Which of the following is a requirement to be a Category I referee?

• A. Must have at least 10 years of refereeing experience.
• B. Must adjudicate at least 75 attempts w/ 35 of them being for squats while serving as chief referee.
• C. Must hold a current medical certification valid for referees.
• D. Must be nominated by his national federation.

Answer: (B)

Category I referee qualification is earned by demonstrated practical judging experience and leadership on meets. The requirement to adjudicate a substantial number of attempts—specifically seventy-five total—with at least thirty-five of those for squats while serving as the chief referee—directly shows you can accurately call lifts, manage the flow of the meet, and take on the responsibility of overseeing the competition, including the most technically challenging event. This hands-on, leadership-focused criterion is what distinguishes Category I from other possible expectations. The other options—long experience in years, a medical certification for referees, or nomination by a national federation—don’t align with that performance-based standard that measures actual on-platform judging and meet management capability.