Pickleball Referee Management Measures

China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association

2023.12

Overall Work Structure

Grade (Assessment) Training

Specialized (Advanced) Training

Training Course Hosting Application

Mentor

Certificate Issuance

Registration Management

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1: In order to promote the development of pickleball sports, continuously expand the number of pickleball referees in China, improve the refereeing level of pickleball referees in China, gradually establish a standardized promotion system, ensure orderly competition, and rationalize the flow of talent among pickleball referees, and further regulate the training and registration management system of pickleball referees in China, these measures are formulated.

Article 2: The training and registration of pickleball referees are managed by the Pickleball Committee of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 3: Referee training is divided into two categories: grade (assessment) training and specialized (advanced) training.

Article 4: All participants must first become individual members of the Pickleball Committee of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Chapter 2 Grade (Assessment) Training

Article 5: The grade (assessment) training of pickleball referees by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association is divided into Beginner (CR L1), Intermediate (CR L2), and Advanced (CR L3).

Article 6: To obtain the qualification of Beginner Referee, one must participate in the Beginner Referee Training Course and assessment. To obtain the qualification of Intermediate Referee, one must participate in the Intermediate Referee Training Course and assessment. To obtain the qualification of Advanced Referee, one must participate in the Advanced Referee Training Course and assessment.

Article 7: Those who voluntarily accept and consciously abide by the relevant management regulations of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association regarding pickleball referees, who are willing to engage in pickleball refereeing work, and who have certain basic pickleball skills and knowledge may participate in the Beginner Referee Training Course organized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 8: Those who pass the assessment of the Beginner Referee Training Course and participate in the specialized (advanced) training as required may join the Intermediate Referee Training Course. Individuals with special needs, upon application by relevant units, may directly participate in the Intermediate Training Course upon approval by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 9: All coaches who have obtained grade certificates must wait for one year before they can participate in the training course for the next higher level referee.

Chapter 3 Continued (Advanced) Training

Article 10: In order to continuously update knowledge and improve coaching abilities, all grade referees must participate in Continued (advanced) training as stipulated in Article 11.

Article 11: All referees who have obtained corresponding grade certificates must participate in Continued (advanced) training at least once a year to be eligible to attend the training course for the next higher level referee. Referees who have not participated in any Continued (advanced) training recognized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association within four years of obtaining their grade certificates will have their registration revoked.

Chapter 4 Hosting Application for Training Courses

Article 12: All grade (assessment) training courses and specialized (advanced) training courses must be applied for by hosting units and approved by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association before being included in the recognized system outlined in these measures.

Article 13: Both grade (assessment) training courses and specialized (advanced) training courses can be conducted either online or offline.

Article 14: Any unit applying to host a training course must voluntarily accept and abide by the relevant regulations of pickleball referees and conduct training work according to the relevant requirements.

Article 15: All units intending to host training courses for pickleball referees organized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association must apply to the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association before the end of December of the previous year. Upon approval by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association, they will be included in the pickleball referee training plan for the next year.

Chapter 5 Mentorship

Article 16: All mentors for grade (assessment) training courses must be appointed by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association and recognized as training mentors. All mentors for specialized (advanced) training courses must be experts recognized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association in the corresponding field.

Article 17: The initial mentors for grade (assessment) training courses will be appointed by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association and designated to serve as mentors for the training courses. After the initial mentors are appointed, any new mentors for grade (assessment) training courses must have completed the previous level of grade (assessment) training course and passed the corresponding mentor training assessment.

Article 18: All mentors for grade (assessment) training courses must voluntarily accept and adhere to the relevant management regulations of coaches and mentors set by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 19: Pickleball grade referee training mentors must participate in the corresponding grade pickleball referee training organized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association at least once a year. Failure to participate in the corresponding work for two consecutive years as specified by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association will result in the cancellation of registration.

Article 20: Pickleball grade referee training mentors must participate in training arranged by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association to enhance their teaching abilities.

Article 21: Responsibilities of mentors for pickleball referee grade (assessment) training courses include:

(1) Acting on behalf of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association in training or organizing management duties when no full-time management personnel are dispatched to the training course venue.

(2) Conducting pickleball referee training and assessment in accordance with relevant business requirements.

(3) Identifying and recommending outstanding referees to attend higher-level pickleball referee training courses.

(4) Continuously summarizing the experience of hosting courses and providing rational suggestions for the training of pickleball referees in China.

Article 22: Mentors for specialized (advanced) training courses in pickleball will be hired by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association and the hosting unit based on the planned training content before the training course is determined.

Chapter 6 Certificate Issuance

Article 23: All pickleball grade (assessment) training mentors recognized by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association can receive the Pickleball Grade (Assessment) Training Mentor Certificate issued by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association. After appropriate training, mentor assistants, with 1 to 2 years of course management experience and assessment by corresponding mentors, can receive the Pickleball Training Mentor Certificate issued by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 24: Pickleball referee training mentors and mentor assistants appointed by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association can receive the corresponding appointment letters issued by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association, with each term lasting for two years.

Article 25: Pickleball referees who participate in corresponding grade (assessment) training and pass the training assessment can receive the corresponding grade (assessment) training completion certificate issued by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 26: Participants who pass specialized (advanced) training in pickleball can receive the Pickleball Specialized (Advanced) Training Completion Certificate issued by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 27: Individuals meeting one of the following conditions can apply to the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association for certification as Beginner (CR L1) Referee:

(1) Holders of certification from other internationally or domestically recognized pickleball referee training systems accredited by the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

(2) Graduates of pickleball majors from various sports universities and colleges.

Chapter 7 Registration Management

Article 28: Individuals who are unable to perform pickleball referee duties according to the regulations of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association or who engage in illegal or disciplinary violations will have their registration revoked.

Article 29: Anyone wishing to become a pickleball referee must participate in and pass the Beginner Pickleball Referee Training Course and must register with the Pickleball Committee of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association. Registration is conducted annually. Only registered individuals are eligible to participate in higher-level training.

Article 30: All relevant registration information of pickleball referees will be made public on the corresponding website.

Article 31: Pickleball referees who fail to register and pay the annual fee for two consecutive years will have their registration revoked. Only those who participate in and pass the Beginner Pickleball Referee Training Course again will be eligible to regain registration.

Chapter 8 Supplementary Provisions

Article 32: Specific management regulations for registration of pickleball coaches will be formulated separately according to these measures.

Article 33: The interpretation of these measures belongs to the Pickleball Committee of the China Ethnic Minorities Sports Association.

Article 34: These measures shall be implemented from the date of issuance.