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
- Step 2 - Complete the General Principles Online Course
- Step 3 - Choose your preferred position
- Step 4 - Get some pool deck experience
- Step 5 - Become Accredited
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.
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.
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!
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
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
- Online Courses
- PDF Workbooks
- Practical Assessment
- New Officials Program
Swimming Australia now have six officiating modules online! If you are interested in becoming accredited in any of the below positions, click on the links and start learning!
Once you've completed either the online modules or the workbook and you've had lots of practice on pool deck and feeling confident, its time to get practically assessed to complete your accreditation. This can be done by contacting the office who will arrange this. Please don't be disappointed if an assessment can't take place when you request it - we just need to ensure we have an assessor available at that time.
Link - https://technical.swimming.org.au/c/nop/
The New Officials' Program is a new initiative to help people like you to better support your local club.
The focus is community officiating (below State Level) with an emphasis on involvement and enablement.
This new program is designed to be a simpler and easier route for young people and parents of young swimmers to have fun and help out on the pool deck.
Join the Officiating Community
- Facebook Group
- Australian Swimming Technical Officials Hub
- SA Technical Committee
- Nominations, Awards & Recognition
- Nominate to officiate for meets in SA via Swim Central - Click Here
- Nominations are called for EOI to officiate for Australian Championships: Selection Guidelines
- If you are travelling interstate or internationally please contact the meet host to express your interest
TBC
Darren McLachlan, Convenor
Peter Ryan
Rachel Butler
Selma Barlow
Chris Ekins
Max Richardson
Lorraine Burford
Tania Carlino, Staff Laision
Awards & Recognition
Nominations to Officiate
Resources
- Green Card & Professional Development Points
- Deck Officials - Duties & Protocols
- Uniform
- Swim Meet Forms
- Rules, By-Laws & Policies
- Contacts
Officials Practical Training Record - Green Card
Renewing your accreditations
Find your accreditions on swim central
applying for an accreditation on swim central
Deck Officials Duties & Protocols - Check Starter
Deck Officials Duties & Protocols - Marshal (Clerk of Course)
Deck Officials Duties - Warm-Up Supervisor
Pool Deck Forms
Swim Stroke Correction Form (10yrs/u)
Admin Forms
Referee Report - Open Carnival
Insurance - Swim Meet Checklist - PDF
Swimming Stroke Rules - Delete pending TSC
SwimmingSA Rules & Event By-Laws: Click Here
Member Welfare & Code of Conduct: Click Here
SwimmingSA Event Policies: Click Here
Referees Contact List
Staff Contact
Tania Carlino Finance and Technical Officials Coordinator tania.carlino@sa.swimming.org.au
