Become a Track & Field Official
A track and field official is the person who:
- Fires the gun to start a race
- Measures the length of a discus throw
- Peers at the computer screen to determine who crossed the line first in a “blanket finish”
- Raises a red flag when a long jumper leaves a spike mark in the plasticine board
- Replaces the bar in the high jump
- Keeps track of how many laps each runner has completed
- Records each successful and failed attempt in the pole vault
- Makes sure each runner is in the correct lane before the start of a race
- Writes up a report if the runner does not stay in that assigned lane or cuts a corner around the bend
- Decides whether the javelin landed tip first or flat
- Performs any number of other tasks that are too numerous to mention
Because so many officials are needed at a track and field meet, we are always looking for more people to get involved!
Some of the many rewards for being an official include:
- Working alongside a great group of fellow officials
- Being part of a team that ensures athletes compete under conditions that are fair, equal and safe
- Seeing athletes develop and achieve their full potential
- Extending and building on your knowledge of the sport
- Having the opportunity to travel to meets within the province and outside New Brunswick
and perhaps down the road…
- Having the opportunity to work at major international events such as the Commonwealth Games or even the Olympic Games.
If you would like to become an official, here’s how to get started:
- Offer to help out whenever you are at a meet.
- Tell the meet officials’ coordinator or one of the officials of your interest and willingness to become involved.
- Contact Athletics New Brunswick, by phone at: (506) 855-5003 or by email at anb@anb.ca.
- Do all three of the above.
Then:
- Complete the officials’ registration form to ensure that you must have insurance coverage at a meet. This form must be completed each year.
- Work at a meet.
- Attend an introductory clinic. These clinics, which are scheduled on a regular basis and according to demand, provide an overview of the different events and will introduce you to various tasks performed by officials.
Points to keep in mind:
- Make sure that you have marked off the “graded official” box on the registration form. You will then be on the Athletics New Brunswick mailing list to receive newsletters and other information.
- Keep good records. Use your meet record card to record the date, name and location of the meet, the number of hours you worked and at what position – e.g. long jump judge, umpire, timer, etc. Have your card signed by the referee or the chief of the event to verify your attendance.
- At the end of the indoor and outdoor seasons make a copy of your card for your own records and forward the original to the Athletics New Brunswick office.
A grading system is in place to encourage track and field officials to build on their knowledge and increase their experience. The Athletics New Brunswick Officials’ Committee handles the first three levels – from the introductory stage through to Level 3 – while the National Officials’ Committee co-ordinated the further training and development of officials to Level 4 and 5.
Volunteers are the backbone of our sport!
Without volunteers, the various events at a meet could not take place. Please support our athletes and give something of yourself to the community. Attend an officials’ clinic and volunteer to help out at a meet. You will find your involvement satisfying and rewarding.
Contact Information
Athletics New Brunswick
Julia Loparco
Tel.: (506)-608-1175 (C)
Email: julialoparco5@gmail.com
Website: www.anb.ca
Provincial Upgrading Requirements
To become a Level 1 official, you must have:
- earned six event credits, preferably in more than one discipline – up to four hours at a meet will give you one credit, four to eight hours entitles you to two credits
- attended an introductory clinic
Te become a Level 2 official, you must have:
- earned 12 event credits, six in track and six in field, since upgrading to Level 1
- completed six months of service as a Level 1 official
- passed the open-book exam with a mark of 80 percent or higher
- received an evaluation consultation from your chief
To become a Level 3 official, you must have:
- earned 16 event credits
- attended a clinic in the discipline requested
- written the national open book exam and obtained a mark of at least 80 percent
- completed one year of service as a Level 2 official
- received two written evaluations