The following sections explain the requirements for each of the 5 levels of officiating certification.
Note that USOT1 and USOT2 training can be gained as soon as the requirements are fulfilled. However, any official who would like to be considered to be certified at USOT3 or above must submit evidence of activity, assessment and development to the US Squash Director of Officials for their review by the end of May each year. All candidates receive an annual review where their designated status for the following year will be decided. The season is defined as June 1 until May 31 and all requirements must be fulfilled during this time.
Any referee that does not submit evidence will lose their designated certification should they have one from the previous year.
USOT1- Entry Level
In order to become a referee every candidate must start at USOT1. This is intended for players new to the sport, of any age, and ensures they understand the basic rules using a combination of test questions and video clips.
Adult players who participate in tournaments are recommended to take the level 4 referee exam available from the Training section of their Clublocker profile.
Junior players who participate in junior accredited events must take their age appropriate training in order to register for the event and in order to be listed on the national rankings.
| Age Group | Referee Exam Required |
| U13 | Level 1 |
| U15 | Level 2 |
| U17 | Level 3 |
| U19 | Level 4 |
- Players are recommended to review the online beginner clinic.
- Players must take and pass the Level 1 referee exam which is available from their Club Locker profile.
- Players must be members of US Squash
USOT2- Club Level
USOT2 Officials will be expected to have a sound knowledge and understanding of the rules and their application to situations on a squash court, especially at more advanced levels of amateur play. As a player’s ability increases his or her knowledge of the game must become more in-depth and therefore the exam difficulty increases relative to ability and the required knowledge of the rules and officiating also increases.
Adult players who participate in divisions at the 4.0 level and above are recommended to take this training.
This level of official may choose to get more involved in officiating. In this case they will be invited to referee at National Championships and some early rounds of PSA events. Extra requirements include being a US Squash member and Safe Sport compliant.
Players must re-certify after 2 years to ensure they are up to date with current rules and line of thinking.
- Officials must take one Continuing Professional Development Clinic.
- Officials must take and pass the Level 4 referee exam which is available from their Club Locker profiles. Players may also take the interim Level 2 and 3 referee exams. Junior players will take these exams in sequence as they advance through the age groups.
- Officials must be US Squash members
USOT3
USOT3 officials will have a comprehensive knowledge of the rules and their application and an understanding of elite level player movement.
They will have very good presentation and communication skills explaining to both players and spectators what is happening.
They will have the ability to control a match and be confident in the application of conduct where necessary.
USOT3 referees will be expected to officiate at National Championships and PSA events.
- Officials must submit annually an activity log showing at least 15 matches that have been refereed including at least one National Championship. CSA Championship or PSA matches may be used in addition to a National Championship.
- Officials will have received at least 2 assessments per season from 2 different US Squash approved assessors covering at least 25 decisions. Each assessor will conduct an oral debriefing and documentation of the assessments will uploaded into the US Squash database.
- Officials will receive an annual review from a Level 5 referee and / or the US Director of Officials
- Officials must take one Continuing Professional Development Clinic.
- Officials must participate in the Online Match Assessment Program
- Officials must be US Squash members
- Officials must be current with Safesport Certification
- Officials must be current on the Level 4 referee exam
USOT4
USOT4 officials will be expected to have an excellent understanding of the rules and their application at the elite level of play.
Officials will remain composed under stress and will be confident in presenting a match to Officials and spectators, communicating clearly to all audiences.
USOT4 officials will be expected to take a senior role at National Championships and smaller PSA events and they will be invited to the early rounds of larger PSA events.
- Officials must submit annually an activity log showing at least 30 matches that have been refereed including at least one National Championship. CSA Championship or PSA matches may be used in addition to a National Championship. 10 matches must include players ranked higher than 100.
- Officials will have received at least 4 assessments per season from 2 different US Squash approved assessors covering at least 40 decisions. Each assessor will conduct an oral debriefing and documentation of the assessments will uploaded into the US Squash database.
- Officials will receive an annual review from a USOT5 referee and / or the US Director of Officials
- Officials must Conduct and provide feedback for five (5) assessments annually of officials of USOT3 or higher.
- Officials must take two Continuing Professional Development Clinic.
- Officials must participate in the Online Match Assessment Program
- Officials must submit at least 3 self-evaluations of broadcast matches.
- Officials must be US Squash members
- Officials must be current with Safesport Certification
- Officials must be current on the Level 4 referee exam
USOT5
USOT5 is the highest level of referee certification available. Officials will have developed an intricate understanding of Officiating Skills with play being fair and calls consistent.
USOT5 officials will be able to control a match of the highest level, and will have respectful rapport with the players thoughout.
USOT5 Officials will be invited to the highest level events including WSF and PSA Championships around the World. They will be comfortable refereeing on glass courts at the semi final and final stages of tournaments.
- Officials must submit annually an activity log showing at least 30 matches that have been refereed including at least one National Championship. CSA Championship or PSA matches may be used in addition to the National Championship. 15 matches must include players ranked higher than 75.
- Officials will have received at least 4 assessments per season from 2 different US Squash approved assessors covering at least 40 decisions. Each assessor will conduct an oral debriefing and documentation of the assessments will uploaded into the US Squash database.
- Officials will receive an annual review from a USOT5 referee and / or the US Director of Officials
- Officials must Conduct and provide feedback for ten (10) assessments annually of officials of USOT3 or higher.
- Officials must take two Continuing Professional Development Clinic.
- Officials must participate in the Online Match Assessment Program
- Officials must submit at least 5 self-evaluations of broadcast matches.
- Officials must be US Squash members
- Officials must be current with Safesport Certification
- Officials must be current on the Level 4 referee exam
Foreign Equivalency
US Squash recognizes that a person with prior experience may wish to participate in the US Squash Officiating program. In this case the candidate should contact the US Squash Director of Officials indicating their desired level. In all cases certified officials are required to fulfil the following:-
- Officials must be US Squash members
- Officials must be current with Safesport Certification
- Officials must be current on the Level 4 referee exam
Additionally, should candidates wish to be certified at USOT3 they will be asked to submit evidence of recent matches refereed, at the appropriate level. These will then be assessed by a Senior US Squash official to establish that the candidate meets the requirements.