Get Involved | Officials

Officials

Lifesaving Sport Officials

Introduction

Welcome to the Officials section of the website. Within this section you will find information on how to become and progress as an official, information on officials updates and links to relevant documents and websites.

Officiating is essential to Lifesaving Sport. Without the support of dedicated individual officials who give up their time , events simply would not happen.

Officiating Pathway	Timekeeper's Award	Branch Level Award	Resquest a Course
College of Referees	Officiating News	Sports Officials UK	Documents & Downloads

Officiating Pathway

To practice as an Official (all levels above Timekeeper) it is a requirement that your Lifesaving Instructor status is current (this included holding a current Life Support 3, or equivalent) and you have individual RLSS UK membership.

Official Qualification	Requirements	Pre-requisites
International A	Application to the College of Referees	International B Official, Lifesaving Instructor (Or equivalent), Life Support 3 (or equivalent), individual membership of RLSS UK
International B	Successful completion of an International Officials course and an application to the College of Referees.	National Level Official, Lifesaving Instructor (Or equivalent), Life Support 3 (or equivalent), individual membership of RLSS UK
International C / National	Successful completion of National Level Course	Regional Level Official with three years experience, Lifesaving Instructor (Or equivalent), Life Support 3 (or equivalent), individual membership of RLSS UK
Regional	Successful completion of Regional Level Course	Branch Level Official with experience, Lifesaving Instructor (Or equivalent), Life Support 3 (or equivalent), individual membership of RLSS UK
Branch	Successful completion of Branch Level Course	Lifesaving Instructor (Or equivalent), Life Support 3 (or equivalent), individual membership of RLSS UK
Timekeeper	Completion of Timekeeper Award	Minimum Age 12yrs

Timekeeper's Award

This course will cover practical aspects of what is required of a Timekeeper by means of a short theory session followed by a virtual practical session. The course is designed to equip candidates with the necessary skills to for fill the role of a timekeeper at lifesaving sport events.

Course Content

This course covers the role of timekeeper, reporting for duty, procedures for reporting a time, determining an official manual time, electronic timing equipment, split taking, back up button, bells & whistles and understanding of role of a chief timekeeper.

Pre-requisites

The minimum recommended age for candidates to undertake this training, is 12years, there are no other pre-requisites.

It is recommend that timekeepers are registered members of a club affiliated to RLSS UK, or individual members of RLSS UK.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Timekeeper

The role of the timekeeper is to measure the time of a competitor’s performance, this is achieved by accurately determining the time it takes the competitor to cover the distance of the event.

Who can lead the course?

Any RLSS UK Instructor (with the exception of Assistant Instructor)
ASA Level Two Teachers and Coaches
Sports Leader UK Instructors
School Teachers
Other responsible adults with suitable qualifications (Please contact River House)

Instructor and candidate packs available from Lifesavers Direct

Timekeepers Award Leaflet (433.51 kB)

Branch Level Official

This course will cover practical aspects of what is required of an official by means of a short theory session followed by a virtual practical session. It is run over one day or two sessions and involves a theory and practical element. On completion of the course, assessment and shadowing participants will be able to officiate at events in their local area.

Course Content

The course covers the structure and purpose of Lifesaving Sport, the Officiating structure, applying laws / rules of Lifesaving Sport while managing and ensuring the well being of competitors.

Pre-requisites

The minimum pre-requisites are Lifesaving Instructor status (or higher) including Life Support 3 (or equivalent).

Officials are required to be individual members of RLSS UK.

Who can lead the course?

The College of Referees appoints tutors for officiating courses.

For more information on how to become a tutor please contact the College of Referees.

Attending a Course?

Upcoming courses are listed in the course finder section of the website.

To set up a course in your area, simply complete the RLSS UK Officiating Course Application Form (1.21 MB) and return to the College of Referees.

College of Referees

Introduction to the College of Referees

Composition

The College of Referees executive comprises a Convener, three Vice-Conveners, one representing Speed referees, one representing Open Water referees, and one representing referees in Simulated Emergency Response.

The College of Referees will:

Ensure that the election and appointment of the executive board is fair and transparent
Fulfil the role of advisory body for the application of the rules for the sport of
lifesaving in the UK
Keep the rules updated, fair and where appropriate in line with ILS
Formulate the rules and regulations for RLSS UK Nationally recognised Championships
Report to the RLSS UK Management Board through the NSRC
Provide the core level of judging skill
Ensure that the educational pathway meets the needs of the organisation and criteria set by National Occupational Standards and other Governmental agencies
Ensure the appointment of officials meets the principle of equality of opportunity
Ensure the training and appointment of officials’ tutors
Update the members of the College of Referees as required to ensure the currency / validity of their qualification
Respond to requests for officiating courses by identifying and appointing course tutors
Organise officiating courses where there is a geographic need
Identify and maintain pathway for tutors to deliver the officiating programme
Define and manage an evaluation system that can assess the performance of officials and guide their ongoing development. This can include downgrade as well as advancement
Communicate with college members in an effective manner
Lobby ILS to ensure that officials at all ILS events are qualified
to recognised standards
Ensure that only qualified RLSS UK officials are recommended
for international duty

There are three levels of membership:

Associate members – Anyone with an RLSS UK officiating award (non-voting) – Branch Level 1 Officials

Member – Regional level Referee (non-voting) – (Regional Officials; any discipline)

Full Member – National and International level Referees (voting rights) – (National and International Officials;any discipline)

Membership to the College of Referees is as a matter of right, if you have the qualification you are a member.

NB: Don’t forget that your TA or Lifesaving Instructor status must be current for you to use your officiating award; this means that you must have a Life Support 3 (or equivalent). Please check with RLSS UK should you be unsure of your qualification expiry date.

RLSS UK Officiating News

College of Referees Newsletter June 2013

Lifesavers 76: Rescue 2010 An Officials Diary

Lifesavers No_76_Rescue_2010_-_An_Officials_Diary

Lifesavers 79: Lifesaving Sport Officials and Referees

Lifesavers No_79_Lifesaving_Sport_Officials_and_Referees_P1_Page_1

Lifesavers No_79_Lifesaving_Sport_Officials_and_Refereesp2_Page_1

Sports Officials UK

Sports Officials UK (SOUK) is recognised as the organisation responsible for representing and supporting officials across all sports in the UK. SOUK is a group of representatives from a number of NGBs who are all responsible for the training education and development of officials within their given sport. SOUK was formed to address some of the common problems and recruitment issues encountered by sports and share examples of good practice in the relation to the training and development of referees, umpires, stewards and judges.

Aims

To constitute a forum where all national governing bodies and representative bodies of sport may be represented and may collectively or through special groups where appropriate formulate and promote measures to improve and develop sports officiating.
To support the work of specialist officiating bodies and bring them together with other interested organisations.
To promote, encourage and extend the officiating of sport throughout the United Kingdom including (but not limited to) the recruitment, administration and training of match officials and its development at all levels, including Schools, and at all youth levels.
To act as a consultative body to Sports Councils, Sport England, Sport and Recreation Alliance and other representative or public bodies concerned or interested in officiating.