World Athletics National Athletics Referee Program

Love sport? Earn SACE credits for it!

The World Athletics (WA) National Athletics Referee Program (NAR) is a Community Learning program approved by the SACE board. Upon completion of the program, you will earn 10 Stage 1 SACE credits.

This program aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop personal skills that include managing both groups of people as well as individuals, leadership on the sports field and in general life and communication with a diverse community across all age groups. It is also the opportunity to begin a lifelong career in athletics officiating which can support local communities all the way up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The program is open to all high school students, no prior athletics background required!

Program Details

Students will be required to complete the Community Officiating Essential Skills Course (Australian Sports Commission) and National Athletics Referee Program (World Athletics), which will provide a knowledge framework to prepare the individual to officiate at Athletics events in Adelaide and across Australia. These courses both have an online theory component along with the NAR having an in-person practical component to ensure students not only have the knowledge of officiating but can apply it as well. Students will also be required to undertake the Safeguarding Children & Young people in Sport (Sport Integrity Australia) course and obtain their Working With Children Check.

Further information about athletics officiating can be found via the Australian Athletics website: https://www.athletics.com.au/participant-hub/officials/

What to Expect

Community Officiating Essential Skills Course online modules

World Athletics NAR online education modules

4 x 3 hr group sessions reinforcing the on-line learning with real world examples and hands on practice (plus an hour for planning and reflection)

4 x 3 hr officiating in competition settings under supervision (plus an hour planning and reflection)

3 x 5 hr officiating at school carnivals/interclub competition (plus an hour planning and reflection)

2 x 5 hr officiating at State Championships (plus an hour planning and reflection)

Outcomes

Students will be required upon completion of this course to demonstrate an understanding of the laws of Athletics and how to apply them practically at athletics events. They will learn the theoretical and practical requirements in a range of different athletics disciplines necessary to be able to successfully conduct athletics events from the technical official perspective.