Technical Officials

Swimming, similar to many other sports, relies heavily on volunteers. Swimming competitions and events are important to the development of our swimmers and unfortunately, without the assistance and guidance of technical officials, these events cannot be run.

Becoming a Technical Official is rewarding and an excellent way to contribute to the sport, spend time with your children, create great friendships and gain professional development.

Our website contains the latest information to help you get started on your journey, and assist current officials in developing their skills.

There are many positions that Technical Officials undertake at swimming meets, which means there is an abundance of variety for those wanting to get a bit closer to the action and officiate at events.

Getting Started

  • Step 1 - Apply for a Working With Children Check
  • All Officials or parents volunteering as officials require a Working With Children Check.

    Click Here to obtain a WWCC.

    Please upload your WWCC to Swim Central.

  • Step 2 - Complete the General Principles Online Course
  • All prospective Technical Officials must first complete the Sport Australia Community Officiating General Principles online course - which is free of charge.

    The course can be found at the AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION.  You will need to register and undertake the Community Officiating General Principles course.

  • Step 3 - Choose your preferred position
  • Prospective Officials then have a broad range of choice in their first accreditation module.  A lot of people start off by completing the Inspector of Turns module, as this is generally the most common area that people begin assisting with when they first volunteer.

    View Swimming Australia's Pathway Flowchart and discover where officiating could take you!

  • Step 4 - Get some pool deck experience
  • Attending a meet?

    Let the meet host know you would like to undertake practical training for officiating.

    Open Carnivals are a great opportunity to “dip your toe” into officiating.

    Referees are appointed to each Open Carnival by SwimmingSA, however host clubs are always looking for volunteers to assist on the day.

    Open Carnivals offer a variety of roles, some of which are not available at meets held at SAALC like:

    • Recording (some carnivals conduct handicap events)

    • Starting (many clubs use the Dolphin Timing System)

    • Chief Time Keeper

    Helping at an Open Carnival is a great way to put any prior learning into practice in a more relaxed environment where the opportunity to learn and ask questions is available. If you would like to help at a Carnival, please contact the host club.

    Contact details can be found in the SwimmingSA Handbook of Events

  • Step 5 - Become Accredited
  • The National Technical Official Accreditation Program, conducted by Swimming Australia, introduces an individual to the basic competencies required to officiate at Swimming Australia/SwimmingSA sanctioned events. This accreditation program also provides a clear and defined pathway for Technical Officials to move from officiating at their local club meets to officiating at the Olympics.

    See below for course information.

    Still have questions? Contact us at officials@sa.swimming.org.au

National Accreditation Program

Join the Officiating Community

Resources

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