As part of our
joint celebration of "Officials Appreciation Week," the SCIAC and its coordinators of officials are pleased to share some thoughts on the pathway to becoming an official. Our second feature covering water polo is courtesy of Andrew Gates.
SCIAC Officiating Hub
"For someone wishing to become a water polo official, the path to getting started is relatively easy. You can start with club water polo, organized by USA Water Polo, or you can start with high school organized by the SCAF water polo Board of Directors. Or both! There is ample training, mentoring and game assignments available.
An interested referee would be given classroom and on-deck training to get them up to speed. After a year or so of learning how to call the game, you can move up to higher-level club and/or high school games.
From there, after certain requirements have been met, a referee can petition to move up to the college level of officiating. Most refs first officiate at the Junior or Community College level, followed by the Division III level and work their way up the ranks to DII and hopefully the DI level!!
You can reach out to USA Water Polo (Club) and SCAF (high school and Community College) at the following websites:
USAWP:
usawaterpolo.org ("Members & Clubs" banner)
SCAF:
scafwp.org ("Wanna Ref" icon)
We look forward to seeing new officials on the deck soon!"
Interested in Becoming a Water Polo Official?
Start your new career or side hustle, or just give a little back to a sport you love today! Click the above link.
SCIAC officials in the postseason and moving up levels
Five officials worked the USA Water Polo DIII National Championships last year.
Mike Stewart refs in the Big West and WWPA in addition to being one of the United States International (World Aquatics) officials, which led him to spend nine days officiating in Brazil for the Pan American games in September with
Tony Karaman, who also covers games in the GCC and MPSF.
Fred Sicard is a former La Verne player who officiates in the Big West, WWPA and GCC.
Victoria Mezack also played at La Verne and works in the Big West and GCC.
Levon Dermendjian is the Head Ref for USA Water Polo and is an international level official who has traveled to numerous countries representing the US. He works in MPSF, the Big West and GCC as well as officiating NCAA Division I Championship games.
Sergio Macias played at Whittier and is another International level official.
Jose Montes de Oca has worked in the WWPA and GCC and is on the shortlist for international level status as an official from Maxico.
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