Moderator Certification

To become a test-certified moderator, take the moderator certification test and send answers to Jonah Greenthal. Two tries per year are permitted. More information on Moderator Certification can be found below.

Moderator certification cards can be filled out by coaches by other certified moderators. In addition to printing out those linked cards and mailing them in, evaluations can be submitted online.

The following moderators are certified:

*Certifications expire July 1 of the listed year.

There are two types of moderator certification: test certification and performance certification. To become test-certified, a candidate must pass a written multiple-choice test. The test can be downloaded and answers can be mailed using the links at the top of this page. It is an open book test, and a score of 45 out of 50 is necessary to pass. Candidates are allowed two tries per year.

In order to become performance-certified, moderators must be rated by coaches of the teams for whom they read, or by other certified moderators. Each moderator is given a packet of 25 rating cards; more may be downloaded using the links above. Each card lists five qualities important to performance as a good moderator, with a rating scale of 1 to 3, and provides space for comments. The highest rating a moderator can receive is 15 points. The card must be signed and dated by the evaluator (coach or other certified moderator).

Moderators are to give the cards to evaluators before the match begins. The moderators should write their name in the space for the moderator’s name, and may want to put a stamp on the front of the post card, or ask the coach to turn the card in to the tournament manager before leaving for the day. The coaches are not to give the cards directly to the moderators after filling them out. The coaches are to mail the cards to the address on the front of the card or turn the cards in to the tournament host before leaving. They may also be submitted online. The tournament host is to give the cards to Jonah Greenthal if he is at the event, or mail them to him. Coaches and certified moderators are also welcome to evaluate moderators without being asked to (by supplying their own cards or by submitting the rating online).

A moderator may only be evaluated by a given person once per academic year. Moderators must have 10 or more cards submitted within the last two full academic years, and with an average score of at least 12 points (out of 15), to maintain performance certification. Moderators may not evaluate themselves, nor may they be evaluated by anyone affiliated with their current school. Performance certification cards may be submitted based on any matches with both tossups and bonuses, not just IHSA-format events.

Coaches’ comments will be shared anonymously with the moderators they concern.

The IHSSBCA thanks all participants in the moderator certification process, which is designed to help improve the quality of officiating at Illinois events, and to encourage coaches to brush up on the rules.

Questions or comments? Please contact the webmaster.
This site best viewed in Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
Most linked documents require Adobe Reader or other PDF-viewing software to view.