Officials play a vital role in every sport. Sporting competitions are unable to function without them.
Internal “club officials” such as team managers, ground managers, registrars etc. are vital to the day to day operations of a club during training and competition and they ensure efficient organisation and administration. State Sporting Organisations should be the first contact for resources to assist these officials.
Competition officiating is a challenging role and, unfortunately, there are times when these officials are subjected to harassment and abuse. A good official can positively influence a player’s experience and enjoyment of sport by ensuring their approach is in line with the aims of the competition.
To help understand the role of an official, there are many online resources available, including from your parent body or affiliate.
More information
Your state or national body is a good first port of call, with many useful officiating sections available online.
- Sport Australia – coach and official’s resources, including online training
- Sport Australia Sporting Schools – online training resources for coaches
- Sports Medicine Australia can help educate you on a range of sports injury and safety topics, with fact sheets, advice and training.
- Play by the Rules has useful resources on risk management, child protection, harassment and complaints management.
- Clearinghouse for Sport can help connect sports people to a world of ideas, experience and knowledge.
For more information on becoming an accredited official, contact your State or National Sporting Organisation.
Disclaimer
As with any resource, this does not replace obtaining legal advice on each sport specific requirement and it is recommended you do so.
The information provided in this resource is for your information only. The authors and the NSW Office of Sport accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the information or your reliance upon it.