USA Racquetball Referee Certification Program

This is the NEW State Referee Exam - Level One from USA Racquetball (2005), Now everyone can test their knowledge of the official racquetball rules. This test is only for PRACTICE. In order to become a "Certified Referee" contact your State Director. For more information about Referee Certification in Alaska contact Tim Keaveny President Once you complete the test just click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page and your test will be e-mailed to me. I will then grade your test and E-mail you back your results as time permits. If you have taken the previous version of the test and have not received your corrected e-mail yet PLEASE take the NEW TEST and I will grade it ASAP.

Name:

1. The racquet frame must have an attached wrist tether and it must be worn securely on the players’ wrist while warming-up and during the game.
     True   False

2. Referee pre-match duties include:
     A   Checking the court’s preparation and qualifications of line judges, if used
     B   Briefing players on court hinders and any exceptions to published rules
     C   Inspecting players’ equipment and determining who will serve first
     D   A and B only
     E   A, B, and C

3. The player/team winning the coin toss is required to serve first at the start of the first game.
     True   False

4. The server may not begin their service motion until the referee has called the score or "second serve" and the server has visually checked the receiver’s readiness.
     True   False

5. It is the referee’s responsibility to warn the server if the receiver is "not ready" to receive the serve.
   True   False

6. Serving while the receiving player/team is signaling "not ready" is a fault serve.
   True   False

7. The server, racquet, and ball must start and remain outside the 3-foot drive service zone throughout the drive serve to the same side of the court.
   True   False

8. A dead-ball serve, such as the ball hitting a wet spot or else breaking, cancels any previous fault serve, i.e. the server always has two serves coming.
   True   False

9. Which group below contains a serve that is NOT a "fault serve"
     A  Foot fault at short line; 3-wall serve; long serve
     B  Short serve; serve that hits the front wall and then the ceiling; bouncing the ball outside the service zone
     C  Screen serve; serve that hits the crotch of the back wall and floor; illegal drive serve
     D  Hitting doubles partner while in the box; serving before receiver is ready; foot fault at service line

10. Which group below contains a serve situation that does not result in an OUT:
     A  Second consecutive fault serve; serve touches the server’s racquet
     B  Bouncing the ball outside of the service zone; non-front wall serve
     C  Safety zone violation by server; serve into a front wall crotch
     D  Missed serve attempt; fake or balk serve
     E  Out-of-court serve; "carrying" the ball on the serve

11. Neither the receiver nor any part of the receiver’s racquet may enter the safety zone until the ball either bounces on the floor or crosses the plane of the receiving line.
   True   False

12. An illegal hit occurs when:
     A  Ball strikes the racquet more than once
     B  Ball contacts the handle
     C  Ball contacts the frame
     D  A and B
     E  A, B, and C

13. Which of the following group contains an action that is NOT a replay hinder:
     A  Court hinder; body contact
     B  Ball hits opponent; ball taking irregular bounce off the door
     C  Screen ball; safety holdup
     D  Ball enters court from outside; pushing or shoving
     E  None of the above

14. A penalty hinder occurs when:
     A  A player does not move to allow a straight-in and cross-court shot
     B  There’s view obstruction, intentional distraction, or pushing or shoving
     C  A player wets the ball the opponent’s access to the ball is blocked; there is stroke interference
     D  A Player’s apparel or equipment is lost; a player moves into an opponent’s shot
     E  All of the above

15. In a game to 15 points, a player is allowed:
     A  2 timeouts
     B  3 timeouts
     C  1 timeout
     D  None of the above

16. Timeouts are how long
     A  10 seconds
     B  30 seconds
     C  1 minute
     D  For as long as the players need

17. An injury timeout can be given for:
     A  Fatigue or a pre-existing injury
     B  Being struck by a racquet
     C  Cramps
     D  Bleeding after a dive for the ball
     E  B and D

18. If an injury timeout is allowed it is:
     A  A single timeout for 15 minutes
     B  3 timeouts for a total of 15 minutes
     C  As many timeouts as needed, not to exceed a total of 15 minutes
     D  None of the above

19. An equipment timeout may be given when:
     A  No timeouts remain, but an adjustment is required for safe play
     B  All regular timeouts remain, but a string breaks
     C  No timeouts remain, but the player’s shirt is extremely wet
     D  a and b only
     E  a and c only

20. The rest period between games 1 and 2 is how long
     A  1 minute
     B  30 seconds
     C  2 minutes
     D  5 minutes

21. A technical warning must be given before a technical foul can be issued.
   True   False

22. A technical foul may be given for the following:
     A  Profanity; excessive arguing; delay of game
     B  Striking the ball between rallies; slamming racquet on walls or floor
     C  Intentional front line foot fault to negate a bad lob serve
     D  All of the above
     E  A and B only

23. The order of serve in doubles must be followed for:
     A  One sideout
     B  One match
     C  One game
     D  Entire tournament

24. In doubles, a foot fault occurs when the non-serving partner steps across the short line into the safety zone before the served ball passes the short line.
   True   False

25. If the second server of a doubles team’s mistakenly serves first, i.e. out-of-order, the penalty for doing so is a handout and:
     A  Any points scored by the out-of-order server being deducted
     B  Any points scored by the out-of-order server being retained
     C  The last point scored by the out-of-order server being deducted
     D  Two points being deducted from the team that served out of order

26. You must give only one of the players on the opposing doubles team access to return the ball.
   True   False

27. In doubles, a first serve that hits the non-serving partner who is standing on the floor just outside the doubles box results in a second serve.
   True   False

28. Both players must request the use of line judges before the referee can use them.
   True   False

29. In a game where line judges are used, players who disagree with a referee’s call must appeal directly to the referee.
   True   False

30. If one line judge agrees with the referee, but the other line judge disagrees with the referee, the outcome is:
     A  Call stands, one appeal used
     B  Call is overturned, one appeal used
     C  Call stands, no appeal used
     D  Rally is replayed, no appeal used

31. If line judges are being used, a game-ending rally can be appealed even if all three appeals have been used.
   True   False

32. Which of the following calls may be appealed:
     A  Skip ball
     B  Two bounce pick-up that was NOT called
     C  Avoidable hinder
     D  Court hinder
     E  All of the above

33. When a player disagrees with a rule interpretation by the referee, they must:
     A  Ask for the tournament director at the end of the game for interpretation
     B  Ask for the tournament director at the end of the match for interpretation
     C  Ask for the tournament director immediately for interpretation
     D  Abide by the call and file a protest at the end of the match

34. During a match, both players must agree before the ball can be changed.
   True   False

35. During warm-up, if a player fails to wear approved protective eyewear after having previously been given a technical warning by the official, the correct call should be:
     A  A second technical warning and the player being told to wear approved eyewear
     B  Forfeiture of the first game
     C  A technical foul and a point deducted from the offending player so he starts the match with a score of "minus one".
     D  A technical foul and the offending player’s opponent starting the match with a score of "one".

36. A player who makes their very best effort to get out of the way cannot be called for a penalty hinder.
   True   False

37. A referee who has made a call can be overruled by the players, except for a technical and forfeits.
   True   False

38. If a player hits the ball and the impact causes the player’s vibration dampener to fly off the racquet and land on the floor of the court, the referee should:
     A  Stop play and replay the point
     B  Make no call and allow the players to play out the rally
     C  Stop play and call a penalty hinder
     D  None of the above

39. Any player who has been accessed three technical fouls is automatically forfeited.
   True   False

40. A player who dives and lies flat, even if in the opponent’s way, cannot be called for a penalty hinder.
   True   False

41. Using an illegal racquet results in automatic forfeiture of the game in progress.
   True   False

42. Racquets, including the bumper guard and the grip/handle, must not exceed 22 inches in length. Racquets longer than that are illegal.
   True   False

43. A ball that carries from the front wall to the back wall, then to the front wall again having bounced only once on the floor, is still in play as it comes off the front wall again.
   True   False

44. For a serve to be called a "screen serve", it should:
     A  Pass close to the server and prevent the receiver from having a clear view of the ball
     B  Be called only by the receiver
     C  Be called by the referee, although the receiver may raise their hand to silently indicate his impairment and desire for a screen to be called
     D  A and B
     E  A and C

45. The referee has no jurisdiction over the spectators.
   True   False

46. The proper way to check to see if the ball is broken is to:
     A  Hit the ball to the front wall or bounce it on the floor
     B  Step on it
     C  Squeeze it with your hand
     D  None of the above

47. A referee must be replaced if one of the players requests a new referee.
   True   False

48. If the ball flies out of the court during the rally, the proper call is:
     A  Replay the rally
     B  Assess a technical warning
     C  The rally is lost by the person who hit that shot
     D  None of the above

49. In divisions where the "one serve" rules apply, a fault serve is a side out EXCEPT:
     A  When the first serve is a screen serve
     B  When the first serve hits the non-serving doubles partner who’s standing in the service box
     C  When the server serves while the receiver is signaling "not ready"
     D  All of the above
     E  A and B only

50. In an 11-point tiebreaker game, if the server has ten points and the receiver has six, which one of the following is the preferred method for the referee to call out the score to begin the play?
     A  "Ten serving six."
     B  "Ten, possible game point, serving six."
     C  "Ten, possible match point, serving six."
     D  Any of the above

     

LEVEL 1 (STATE LEVEL) REFEREE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

Initial certification requirements:

1. Attend a rules clinic

2. Pass a written test with at least a score of 86 or above (a closed book test)

3. Referee 10 matches (8 matches at any level, plus 2 assessed matches)

4. Pass two match assessments (one singles and one doubles) with a score of at least 90 on each.

These matches must be (1) a semi final or final match in the men’s B (or higher) singles, and (2) a semi final or final match in the men’s C (or higher) doubles. The matches selected for these assessments must be approved by assessor as being ones that offer a valid test of reffing skills.

5. Pay a $10 fee

6. Certification is valid for 3 years from the date of completion

A person will only be allowed one attempt to pass the written test and/or match assessment at each tournament.

The State Association will provide each certified referee with a referee card stating their certification and expiration date.

Certified Referee Requirements:

1. Attend at least one Referee Case Study clinic each year

2. A yearly-unannounced observation by a state representative will be done on each certified referee to ensure they are maintaining a high standard of refereeing skills.

3. At the end of the 3-year certification, certified referees will be required to retake the written test

4. (minimum score of 86), attend either a rules or case study clinic, pass a match assessment

5. (minimum score of 90), and pay $10.00.

Pending Certification

1. Pass the written test with a score of at least 86.

2. Attend a Rules Clinic

3. Pay fee of $10.00

4. Working on completing the required 10 matches

5. All requirements to attain certification must be completed within 12 months. Failure to do so will require the player to re-start the entire certification process from the beginning.

The State Association will offer 2 types of clinics.

1. Rules Clinic: This clinic will go over the basic rules of the game and what the referee’s responsibilities are.

2. Case Study Clinic: This clinic will go over rules interpretation and different play scenarios that may occur while refereeing.

The State Association has the right and responsibility to revoke or place a certification in pending status in the best interest of the sport of racquetball. The State Association also has the right to modify the requirements of this document, but must notify the program director of each change made.