Officials Training and Registration
Are you interested in becoming a trained official? Do you want to upgrade your official level? Officials Course Level 1 and 2 are now available online for FREE. To access the courses, please follow the link below.
Officials Courses - 101 and 201
To get started on registration, please complete this FORM.
Introduction to Para Athletics for Officials
Did you know that the rules of Para Athletics are almost as identical as those of World Athletics?
Considerations are made to the rules to accommodate athletes functional impairments. For example, an athlete with a vision impairment may use a guide and a tether to run or an athlete with an upper limb difference may use some starting block assistance.
Introduction to Para Athletics
Training Info
OFFICIAL ROLES
| Roles | Description | Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Acts as lead on the start of all races | Duration of Meet |
| Starter Assistant | Assists head starter with starting duties | Duration of Meet |
| Marshalls | Assist with athlete check-in and providing hip numbers. Works with start crew to ensure efficiency of races. | Duration of Meet |
| Umpire | Ensures events are being ran according to the rules, (athletes stepping over lines, impeding others etc.) | Duration of Meet |
| Finish Line Judge | Ensures finish area is in order, assists photo timer when necessary, keeps area moving. | Duration of Meet |
| Lap Counter | Post the remaining number of laps in race, ringing bell on final lap | During all races over 400m |
| Split Reader | Reads times as athletes pass finish line for pacing purposes | During all races over 400m |
| Photo Timing Operator | Operates Finishlynx software, timing and evaluating all races | Duration of Meet |
| Meet Manager Operator | Operates Meet Manager software. Inputs and prints results, makes nessacrry changes in heats/lanes. | Duration of Meet |
| Announcer | Announces upcoming races, meet information, general announcements. | Duration of Meet |
| Set-up | Helping with general setup of equipment such as tables/chairs, tents, high jump equipment, throws sectors and implements, jumps racks and shovels, moving hurdles, blocks etc. | 2-3hours before start of meet |
| Teardown | Helping with the removal of all supplies and equipment used - Tables/chairs, tents, hurdles, blocks, high jump equipment etc. | 2-3hours after conclusion of meet |
| Hurdle and Block Assistant | Assisting with the moving and raising/lowering of hurdles/steeplechase barriers and moving blocks off track | During all hurdles/steeplechase races |
| Jumps Official | Lead on the running of the jumps event. Responsible to ensure event is run according to rules and in an efficient manner | Duration of Horizontal or Vertical jumps events |
| Jumps Assistant | Assists jumps officials in the efficient running of the event, may include tasks such as shovelling/raking the pit, placing of the high jump bar, pulling measuring tape etc. | Duration of Horizontal or Vertical jumps events |
| Throws Official | Lead on the running of the throws event. Responsible to ensure event is run according to rules and in an efficient manner | Duration of Throws events |
| Throws Assistant | Assists throws officials in the efficient running of the event, may include tasks such as pulling measuring tape, retrieving implements, calling competitor names etc. | Duration of Throws events |
Official and Volunteer Services
| Ensures officials and volunteers are looked after during the meet, providing support where needed and bringing food/water when needed | Duration of Meet |
| Registration | Acts as the lead with athletes and teams registering on the day of competition. Collection of money in some cases and handling of bib numbers |
Officials Levels and Pathway
Level 1 and Level 2 trained officials are eligible to upgrade their status to Level 2 and Level 3. This upgrading is based on hours officiated in Nova Scotia and at meets across Canada.
Officials wishing to upgrade to Level 2 or 3 must meet all conditions on the upgrading forms, found below. Upgrading forms can be completed at anytime and sent to athletics@sportnovascotia.ca
Officials may also send a request to ANS for an evaluation and must work as chief official for the discipline being evaluated on.
Upgrading
Officials Rewards
We have implemented a Volunteer and Officials Rewards System (effective November 2022). It is our way of saying thank you to everyone for assisting us during our track and field/cross country events.
Volunteers - $20 gas card per day
- Level 1 Officials - $25 gas card per day plus tshirt
- Level 2 Officials - $30 gas card per day plus tshirt
- Level 3 Officials - $35 gas card plus $30 honorarium per day plus golf shirt and name tag
- Level 4 Officials - $40 gas card plus $40 honorarium per day plus golf shirt, name tag and hat
- Level 5 Officials - $45 gas card plus $50 honorarium per day plus golf shirt, name tag, hat and jacket
*** No $10 meal vouchers will be provided. Those are being replaced by a $10 gas card increase.
**** Officials travelling over 100 km one way (+ or - 10km) for meets will be reimbursed a mileage rate of 0.35cents (effective March 12, 2024) per km. They will NOT be provided extra gas cards.
