Levels and Ranks - Evaluations and Upgrades
Levels and Ranks
Please Note: The Ranks program is changing! Over the course of the next years, there will be a new Ranks program to replace the current one, with ranks easily translated. More information on this and the transfer will be ongoing. Images to depict the levels will be added once released.
There are five levels of officials within the sport of ringette. Level 5 is reserved for national-level officials and is under the sole jurisdiction of the Ringette Canada Officiating Committee.
Level 1 Officials - Officiate within their local association, are assigned games, are evaluated and certified within the local association by their Referee-in-Chief. A Level 1 Official must attend a Introduction to Officiating Clinic.
Level 2 Officials - Officiate at inter-association competitions, regional playdowns, Provincials, and similar events at the “B” level of play. A Level 2 Official must have received two evaluations recommending upgrade by Level 2 or higher Evaluators, as well as having taken and passed the Level 2. Attendance at a Rule Change and Professional Development clinic is required once every rule change year.
Level 3 Officials - Officiate in competitions and events similar to those worked by Level 2 officials but generally at a higher level of play (ie. “A”). Upgrade from Level 2 to 3 requires a minimum of three evaluations by Level 3 or higher Evaluators recommending the same, as well as having taken and passed the Level 3. Attendance at a Rule Change and Professional Development clinic is required once every rule change year.
Level 4 Officials - Officiate in territorial championships. The official must receive four evaluations (including a tournament final game) from at least two different Level 4 Evaluators to be upgraded from a Level 3 to a level 4. As well there is a Level 4 clinic that must be taken prior to upgrade. Attendance at a Rule Change and Professional Development clinic is required once every rule change year.
CATEGORIES OF CERTIFICATION WITHIN LEVELS
Categories within the levels are no longer a letter.
| New | Old | Level |
| 1-U12 | none | C |
| 1-U14 | 1C | C |
| 1-U16 | 1B | C |
| 1-U19 | 1B | C |
| 1-18+/Open | 1A | C |
| | | |
| 2-U12 | none | B |
| 2-U14 | 2C | B |
| 2-U16 | 2B | B |
| 2-U19 | 2B | B |
| 2-18+/Open | 2A | B |
| | | |
| 3-U12 | none | A |
| 3-U14 | 3C | A |
| 3-U16 | 3B | A |
| 3-U19 | 3B | A |
| 3-18+/Open | 3A | A |
| | | |
| 4-U14 | 4C | AA |
| 4-U16 | 4B | AA |
| 4-U19 | 4A | AA |
| 4-NRL | | NRL |
For more information on Levels and Certification, please visit the Officiating Ringette Canada site.
Evaluations and Upgrades
The following explains the Ringette Alberta evaluation process, what is required to maintain one’s level, and what is required to advance from one level to the next.
1. Every official new or old needs at least one evaluation every year. The evaluation is called a “maintenance” evaluation and must be completed at the level of the game for the level or ranking of the official. It is ultimately up to the official to make sure this evaluation is obtained. They can be arranged through the Referee in Chief of your association/League.
- In order to get a ‘U12’ ranking, the official MUST be officiating a U12 game at a minimum.
- In order to get a ‘U14’ ranking, the official MUST be officiating a U14 game at a minimum.
- In order to get a ‘U16’ ranking, the official MUST be officiating a U16 game at a minimum.
- In order to get a ‘U19’ ranking, the official MUST be officiating a U19 game at a minimum.
- In order to get an ‘18+/Open’ ranking, the official MUST be officiating an 18+/Open game. **If the official is officiating a U19 game, then they can only receive a U19 rank.
- Level 1 = C level of play
- Level 2 = B level of play
- Level 3 = A level of play
- Level 4 = AA level of play
ie.: if an official is officiating a U14A game the highest rank that they can receive is 3-U14, they cannot receive a 3-U16 or above.
2. To get an upgrade from level 1 to level 2, an official will need two evaluations from two different evaluators, at level 2. For example, one evaluator may have given a 2-U14 and the other evaluator may have given a 2-U19. The official would also need to attend the level 2 Officials clinic. This would technically rank the official as a 2-U14 once those evaluations have been sent in, processed, and approved by the Official Development Coordinator AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
3. To get an upgrade from level 2 to level 3, an official will need three evaluations from two different evaluators, at level 3. For example, one evaluator may have given a 3-U14 and the other evaluator may have given a 3-U16 and a 3-U14. The official would also have to attend the level 3 Officials clinic. This would technically rank the official as a 3-U14 once those evaluations have been sent in, processed, and approved by the Official Development Coordinator AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
4. To get an upgrade from level 3 to level 4, an official will need four evaluations from three different evaluators, at level 4. For example, one evaluator may have given a 4-U16, the second evaluator may have given a 4-U16 and a 4-U14, and the third evaluator may have given a 4-U14. The official would need to attend a level 4 Officials Clinic. This would technically rank the official as a 4-U14 once those evaluations have been sent in, processed, and approved by the Official Development Coordinator AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
**Please note that the old Level 2/3 clinic is now a Level 2 and then also a Level 3 Clinic. Those that had taken the Level 2/3 Clinic has both the Level 2 and the Level 3 Clinic and would not need to retake.
If you would like to contact your Referee in Chief, or evaluators, please contact the Officials Development Coordinator here.
