Becoming a Technical Official

We need you on pool deck

Swimming Tasmania conducts training in all technical aspects of swimming. New officials are constantly in demand. You can help!! Swimming Championships and Meets are conducted by Clubs, Regions, State and National Bodies. Swimming Australia qualified Technical Officials officiate at these various Meets.

A swim meet needs a lot of officials - in an eight lane pool ideally at least 12 are necessary for the Meet to run. Being an official is an excellent way of supporting children in their favourite sport.

There are also some fringe benefits! If you volunteer before the meet and get your name on the roster, you will have free pool entry. 

Things to remember:

  • Technical Officials provide the swimming community with a precious gift - time.
  • Without Technical Officials there are no swim meets and therefore the swimmers have no competition.
  • Every time you work at a swim meet you help young Australians achieve their goals and stay healthy.
  • Once qualified you can work State and even National events. All assistance during Swimming Tasmania events is greatly appreciated.

Watch a short video on becoming a Technical Official here.

 

How to Become a Technical Official

The training and assessment of technical officials is both theory and practical and mentoring by an experienced Technical Official. If you are interested, please contact your Club, letting them know that you want to become a qualified technical official or gain extra qualifications.

You must be a registered member of Swimming Tasmania and of secondary school age or older. Your Club will contact Swimming Tasmania or the State Technical Manager, who will organise the venue, date and time for your training.

Technical Official Positions on the pool deck :

Announcer 

Referee 

Chief Timekeeper 

Timekeeper x 8

Check Starter x 2

Marshal (Clerk of Course)

Starter 

Recorder

Operator of AOE 

Inspector of Turns x 16

Judge of Stroke x 4

 

Recognition of Prior Learning for Officiating Credentials

If you would like to submit an application to Swimming Tasmania in regards to your previous work related to an official position please download the following form:

Recognition of Current Competencies


Before You Begin Your Training

Candidates may complete the online training modules and view the Training Videos before attending their first officiating meet.

 

Training Format

The candidate will receive practical experience on pool deck with a mentor, and when deemed ready for their assessment the assessor will be notified, as well as the candidate. The assessor will contact the candidate when this will take place. 

The Assessor will assess the candidate in a practical officiating environment, probably at a Qualifying Trial. The Assessor will assess the candidate as ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’ by assessing them on a list of criteria necessary to be competent in that technical official position.

If the candidate is deemed ‘competent’ in ALL the criteria, the assessor will forward their name on to Swimming Australia as being competent in that position.

Upon successful completion of at least one competency Technical Officials will receive a Swimming Tasmania Technical Official Name Badge. If you have not received your Swimming Tasmania Technical Official Name Badge please email us.

If the candidate is deemed as ‘not yet competent’ the Assessor will discuss with them what needs to be done for them to become ‘competent’.  

Have a question or two about Technical Course content that you need answered quickly?

Ask Sam is a new SNSW webpage dedicated to answering your queries about officiating, specifically accreditation course content.

Feel free to put forward your query at any time on this website, and it will be updated as soon as possible.

 

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