Behind every competition…

• Is a community of friends
• Is a place where passion meets camaraderie
• Is the chance to take your love of sport in a new direction
• Is the chance to make a difference
• Is the chance to achieve more than you ever thought possible
• Is a bond of shared experiences
• Is a team of heroes

There is so much more to officiating than first meets the eye.  From developing life-long friendships to being part of a community of like-minded people, officiating really is more than just the rules.  Not to mention the chance to develop both personal and leadership skills and gain brand new experiences.  But first let’s go right back to basics and talk about what is actually involved in officiating.

What is officiating?

Technical officials are the backbone of athletics and running events.  They not only ensure that competition is fair for all, but they also make sure athletes and runners are safe.  In fact, to put it quite simply, without officials there would be no competition. 

For those looking to become a technical official, there are two pathways for you to choose from:

Officiating Track and field pathway

If you are looking to get involved in upcoming track and field events, then this is the pathway for you.  Whether you are interested in starting the race, analysing the finish, measuring the distance of a javelin or being involved with long jump, this pathway has a whole range of disciplines in which you can get involved:

• Assistant Track and Field Official
• Field Judge
• Starter/Starter's Assistant
• Timekeeper
• Track Judge
• Photofinish Official
• Race Walking Official

Officiating Endurance pathway

Despite the name, this pathway does not cover all endurance events.  The endurance pathway is for those looking to officiate at off-track events only i.e. road, fell, hill and cross country events.  It does not include any endurance track events i.e. 800m and upwards (for this you need to be a Track Official).  If this sounds like it could be the path for you, take a look at what is actually involved in this qualification and what an endurance official does, day-in, day-out:

What the officiating community have to say

In our opinion, becoming a technical official is an extremely rewarding and worthwhile experience but don’t just take out word for it!  Read what technical officials Olivia Holbrook, Jean Jackson, Lewis Makey and Debashish Biswas have to say about being involved in athletics and running as an official:

Get involved

There are so many ways to get involved with officiating.  Whether you want to fully immerse yourself in the officiating world, or just give up a few hours on the occasional weekend, the work of our volunteer officials is greatly appreciated.  After all, behind every competition is a group of technical officials!

If you would like to join the community, the first step is to book onto a course of your choice. Visit Athletics Hub to find a course near you and start your officiating journey today.