Fill out Application
2. You can become an Assistant Judge in any event in just 3 tournaments!
3. Attend and work at least 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating.

**If you have your Level 8 ranking in any event, you can apply to headquarters to become an assistant judge in that event without completing the application process.  Open Level skiers can test to be a Senior Judge.

Assistant Scorer

1. Fill out Application
2. You can become an Assistant Scorer in any event in just 2 tournaments!
3. Attend and work at least 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating.

Assistant Driver

1. Fill out Application
2. Attend a Driver's Clinic and get certified in each event (Many do not pass on their first try)
3. Must drive in 2 tournaments per year and attend a clinic every 4 years to maintain rating.

Safety Coordinator

1. Must be 18 years old
2. Fill out Application
3. Must attend one USA Water Ski sanctioned Safety Clinic
4. Required to work 2 tournaments every year to maintain your rating
5. Must attend a safety clinic every four years

**Additional Details

Announcer

**There are NO requirements to become an announcer, all you need to do is jump on the mic and let er' rip!  OWSA is going to be encouraging lots of new people to help out with announcing.  (especially those of you who are not rated officials)  Check out these GUIDELINES to help enhance your announcing abilities.

LEVEL 2 - Regular 

Regular Judge

1. Must be 18 years old
2. Must attend 1 Judges Clinic
3. Must have worked 10 tournaments as an Assistant Judge
4. Must have been "Assistant Chief Judge" in 2 of the 10 tournaments
5. Must pass a Written Test
6. Must pass a Practical Test
7. Required to work 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating
8. Must attend a Judges Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

Regular Scorer

1. Must be 18 years old
2. Must attend 1 Scorers Clinic
3. Must have worked 6 tournaments as an Assistant Scorer
4. Must have been "Assistant Chief Scorer" in 1 of the 6 tournaments
5. Must pass a Written Test
6. Must pass a Practical Test
7. Required to work 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating
8. Must attend a Scorers Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

Regular Driver

1. Must be 18 years old
2. Must attend 1 Drivers Clinic
3. Must have driven in 12 tournaments as an Assistant Driver
4. Must have been "Assistant Chief Driver" in 2 of the 12 tournaments
5. Must pass a Written Test
6. Must pass a Practical Test
7. Must drive each event in 3 tournaments per year to maintain your rating
8. Must attend a Drivers Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

State Safety Director

Must attend one USA Water Ski sanctioned Safety Clinic
Current Red Cross First Aid and CPR or equivalent (certification of completion as proof)
Three tournaments assisting appointed Chief Safety Director
Required to work 2 tournaments every year to maintain your rating
Must attend a safety clinic every four years
Safety Director Development Program

**AWSA Development Program Description

LEVEL 3 - Senior

Senior Judge

1. Must attend 1 Judges Clinic
2. Must have worked in 9 tournaments as a Regular Judge
3. Must have been "Chief Judge" in 3 additional tournaments
4. Must have been a judge at 3 Regional Championships or National Championships
5. Must have scored in 3 tournaments and been "Assistant Chief Scorer" in 2 tournaments
6. Must pass a Written Test
7. Must pass a Practical Test
8. Required to work 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating
9. Must attend a Judges Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

Senior Scorer

1. Must attend 1 Scorers Clinic
2. Must have worked in 9 tournaments as a Regular Scorer
3. Must have been "Chief Scorer" in 3 additional tournaments
4. Must have been a scorer at 3 Regional Championships or National Championships
5. Must pass a Written Test
6. Must pass a Practical Test
7. Required to work 4 tournaments every 2 years to maintain your rating
8. Must attend a Scorers Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

Senior Driver

1. Must attend 1 Drivers Clinic
2. Must have driven in 16 tournaments as a regular driver
3. Must have been "Chief Driver" of an additional 2 tournaments
4. Must pass a Written Test
5. Must pass a Practical Test
6. Must drive each event in 3 tournaments per year to maintain your rating
7. Must attend a Drivers Clinic once every 4 years to maintain your rating

Regional Safety Director

Must attend one USA Water Ski sanctioned Safety Clinic since becoming a State Safety Director
1. Current Red Cross First Aid and CPR or equivalent (certification of completion as proof)
2. Eight tournaments as Safety Director (chief or assistant)
3. Two additional USA Water Ski sanctioned events as Chief Safety Director
4. A written take-home test
5. Required to work 2 tournaments every year to maintain your rating
6. Must attend a safety clinic every four years

National Safety Director

Must attend one USA Water Ski sanctioned Safety Clinic since becoming a Regional Safety Director
Current Red Cross First Aid and CPR or equivalent (certification of completion as proof)
Nine tournaments as Safety Director (chief or assistant)
Three additional USA Water Ski sanctioned events as Chief Safety Director
Three Regionals or Nationals in three seperate years
A closed-book written test taken under the supervision of an instructor/trainer
Required to work 2 tournaments every year to maintain your rating
Must attend a safety clinic every four years

Frequently Asked Questions 

If you have additional questions, you can contact USA Water Ski's Competition Events Department at 1-800-533-2972 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .