AAU Taekwondo Official's Program Mission Statement
The AAU Taekwondo Officials' Program is dedicated to safe, fair competition, free of politics, held at the District, Regional and National levels.  We will strive for excellence through continuous Officials' training at District, Regional and National levels by identifying our best Officials to work competitions.  We will endeavor to have the best Officials' Program of any Martial Arts Organization in the U.S.

Officials’ Program
All AAU officials are required to become (RE) certified through a recognized Clinic Administrator on a yearly basis. Officials must be (RE) certified EACH YEAR prior to District or Regional qualifying competition. Certified officials wishing to officiate at the AAU Taekwondo National Championships are expected to take the officials clinic offered at the National Championships before they will be allowed to work the event. Anyone wishing to officiate at the AAU Junior Olympic Games will be required to attend the official’s clinic offered at the AAU Junior Olympic Games before they will be allowed to work the JAAU unior Olympic  Games event.

Who is Authorized to Conduct Clinics
Only certified Clinic Administrators and the National Chief Referee can conduct clinics. Clinic Administrators are appointed by the National Sports Director upon the recommendation of the National Chief Referee. A complete list of clinic administrators is listed on the website at www.aautaekwondo.org. All questions regarding clinics and clinic administrators should be directed to the Officials Program Administrator.

When are Clinics Allowed to be Conducted
Clinics cannot be held until the current year’s rules are finalized. This is NORMALLY accomplished as soon as possible following the meeting of the TRC (Technical Rules Committee). TRC has been moved to meet in conjunction with Team Trials.

 No Clinic may be held between June 1 and September 1 without special permission from the Officials Program Administrator.

Clinic Administrator Timelines
All Officials’ clinic applications, digital photos on CD and cover invoice sheet, must be forwarded to the Officials Program Administrator no later than seven days after the clinic. These documents can be mailed or email. A complete list of Coaches and Officials that have completed clinic will be posted at www.aautaekwondo.org

What if Classification Isn’t Kept Current
All officials holding a classification of B or higher will be required to participate as an official in some capacity at a minimum of one national event within a two-year period to maintain their current status. Not meeting this requirement may result in a downgrade in status of one level every 2 years, but not to be lowered past C level official.

1. Participation within a two-year period at the AAU National Championships would be as follows:

• AA officials must work 5 days
• officials must work 4 days
• B officials must work 3 days

2. Participation within a two-year period at the AAU Junior Olympic Games would be as follows:

• Only B officials may use the AAU Junior Olympic Games to maintain their classification
• B officials must work the entire event, including weigh-ins if requested, if not working Nationals and needing the AAU Junior Olympic Games to maintain their classification

3. In order to meet the minimum number of work days at either the National Championship or AAU Junior Olympic Games, the total number of required work days must be worked at the same event. (i.e. An official cannot split the required work days between multiple events.)

AAU Individual Membership Fees

1. All contestants, coaches, and officials are required to obtain current AAU Individual Membership prior to participating in any AAU licensed event during the current competition year (9/1 - 8/31).  Click the 'Join AAU Today' link at the top right corner of this page.
2. All officials, coaches and contestants participating in a licensed tournament are required to observe the decorum of the AAU and the rules of the tournament.

Officials’ Fees  
The certification fee for Officials is $35.  This fee and participation in an annual clinic will validate the official's classification until the end of the current AAU's competition year.  Officials wishing to also coach during the current competition year must take the Coaches' Online Certification Course prior to attending an Official's Clinic.  

Upgrade Requirements
Upgrades in classification are not automatic, nor are they a “right”. An upgrade is based on satisfactory performance of an official during AAU licensed competition at the District and Regional level, as determined by the Tournament Head Referee (up to level C) appointed by the tournament director or by the National Chief Referee at the AAU Taekwondo National Championship.

In addition, an official MUST first meet the requirements listed later in this document to be considered eligible for an upgrade. ALL officials upon entering the program will be issued classification based on minimum age and rank requirements.

All “D” officials who meet rank and age requirements, as outlined, may be upgraded upon request to “C” classification after working two district or regional qualifiers or one National event.

In order to upgrade to a “B” or higher classification, the candidate must have successfully completed the annual district/regional course, have worked the required number of licensed events, and then requested to be evaluated at the AAU National Championships. In order to be evaluated, an applicant must request to be reviewed for upgrade at the time of registering for the event. The applicant must submit to the National Chief Referee a Document showing list of required events needed to upgrade, must attend the national seminar, must pass a written test and be evaluated while officiating at the event, ALL WITHIN THE SAME COMPETITION YEAR.

Officials’ Certification Requirements

Class E Official – Refers to Court Officials (scorekeepers, computer operators, timekeepers, etc.) at District, Regional and National levels. Class E officials may, if needed, corner judge non-Black Belt divisions only at District and Regional levels.

Requirements

1. Basic understanding of official rules and procedures
2. Working knowledge of time keeping and score keeping
3. Minimum age of 14
4. Yearly attendance of a District/Regional Clinic Workshop

How Certified

1. Certification issued by Officials Program Administrator

Class D Official – Refers to Judges at District, Regional or National competitions. D officials can also assume aforementioned position as authorized. Class D officials may, if needed or if being evaluated for upgrade, center referee at District and Regional competitions for non-Black Belt divisions only.

Requirements

1. Understanding of official rules and procedures
2. Understanding judge responsibilities at district or regional levels
3. Working knowledge of charting time keeping and score keeping
4. Minimum age of 15
5. Minimum rank of Red/Brown Belt
6. Must attend a yearly district/regional clinic

How Certified

1. Certification issued by Officials Program Administrator

Class C Official – Refers to Officials at District or Regional competitions or Judges at National competitions. C officials can also assume any of the aforementioned position as authorized. Class C officials may, if needed or if being evaluated for upgrade, center referee at National competitions for non-Black Belt divisions only.

Requirements for Upgrade

1. Must meet all above requirements for class E through D officials
2. Adequate knowledge of Referee terms and methods of signaling
3. Adequate proficiency as Referee at District or Regional competition
4. Must have officiated as a corner judge as a D level official for a minimum of two District or Regional AAU licensed events or one AAU licensed National event working a minimum of two days
5. Minimum age of 16
6. Minimum rank of 1st Dan Black Belt
7. Must attend a yearly District/Regional Clinic and Workshop
8. Must request to be evaluated for an upgrade at either the local, regional or national level. Request for upgrade at the local level should be made to the tournament director who will supply a list of applicants to the tournament Head Referee
   a. A head Referee for a local event who evaluates an applicant for upgrade must be a Clinic Administrator and/or a AA official or have been appointed by the National Chief Referee

How Certified

1. Certification is issued by the Official’s Program Administrator upon recommendation from the tournament’s Head Referee based on an evaluation of the candidate’s officiating skills at District, Regional or National events

Class B Official – Refers to Officials at the National level. B officials can also assume any aforementioned position as authorized.

Requirements for Upgrade

1. Must meet all above requirements for class E through C officials
2. Must be able to demonstrate adequate proficiency as a judge and referee for forms and sparring competition.
3. Must have been a class C official for a minimum two years or worked at a minimum of two National Championships for a minimum of two days each. (The National being used to upgrade counts as one of the two Nationals.)
4. Minimum age of 18
5. Must attend a yearly District/Regional Clinic and workshop
6. Must request to be evaluated at the AAU National Championships when registering for the event
7. Must pass written test and practical evaluation by an 80% combined score. Candidate will be evaluated on performance as a judge and referee for forms and sparring competition. To be eligible for evaluation, a candidate must work a minimum of three full days during the Nationals Championship.
8. Must work six AAU licensed events as a Class C official.

How Certified

1. Certification issued by Officials Program Administrator upon successful completion of performance evaluation

Class A Official – Refers to Officials at the National level. A officials can also assume any aforementioned position as authorized.

Requirements for Upgrade

1. Must meet all requirements for Class E through B official                            
2. Must be able to demonstrate a high degree of proficiency as a judge and referee for forms and sparring competition
3. Must have been a class B official for a minimum of three years
4. Must officiate at three National Championships as a Class B official
5. Must attend a yearly District/Regional Clinic and workshop
6. Must request to be evaluated at National Championships when registering for the event
7. Must pass written test and practical evaluation by an 85% combined score.  Candidate will be evaluated on performance as judge and referee for forms and sparring competition. To be eligible for evaluation, candidate must work a minimum of four full days during the event
8. Must work 15 AAU Licensed events as a B official.

How Certified

1. Certification issued by Officials Program Administrator upon successful completion of performance evaluation

Class AA Official – Refers to Senior Officials at the National Level who have demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and proficiency. Team Leaders for a ring are usually chosen from the AA officials at Nationals events.

Requirements for Upgrade

1. Must meet all above requirements for Class E through A official                 
2. Must be able to demonstrate a high degree of proficiency as a judge and referee for forms competition and both styles of sparring competition
3. Must have been a class A official for a minimum of five years
4. Must officiate at a minimum of five Nationals Championships as a Class A official
5. Must attend a yearly District/Regional Clinic and workshop
6. Must request to be evaluated at the AAU National Championships when registering for the event
7. Must pass written test and practical evaluation by a 90% combined score. Candidate will be evaluated on performance as judge and referee for forms and both styles of sparring competition. To be eligible for evaluation, candidate must work the entire event
8. Must work 40 AAU licensed events as an A official

How Certified

1. Certification issued by Officials Program Administrator upon successful completion of performance evaluation

Disciplinary Actions
Officials are expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism. An official whose conduct is determined to not measure up to these standards shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Executive Committee.