atsc FIRST ACCREDITATION
HIGH SCHOOL
There is no charge (it’s FREE) in learning to become a Technical Official. Any person of High School age or older can become a Swimming Official.
We normally think of parents as officials, but High School students can also become involved in running a Club night.
NOT A MEMBER OF A SWIMMING CLUB!
Go to Our Clubs to search for a Club near you.
If you are not already a Swimming Club Member, approach the Club Registrar at the Swimming Club, and join either as a Swimming Member or as a Non-swimming Member.
Apply online for aΒ Working With Children Check. This is free for volunteers. If you already have a WWCC number, you do not need to apply again. Under 18s do not need a WWCC number.
VOLUNTEER TIMEKEEPER AT CLUB
Often our first involvement is when we are asked be a Timekeeper at Club: Starting the stopwatch on the Start Signal, stopping it when the swimmer finishes, and then writing down the time.
All very simple. But behind the scenes are some basic protocols which streamline the process.
LEARN THE PROTOCOLS
Protocols are the way things are done. This leads to consistency no matter what the level of meet you are at, whether a Club night, or National Championships.
It is these protocols which the Technical Official learns.
Becoming involved in this way leads to a very rewarding and satisfying life style change, as it opens up a whole pathway of involvement in the sport.
Swimming Australia has provided an easy pathway for interested people to become an accredited Technical Official through their training program.
START YOUR TRAINING
Undertake the General Principles course: (this is a one-off course but mandatory!)
- Register or Login at the Swimming Australia Online Learning Portal
- Select the Community Officiating General Principles Course
Save your Certificate as you will need this to prove completion of the Course.
Working With Children’s Check
If you are 18 years of age or older, you will need a Working with Children Check from the Office of the Children’s Guardian. These are valid for 5 years. Many people in employment already have one. It has a number like: WWC1234567E.
If you don’t have one, you can apply for a free volunteers WWCC. The volunteer’s number looks like: WWC1234567V.
Training
Training can be done Online through Swimming NSW, or arranged by the Area’s Technical Swimming Coordinator as Face-to-Face Training in a class environment.
TIMEKEEPER
Candidates attempting SAL Learner Guides / Modules for Technical Official accreditation must complete the relevant training exercises before the SAL module is attempted.
Training Exercises are done in conjunction with the Training Notes.
Download the Timekeeper Training Notes and the Timekeeper Training Exercises.
After doing these, you are now ready to do the Timekeeper Learner Guide. This will give you all the necessary information and skills to be assessed successfully.
- PRACTICE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
Request an Assessment through the ATSC Convenor. The assessment for Timekeeper can be done at Club. If competent, the Assessor will help you complete the Cover Sheet and this should be forwarded this to the ATSC Convenor.
If your Club has different criteria or protocols, when being assessed it is important that you follow the criteria in the Module.
COMPETENT π
If you are given “Competent” you are now considered as having that Credential. The ATSC Convenor will forward all the necessary paperwork off to SNSW and eventually will be given a Name Badge as Technical Official.
NOT YET COMPETENT π’
Different situations always arise at Swimming Meets which we weren’t expecting. These can impact on our judgement especially if you’re being assessed.
If you are given “Not Yet Competent”, your assessor would have spoken to you and indicated the area where you need improvement. Don’t be discouraged as many high level Technical Officials have been re-assessed and given “Not Yet Competent”. It doesn’t mean they have failed, it could have been a simple misjudgement over an unexpected situation.
Use this as a learning experience. If you can, next time work under the guidance of a mentor so that you can gain more confidence.
MAINTAINING YOUR ACCREDITATION
On the day you are assessed as Competent, is the date your accreditation becomes active. It remains active for 4 years. After 4 years you are required to re-accredit.
See the page How to maintain your Accreditation for full details of the Points process in getting re-accredited.
INTRODUCTION COURSE (optional)
You are welcome to do theΒ Technical Officials – Introduction Course:
Not mandatory, but advisable so you get an overview of the Officiating Process!
* to get an overview of all the units available to technical officials,Β
* some information about competency based training,
* and show you the pathway in the National Officiating Accreditation Program.
Introduction Course: (click to see drop down list)
- Login to the
Swimming Australia Online Learning Portal - Select
Technical Officials – Introduction Course
VIDEO
Watch this video to observe how Swimming Officials performing their job at a National Swimming Meet.
See if you can identify these officials (this is not a test, but you’ll learn more about this later):
Referee, Starter, Check Starters, Timekeepers, Inspectors of turns, Judges of Stroke,
Chief Inspector of Turns, Chief Timekeeper, Reserves
Update: 13 December 2022
John Owen