This page describes the '''director certification''' process for [[NASPA]] members who want to become certified as [[tournament]] and [[club]] [[directors]] for the first time. (Existing directorsIf you were an [[NSA]]-certified director, please see look instead at the [[Directors#Grandfathering|grandfathering section]] of the Directors page. '''This pageis being edited to reflect the recent creation of the Tournament Coordinator certification. Portions of it may not yet be official. Please feel free to contact the Club/Director Committee for clarification.)'''
The [[Tournament Committee]] and [[Club Committee]] set the certification criteria and oversee the certification process.
* hold NASPA tournaments
* join the NASPA director discussion group
* access the director section of our online [{{SERVER}}/cgi-bin/services.pl member services]
* attend director-only functions at the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]]
== Certification process ==
Here There are [[Directors#Certification|several types of certification]]. To obtain any of them, you must bea member in good standing, and at least 18 years ofage. The easiest certification to obtain is what that of an[[assistant director]]: someone who acts online on behalf of a director without full Internet access.If your club or tournament director asks you need to betheir assistant, ask them to contact the[[Tournament Committee], who will then certify you. For any other type of certification, you must first take and pass the director’s test, as describedbelow. When you do to be so, you are certified as aNASPA Directoran [[apprentice director]] or [[young adult apprentice director]], depending on your age.
# Make sure you You are a member in good standing.then entitled to direct clubs and tournaments# Take with some conditions, and under the Director’s test.supervision of a# Serve an apprenticeship under a [[mentor director]].
=== Prerequisites ===When your mentor determines that you are ready, your certification is upgraded to [[tournament coordinator]], [[club director]] or [[tournament/club director]].A printed certificate will be issued to you, and ifyou attend the Director’s meeting at the [[NSC]],it will be officially conferred upon you there.
Applicants must be NASPA members in good standing and at least 18 years of ageIf you are a [[tournament coordinator]] or [[club director]],you may resume your apprenticeship if you wish to becomefully certified as a [[tournament/club director]].
=== Director’s test ===
The test can be taken in two ways:
*By email: The test can be ordered by [[Payment|paying ]] the $25 fee online and emailing [[John Robertson]]. It can be taken at your leisure, within a 90-day window, emailing back to John for grading and upon a passing grade, the prospective director will move to the next step. The email test will cost $25.<BR><BR>*By postal mail: The mail -in test will cost costs $35 USD, a slightly higher fee to pay for manual processing. Either [[Payment|pay]] for the test online or mail the payment, payable to NASPA, to [[Mary Rhoades]]. The test will be sent to you by postal mail and you can send the test back in the same way.
=== Apprenticeship ===
Age apprentice Apprentice age limitations:*Apprentices who are 18-–20 can be apprentice club and tournament directors. '''The mentor would be is required to be physically present at the tournament site.'''
*Apprentices who are 21+ can be apprentice club and tournament directors, with mentors encouraged to be at the tournament site, but if not, available by phone during the tournament.
*All apprentices will serve an apprenticeship period. Specific other criteria for apprenticeship is are being discussed.
Upon passing the test, the applicant is granted apprentice director certification, and can co-direct codirect tournaments and/or clubs under supervision of a mentor if the age restrictions allow. At the discretion of the mentor, this supervision may take place in person or by telephone. Mentors must be fully certified directors; applicants may suggest their own mentors, or may ask to be assigned one.
'''An apprentice may submit tournament details to the [[Tournament Committee]] himself, as long as the submission is copied to his mentor.'''
When an apprentice'’s mentor feels that the apprentice is ready to direct tournaments alone, the mentor notifies NASPA, which grants applicant full director status. The mentor will refer to the following checklist in assessing the apprentice.
* Has passed the Director Test.
* Understands how the SCRABBLE trademark must be protected.
* Is approachable and has adequate people skills.
* Presents a welcoming demeanor to newcomers.
* Understands the basics of the [[Code of Conduct]] and its importance in a club setting.
* Knows basic SCRABBLE rules: scoring, handling overdraws, holding, challenging, adjudicating.
If the apprentice satisfies all of the above conditions, the apprentice may be granted certification to operate as a [[tournament coordinator]]. A tournament coordinator can
apply to the Tournament Committee to have a tournament
sanctioned in their own name, but remains under apprentice
restrictions when directing a club or tournament.
* Knows how a club’s fee structure and pairing system should operate.
* Knows basic SCRABBLE rules: scoring, handling overdraws, holding, challenging, adjudicating.
* Knows how to find other rules in the rule book when necessary.
* Is willing to learn more complex rules.
* Is approachable and has adequate people skills.
* Presents a welcoming demeanor to newcomers.
* Is fair yet firm in maintaining club policies and handling disputes.
* Understands the basics of the [[Code of Conduct]] and its importance in a club setting.
If the apprentice satisfies all of the above conditions,
* Must be well versed in common rule situations.
* Must possess above average organizational and people skills and present a positive image of NASPA.
* Must have a cool demeanor and not get rattled in difficult situations. Graduates of the apprenticeship program willrelieve a certificate conferring their status.