Officiating in Australia
Emery Holmik
Peter Topp
Officiating in Australia
Presentation summary
• Background to Officiating in Australia
• National Officiating Program
• Year of the Official outcomes
• ASC research
• Current state of play – What the ASC is doing
• NOAG – NOSP – Framework
• Good practice
• High Performance issues and models
• Future....
Sports Coach and Official Section
Organisational Structure
Emery Holmik
General Manager
Kellie Alexander
Section Administrator
Darlene Harrison
John Armstrong
Natalie Menzies
Manager
High Performance
Manager
Stakeholder Servicing
A/Manager
Learning and Development
Vacant
Sue Jenkins
Senior High
Performance Sports
Consultants
Peter Brown
Darryl Durham
High Performance Sports
Consultants
Antonia Harmer
Peter Topp
Senior Sports
Consultants
Sue Sinclair
Sian Mulholland
Jenni Sutherland
Adam Horner
Sports Consultants
Natalie Menzies
Senior Sports Consultant
Loren Trimble
Ashley Synott
Sports Consultants
Officiating in Australia
Emery Holmik, Manager, Sports Coach and
Official Section, ASC
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From NOP to Now
National Officiating Program
Year of the Official
Research conclusions & considerations
Officiating in Australia
• ASC involvement since 1991 through the
National Officiating Accreditation Program
(NOAS), Codes of Conduct, Harassment Free
Sport Program and Junior Sport Policy
• National Officiating Program established in
1994 – to develop and implement programs to
improve quality, quantity, leadership and status
of officiating
Officiating in Australia
• Australian Bureau of Statistics survey 2002
• 26% decline in officials from 1997 – 2001 –
abuse suggested as significant factor
• Fair Go for Officials – ASC forum 2002 in
consultation with State and Territory
Departments of Sport & Recreation
• Outcomes lead to the “Year of the Official”
campaign in 2003
Officiating in Australia
• Key focus of the YOF was on strategies to
address abuse of officials and change social
attitudes
• Engaged major stakeholders in changing
behaviours campaign
Officiating in Australia
Outcome / Results (Year of the Official)
• Survey 1 in 5 Australians had seen or heard
about YOF
Overall attitudes (survey):
• 81% feel abuse is never acceptable
• 18% believe it is acceptable “sometimes”
• 75% concerned about abuse of officials
Officiating in Australia
Survey Results (Year of the Official)
Perception of change compared with 3 years ago:
• 37% believe there is now more abuse
• 11% believe there is less
• 41% believe there is no change
Officiating in Australia
Australian Sports Commission research into the
Officiating:
• Year of the Official - Time to Respect the
Official – National campaign focussed on
promotion of Officiating – ASC 2004
• Problems and Issues in the Recruitment and
retention of Sports Officials – Graham
Cuskelly & Russell Hoye 2005 - Griffith
University
Officiating in Australia
Some key conclusions:
• Problems in retention of officials, particularly
inexperienced officials at the grass roots level
of sport
• National and State bodies have little influence
in the recruitment and retention of sports
officials at grass roots levels
• The facilities and resources available to
sports officials at the grass roots level are
inadequate
Officiating in Australia
Key conclusions
• There are significant shortcomings in the
training provided for sports officials to deal with
abuse and conflict situations
• The feedback provided to practicing officials at
the grass roots level is generally inadequate
• There is an underlying assumption that all
sports officials are seeking career advancement
Officiating in Australia
Key conclusions
• The skills and abilities of sports officials’
coordinators is a key determinant in the
recruitment, development and retention of
sports officials.
• Sports should attempt to build a stronger and
more positive public image for sports officiating.
Officiating in Australia
Considerations:
• More actively managing the intent of “codes of
conduct”
• Zero tolerance policies with mandatory suspension
guidelines
• The application of consistent and enforceable
sanctions
• The implementation of a de-accreditation policy for
coaches who repeatedly abuse officials
Officiating in Australia
• Recognition of officials through such things as:
 Providing adequate resources for officials including
separate and secure rooms and storage space at all
venues
 Reducing or eliminating out of pocket expenses
associated with training, accreditation and
equipment for officials
 Recognition that officials are integral to positive
sport experiences for players, coaches and
spectators at all levels of sport
Officiating in Australia
 Formal recognition schemes for sports
officials at all levels including regular
opportunities for officials to mix formally and
informally with coaches, players and
administrators
• Sports at all levels should shift from standalone to integrated structures in relation to
sports officiating
Officiating in Australia
Peter Topp, Senior Sports Consultant,
Sports Coach and Official Section
Current state of play
• NOAG – industry reference group
• NOSP
• NOAS
• Initiatives
• Research
• Education & Training
Officiating in Australia
What is the ASC doing?
• National Officiating Scholarship Program
(NOSP) – Designed to enhance the learning
and competence of potential high
performance officials
• Target NSOs to develop, update and re-write
training programs under NOAS
• National Officiating Workshops – Conduct
combined Coaching & Officiating workshops
for NSO & State personnel
Officiating in Australia
• State Coaching & Officiating Centres –
Work closely with State Departments of Sport
to develop Officiating with National and State
Sporting Organisations
• National Officiating Advisory Group
(NOAG) – targeted officiating industry
representatives from sports and other
appropriate bodies to provide strategic input
to the direction of officiating with the ASC
Officiating in Australia
• Officials Managers workshop – work with
NSOs to assist club level individuals to
deliver necessary service to sports
• Junior Officiating Academies – Pilot
Officiating Academies with Clubs / LGAs /
Schools
• Officiating Framework – Assist NSOs in
the development of an Officiating Framework
that will assist in the development of Officials
Officiating in Australia
• Mentor Skills workshops – introduce a
second phase of Mentor development,
targeting Mentor skills of Communication,
Conflict Resolution, Learning Styles, Giving &
Receiving feedback and Emotional
Intelligence
• Presenter & Assessor Skills – Revised
Presenter and Assessor training focusing on
practical application not theory
Officiating in Australia
• On-line General Principles – ASC General
Principles available via the web:
• More self-reflection– ‘Learning Journal’ at the start and end of each
module
• Layered approach to info – case study, model answer, quick tip and
dig deeper
• Greater use of video - 5 video segments. Two new videos have
been developed on Communication and Risk mgmt.
• 360 degree risk assessment activity
• Showing the ‘human’ side to officials through images, audio and
related activities
Officiating in Australia
• On-line General Principles – ASC General
Principles available via the web:
Officiating in Australia
• On-line General Principles – ASC General
Principles available via the web:
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Course launched in May 08
Enrolments to date: 11,976
Completions to date: 7,579
Officiating in Australia
Good practice examples
• Green Shirt Program – AFL and others Identification of junior/new officials
• Mentoring – Helping guide officials through
• 1800 dial-a-ref – ARL referee recruiting
• Compulsory referee course attendance –
Lacrosse Victoria
• Duty referees – used to help run competitions
Officiating in Australia
Good practice examples
• Whole of sport approach – Umpire Academy
programs – small group of umpires in a
scholarship program
• Ground Managers – Administrators in bright
tops
• “We’re not playing for sheep stations” – AFL
educating parents about behaviour
• Locker room forums – Qld Sport & Recreation
– series of evening forums exchanging ideas
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating
Issues
• Officiating departments in NSOs
• HP development programs
• Resources for officials
• Support for officials – pre, during & post match
• Length of appointments to HP
• Access / control over appointments (age,
politics)
• Role of Official’s coach
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating
Issues
• Official Coach / Assessor / Appointee conflict
• Video role in officiating
• Life / Work (Officiating) balance
• What happens after? (retirement?)
• Players becoming officials
• Research
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating
• Role of the media
• Judiciary role
• Link of high performance to community
officiating
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating examples
AFL
• AFL Umpires list – P/T - 32 central umpires + Boundary & Goal
Umps
• AFL Umpires Department – National Ump Manager & Coach
Basketball
• NBL – P/T contracted
• BA Coach / Assessor
Cricket
• National Umpires Panel – Sheffield Shield
• Emerging Umpires Panel – 12 umpires
• High Performance Umpires (assessment) panel – 4 + Nat Umpires
Manager
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating examples
Football
• 7 referees P/T for A-League
• 21 home based for the Youth league
• W-League
• Referee Assessor group for all referees
Developing high
performance officials
High performance officiating examples
Rugby League
• NRL referees F/T
• NRL Match Officials Group – 5 former NRL refs – Match assess
Rugby Union
• National Elite Panel service 30 refs
• National A Panel – 6 contracted referees – national & international
• National B Panel – 11 referees – Super14 & Major domestic
• National development panel – 13 referees – potential to Super14
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating
From here:
Officiating in Australia
High performance officiating
To here:
Officiating in Australia
Emery Holmik, Manager, Sports
Coach and Official Section, ASC
Future trends and challenges
• International conference
• Officiating Framework
• Brand management
• Treatment of officials
Officiating
Framework
Officiating in Australia
Thanks
Questions?
Emery Holmik
Email
emery.holmik@ausport.gov.au
Peter Topp
peter.topp@ausport.gov.au