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Official's Qualifications
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From entry point to world-level officiating, Officials follow a similar pathway to those enjoyed by athletes and coaches. Welsh Athletics offer courses and development opportunities to progress through the first three levels. In 2020, we launched the Welsh Athletics Officials Reward Scheme to acknowledge both the commitment and progression that is shown by our volunteer officials each year.
From the 1st July 2022, all Officials will be required to complete the safeguarding course at the point of re-licencing. If you have already completed the Safeguarding in Athletics module as a coach/leader or as part of another volunteer role in athletics then there is not the requirement to complete it again until your licence is due for renewal.
To become a graded Assistant Official, Level 1 for Technical Officials (Track and Field) Licensed Official follow the steps below:
- Book onto Welsh Athletics Official course by booking online via Athletics Hub.
- You will receive a confirmation email which includes your URN/WA number.
- Use your URN number to log on to your myATHLETICS portal. Accept Welsh Athletics Officiating T&Cs and Code of Conduct.
- Complete the online DBS procedure and upload a passport photo.
- Attend either an Level 1 course Technical Officials in a specific discipline; Track Judge, Timekeeper, Field Judge, Starter / Starter's Assistant, Photo Finish, Race Walking.
- Complete the free online Health and Safety course.
- Complete the online UKA Safeguarding course.
To become a Level 1 Endurance Licensed Official follow the steps below:
- Book onto Welsh Athletics Risk Awareness module & Level 1 Endurance Official course by booking online via Athletics Hub.
- You will receive a confirmation email which includes your URN/WA number.
- Use your URN number to log on to your myATHLETICS portal. Accept Welsh Athletics Officiating T&Cs and Code of Conduct.
- Complete the online DBS procedure and upload a passport photo.
- Attend Risk Awareness module.
- Attend Level 1 Endurance Official course.
- Complete the online UKA Safeguarding course.
Are you interested in attending a Level 1 course Officials course? Please email officials@welshathletics.org
For more information on the official qualifications please see below.
The Assistant Official course is a basic introduction into key areas of officiating, this will enable you to assist at track and field meetings under the supervision of a qualified Technical Official.
Course details
Duration: 2-3 hours
Content:
- The responsibilities and role of an Assistant Official
- Measuring and recording times and distance
- Making, sharing and recording judgements
- Ensuring safety and reporting concerns
- Communicating with athletes and other officials
- Following procedures and applying basic rules
For upcoming course dates click here.
If you would like your club to host an official course please contact Zoe Holloway for more information.
Successful completion of the Level 1 Award for Technical Officials (Track and Field) will enable individuals to work with other qualified Technical Officials in a specific discipline; Track Judge, Timekeeper, Field Judge, Starter / Starter's Assistant, Photo finish, Race Walking.
Course details
Duration: 2-4 hours
Content:
By attending the course candidates will have a knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- Knowledge and application of rules relevant to the role specific to discipline
- Ability to follow duty sheet
- Relationships with other officials
- Relationships with athletes
- Health and Safety
- Appropriate attire/equipment
All of the modules are interactive and they are designed to help officials apply new knowledge and skills in practice, either through workshops and discussion, or through practical drills.
You are required to complete the online Health and Safety module as part of Level 1 Award for Technical Officials (Track and Field). You can take the module at your own pace and leave to return later if required. The module has multiple-choice quizzes after each section; the first section covers generic health and safety and the second focuses on Health and Safety within each of the disciplines. You will need to score 70% across all sections to pass.
To book onto the free online Health and Safety module.
For upcoming level 1 course dates click here.
If you are interested in attending a Level 1 course Officials course or if you would like your club to host a level 1 official course please contact Zoe Holloway for more information.
Track and Field pathway: Level 1
Attend
- Register and attend a Level 1 officials’ course (minimum 16 years of age).
- Upload photo to My Athletics Portal.
Complete
- Complete health and safety self-paced online module.
- Complete UKA safeguarding self-paced online module.
- Complete a DBS check.
Next steps: putting your training into practice
- Contact your local athletics or running club to find out about events they are hosting or taking teams to compete in.
- Contact your Regional Officials Secretary who will be happy to support you with finding an event tell you more about the opportunities available locally.
- You can record the practical officiating experiences you have gained to help you with your development.
Level 2
- Complete all steps at Level 1.
- Complete Level 2 discipline-specific questions here.
Collect
- Officiate at a minimum of ten additional experiences since Level 1 (for Level 2 Starter – this must be ten experiences as a starter AND ten experiences as a starter’s assistant).
- Complete Record of Experience (what did I learn section is optional).
- Record of Experience should include evidence of shadowing, event leader / chief judge / referee at league or County level meeting.
- Evidence of practical experience across all field events (Field Judges only)
- A minimum of one discipline feedback sheet (by a Level 3 or 4 official, or a Level 2 official with 2+ years of experience). This should be from league or County level meetings.
Contact Zoe Holloway for any support.
Submit
- Discipline feedback sheet(s), Record of Experience, discipline questions – send to Zoe Holloway
All documents can be found here.
Level 3
- Complete all steps at Level 2.
Collect
- A minimum of 20 additional meetings since Level 2.
- Complete Record of Experience – showing evidence of acting as referee / chief (at county / area level meeting), by logging into myAthletics Portal and locating Record of Experience.
- Two positive report (all reports by a Level 4 official or a Level 3 official with 2+ years’ experience) at area / regional level meetings.
- Field: Two reports covering the roles of event leader / chief judge / referee; application of long-throw protocol and competent use of EDM.
- Photofinish: Two reports as a team member – covering all duties and at least one of the reports using Finish Lynx equipment.
- Race Walking: Two reports as a team member.
- Starter: One report as a chief Starter and one report as a Starter’s Assistant
- Starter’s Assistant: One report as a chief Starter’s Assistant and one report as a Starter’s Assistant.
- Timekeeping: One report as a chief timekeeping and one report as a team member. 85% of times within +/- 0.10 seconds.
- Track: One assessment as a team leader / chief judge / referee and one assessment as a team member or an additional assessment as a team leader / chief judge / referee.
Contact Zoe Holloway if you need help arranging a report.
Track and Field Level 3 discipline questions will be released at end of July 2024.
Submit
- Your positive reports
- Record of Experience,
- discipline questions (from July 2024)
- upgrade form (complete name and licence number)
All documents can be found here send to Zoe Holloway.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Content:
Following attendance on the Level 1 - Endurance Officials course candidates will have knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- How endurance officials operate at road and cross-country races
- The requisite skills to be an endurance official
- The key officials who operate at an endurance event and their responsibilities
- Knowledge and application of rules
- Risk assessment and practical considerations
- Relationship with other officials and athletes
- The tools to do the job
- A working knowledge of the start, course and finish of an endurance event
- Appropriate attire/equipment
Minimum age: 18
You are required to complete a Risk Awareness module as part of the Level 1 - Endurance Officials course.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Content:
Following attendance at this course candidates will have knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- Reasons for undertaking a risk assessment
- Risk Awareness methodology and content
- Identify hazards, risks and how to control them
- Who is at risk from an event
- Who is responsible for Risk Awareness and who needs to be involved
- Appreciation of the production of a Risk Assessment document
- Timetable for the production of a Risk Assessment
- Practical considerations in the production of Risk Assessment
For upcoming course dates click here.
If you are interested in attending a Level 1 course Officials course, please complete the survey expression of interest form.
If you would like your club to host an official course please contact officials@welshathletics.org for more information.
ENDURANCE PATHWAY: Level 1
Attend
- Register and attend the Level 1 Endurance course
- Register and attend the Risk Awareness Course
Complete
- Complete a DBS check.
- Complete our safeguarding self-paced online module.
- Send or upload photo to My Athletics Portal.
Submit
- Once the above steps have been completed, please contact Zoe Holloway and we will process your licence.
Level 2
- Complete all steps at Level 1
- Complete three Level 2 modules (judging and recording, race referee, sector marshal) and questions found here.
To referee a race, candidates are required to complete the Race Referee module.
Collect
- Officiate at a minimum of 10 additional meetings since Level 1 (a minimum of two should be from county/area level meetings)
- Complete Record of Experience (what did I learn section is optional)
Submit
- Completed module questions and Record of Experience to Zoe Holloway.
Level 3
- Complete all steps at Level 2.
Collect
- A minimum of 10 additional meetings – including two at area/regional level, since gaining your Level 2 qualification.
- Complete Record of Experience showing evidence and self reflection, by logging into myAthletics Portal and locating Record of Experience.
- One positive report by a Level 4 official or a Level 3 official with 2+ years’ experience) covering one of the following managerial roles:
– Referee / Assistant Referee
– Start Coordinator / Start Referee
– Finish Area Coordinator / Finish Director
– Clerk of Course / Course Director.
Submit
- Positive report, Record of Experience, and Level 3 module questions – send to Zoe Holloway.
This course will be returning in 2024... if you are interested in attending please email Zoe Holloway to express interest.
The Race Directors course is the perfect opportunity for Race Directors and Event Organisers to learn more about the requirements to putting on an endurance race.
Duration: 1 day
Content: The course programme includes;
Event Venue
Relationship with Local Authority and Highways
Event Plan
Risk Assessment
Race Licensing
Other Material
Feedback/Questions
Cost: £50
Maximum attendees per course: 30 people on a first come, first serve basis
For upcoming course dates please click here.
The role of an event adjudicator is to ensure that race organisers are compliant of licencing conditions and that races are upheld to high standards of health and safety practices. This in turn, ensures that insurance regulations are maintained. An additional benefit is that the presence of an event adjudicator will allow Race Referees where appointed, to solely focus on their role of upholding the rules of competition. Event Adjudicators will also be tasked with completing a report that will allow race organisers to increase the standard of their race and the standards of events across Wales.
Event Adjudicators can be;
- Current Endurance Official (Level 2)
- An existing Regional Licence Officer
- Race organiser (must not adjudicate own event)
If you are interested in becoming an Event Adjudicator, contact office@welshathletics.org
Apply to be an adjudicator at runbritain
Event Adjudicators will be DBS checked, covered by the UKA Public Liability Insurance and issued with accreditation. Welsh Championship races will require both an Event Adjudicator and a Race Referee.
Benefits
- Free entry to the event
- Mileage expenses will be reimbursed
What's involved?
The Role of an Event Adjudicator presentation (including audio Nigel Jones)
Once you have opened the PowerPoint click Enable editing, next click Slide Show, next click From Beginning then the sound will start automatically.
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