The Club has grown considerably over the last few years, and we are always looking for new volunteers to ensure the club continues to run efficiently.
Please speak to any of our coaches or volunteers on a training night if you want to get involved or contact us through our website.
What is an Official?
Technical Officials are a vital part of the sport of athletics and running. Being at the heart of events Officials can be the friendly smile, the encouraging voice, and the supporting
influence to inspire and encourage the next generation of athletes to progress within the sport. And ultimately competitions cannot happen without Officials.
VoAAC qualified Officials are invaluable members of our volunteer team. We cannot enter teams into league matches without also taking qualified Officials with us on the day. And if we do not have the correct number of officials with us at a match, then often the team is penalised by having points deducted from their score.
Becoming an Official
If you have an interest in athletics yourself and want to get involved in officiating at competitions as a hobby, seeing the action up close. If you are an athlete over 16 years of age, or an ex-athlete, who would like to give back to the sport. Or if you are a parent who accompanies an athlete to YDL or SAL league matches and other competitions and would like to get involved during what can otherwise be a long day at the event. We will send you on a course to attain a Level 1 Track Official or Timekeeper or Field Official qualification through England Athletics, which the club will fully fund. A DBS check will be required. You will also need to complete self-paced online England Athletics Safeguarding and Health and Safety modules within the course. A VoAAC officials t-shirt is provided.
If you find that you are enjoying being a Level 1 Official and would like to progress and help us by becoming a Level 2 track & field judge, timekeeper or even a starter, please discuss this with us and we can get you onto the right course. These are all critical roles that need to be filled on competition days.
Listen to a Technical Official explain how they got involved.
Level 1 Field Judge
Who should go on this course? Anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in Officiating within the field events. This course will cover all jumping and throwing events.
What will I learn? Delivered as a four-hour course (can be split across multiple days) you will learn:
- To be able to follow a duty sheet
- To be able to list field events and the various roles covered
- To understand and describe Health and Safety issues in Field officiating
- Application of the rules surrounding field officiating
- Ability to present the result card accurately.
For more information click here.
Level 1 Track Judge
Who should go on this course? Anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in officiating the track events and learning how to take finishing positions and how to report any racing incidents. This course covers all track events sprints, hurdles, Steeplechase, distance events and relays.
What will I learn? This course will last 2.5 hours (can be split across multiple days) you will learn:
- How to work as part of a team of track officials at athletics meetings and carry out the duties of a Track Judge/Umpire
- Knowing what equipment, you need to have with you at athletics meetings to enable you to carry out your duties throughout the meeting
- Understand what a Track Judge/Umpire should record in relation to what is seen without being influenced by anyone else
- To have a basic knowledge of the track markings and particularly the finishing line (how to judge the finish) and lane lines
- To carry out the basic duties such as – judging, lap board and bell, break line, relay take over judge, hurdle observation, umpiring for observing running out of lane or impeding other athletes and what these involve.
For more information click here
Level 1 Timekeeper
Who should go on this course? Anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in timing at Track & Field or Cross-Country Competitions including sprints, hurdles and relays.
What will I learn? This three-hour course (can be split across multiple days), you will learn:
- The appropriate equipment and clothing to bring to a meeting
- How to take appropriate times accurately and understand some of the reasons for inaccuracy
- Understand how to report times to chief timekeeper
- Other duties Timekeepers may be required to do
- Understand how a Timekeeper works as part of a team.
For more information click here.
Level 2 Official
Having completed all steps at Level 1 officials can progress onto Level 2.
Requirements:
- Minimum of 10 practical experiences since Level 1 qualification
- Record of experience
- Experiences across all field events (Field only)
- Discipline feedback sheet(s)
- Level 2 questions
- Submit documents.
For more information on the Track & Field pathway click here.