INWA Referee/Race Official Course

Competitions, Races and Race Officials
Nordic Walking is an activity that can be used for fitness development, relaxation, recreation, social activities, rehabilitation, weight loss, general enjoyment and for competitive sport.
In order to provide a consistent structure and foundation for competitive sport, INWA provides rules for the use of race organizers, Race Officials and competitors.

Nordic Walking competitions are sporting events in which fitness comes first and competition second. The goal is to preserve a good technique and gain the benefits of this activity through a fun competitive sporting experience. Nordic Walking competitions can become a motivation for regular Nordic Walking training, walking in the outdoors, enjoying nature, keeping an active life style and ultimately improve fitness.

Nordic Walking races and competitions have been held as a sporting competition since 2013. Competitions help to raise the profile of Nordic Walking in the younger age and provide encouragement for the everyday Nordic Walkers.

In 2019 the team of International Trainers, under the lead of Naohiro Takahashi, revised the old rules into a better format. New guidelines and rules were developed to make your event safer and reliable.
It is now a requirement that at official INWA World Cup events, there has to be a minimum of five INWA registered Race Officials. Certified Race Officials are registered by INWA Office.

Nordic Walking Competitions can be divided by type

Nordic Walking Race, (21 km / 10 km / 5 km),(time based competitions) – Individual and team competitions, World Cup status
Nordic Hill Running (Nordic Walking related sport)
Technique and speed (not official World Cup competition)

To comply with INWA Race Nordic Walking rules, every participant must use a correct technique. Special attention has to be paid on highlighted points when considering penalty cards.
Race Officials ensure fairness for all walkers by disqualifying competitors who do not race with the appropriate Nordic Walking technique or who behave in an inappropriate manner.

INWA has built the Race Official Course to be used for the training of two levels of Race Officials which are:

National Nordic Walking Referee:
– Has to be either a certified INWA Nordic Walking National Trainer and will be selected by the National Nordic Walking Association
– After education and certification has the authority to educate Nordic Walking Referees in the organization of INWA National Nordic Walking Association.

Nordic Walking Referee:
– Does not have to be a certified INWA Nordic Walking Instructor.
– Has to be capable to work as a referee and to understand the rules of the competitions

INWA Race Official Course

INWA offers the Race Official courses annually in a reasonable place and time. The course schedule and booking process will be available on the INWA website and on INWA’s Facebook site and through the INWA newsletter.
The course is delivered by an INWA International Trainer. If you have a requirement for Race Official training to be conducted in your own country, please contact to INWA office.

Content of the INWA Race Official Course

Outline of Nordic Walking Race and Competition Rules
Review NW Race handbook
Nordic Walking Techniques in race
How to make a handbook
First Aid
How to observe NW technique
How to manage giving yellow/red card
Examination
Info about certification and CPD

Course fees

National Nordic Walking Referee course: price is 245 EUR/person.
This price includes the license to use the INWA Race Official materials for one year. After the first year there will be a license fee to be paid to INWA, which is 25 EUR per year/person. License covers the rights to use the INWA Race Official materials.

Nordic Walking Referee course: prices can be defined by the National Nordic Walking Association (NNWA) but the license fee to be paid to INWA is 25 EUR per referee. After the first year there will be a license fee to be paid to INWA, which is 25 EUR per year/person. NNWA is responsible for informing INWA about the trained Referees and INWA will invoice the NNWA accordingly.
The NNWA can decide locally about the costs and terms of the Nordic Walking referee course but the official INWA Race Official education program has to be used.

National Nordic Walking Referee courses are arranged by the International Trainers of INWA. In special cases they can also arrange Nordic Walking Referee courses for the National Nordic Walking Associations.

Training includes lectures, practical lessons and materials.

Registrations to the courses
Registration is done by sending the application to your National Nordic Walking Association. Registration for the National Nordic Walking Referee course is done by the National Nordic Walking Association to INWA office.