Get Involved as an Official

All technical officials or parents volunteering as officials require a Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Find out how to apply

One of your club committee members will be able to sign off your application to submit at your closest Australia Post outlet.  

All technical official candidates must complete the free Sport Australia Community Officiating General Principles online course.

Please register and complete this course via Australian Sports Commission.

Once completed please send a copy of your certificate of completion to: officials@wa.swimming.org.au 

Attend a Foundations of Officiating Workshop

The Foundations of Officiating workshop provides participants with the knowledge to confidently participate as a trainee at meets. The workshop further explores the Swimming Australia online modules, outlined below, to assist trainees to put their skills and knowledge into practice:

• Judge of Stroke,
• Clerk of Course,
• Inspector of Turns and; 
• Starter.

Visit the events page to view more upcoming workshops. 

Or Complete Online Modules

Swimming Australia now has eight officiating modules online. If you are interested in starting your accreditation journey in any of the below positions. Click on the links to start learning.

• Click here to access the Clerk of Course or Check Starter courses. 
• Click here to access the Timekeeper, Chief Timekeeper, Judge of Stroke, or Inspector of Turns courses.

Swimming WA Officials Membership 

Once you have completed your online modules or workshop, join up as a Swimming WA Technical Official for us to then connect with you and notify you of upcoming workshops and mentoring opportunities.

New Official

Renewing Official

Note: there is no additional cost for adding this membership type to your profile. 

Please contact Swimming WA at waswim@wa.swimming.org.au with any queries.

Get on Pool Deck

After completing the Online Modules, Trainee Technical Officials are invited to attend club and Swimming WA meets to gain practical experience in the relevant positions from the module and workshop they undertook.

Nominate for a meet on Swim Central and make a note for us that you are a trainee so we can connect you with a mentor.

The Practical Assessment

All trainees must undertake a practical competency assessment in each of the positions in a “real-world” setting.

Those being assessed for a Referee, Starter, Judge of Stroke, or Inspector of Turns accreditation must complete an oral assessment.

Trainees and Technical Officials can request assessments when they feel they are ready to progress or as Technical Committee/Mentors recommend. Swimming WA will then organise to connect you with a Swimming WA Assessor to conduct the assessments with you.

To organise your practical assessment contact our office: officials@wa.swimming.org.au    

Practical Assessment Guidelines

1. Assessments will only be conducted if the Technical Official is a current Swimming WA member.

2. Assessors must be approved by the Technical Education and Officiating Sub-Committee and must be approved to assess the module requested. Note: a minimum Accreditation of Referee Level 2 is required to assess Inspector of Turn, Judge of Stroke, Referee and Starter.

3. Two (2) practical assessments by two (2) different Assessors are required for each Technical Official Trainee in the following roles, other roles not listed below only require (1) one assessment to be undertaken. Roles requiring two assessments:

• Starter
• Referee
• Judge of Stroke
• Inspector of Turns

Two (2) assessments can occur at one Meet over two different sessions and by two (2) different Assessors. 

• Where there are two (2) differing assessments, the Swimming WA Chief Referee will assess for competency.
• Referee Level 1 and Starter Level 1 are eligible to be signed off at a Swimming WA Club Sanctioned Meet
• Referee Level 2 and Starter Level 2 are only eligible to be signed off at a Swimming WA State Level Meet
• Referee 3 and Starter 3 are only eligible to be signed off at a National Level Meet by an accredited National Assessor

4. The original copy of the assessment and a PDF copy sent by email are to be submitted to the Technical Education and Officiating Sub-Committee, and final approval will be determined by the TEO Sub-Committee. 

Submit to via email to: officials@wa.swimming.org.au 

Once an assessment has been reviewed by the TEO Sub-Committee, the assessed Technical Official will receive a letter with either approval or disapproval status. If the assessment has been approved, the information will be updated on the Swimming Australia (SAL) and Swimming WA systems.

Swimming WA Assessors

The following Swimming WA Referees are approved to assess the following; Referee, Inspector of Turns, Judge of Strokes, Recorder, Starter, Check Starter, Clerk of Course.

If you are interested in becoming an Assessor please provide us with an application via emailing officials@wa.swimming.org.au 

Click below to view the officiating pathway and discover where officiating could take you!