How do I become an official?

To become an official you have to do the a half-day training course to learn the basics of timekeeping or judging, and then follow that up by logging some practical experience at races or meetings to gain a license. The club pays for the course plus any travel expenses (within normal policy).

What kinds of official are there?

• Timekeeper – the people with the stopwatch who record your times in road or track races
• Track judge – the people who record finishing times in road or track races, and are resonsible for everything else on the track in an athletics meeting such as hurdle height & positions, relay takeovers etc.
• Field judge – those who organise, measure and record field events such as high jump, discus etc.
• Starter/marksman – they organise the start, fire the gun
• Endurance / Road race risk awareness – they organise road races and take responsibility for things specific to events on the road such as traffic management and spectator safety. Note: this discipline requires more course work and more practical experience.

You can find out more on the England Atlhetics website.

Serpentine needs more of all of the above if we are to continue to hold our own races and take part in leagues. We’ve already had to cancel races and had results barred from Power of 10 through lack of officals. If a few more members gained a license and helped out once or twice a year it would make a huge difference! Please consider doing one of the courses below and the club will help you get the experience to gain a license over the next 12 months (most experience is gained at athletics meetings so can’t be gained until next season).

Courses

Timekeeping

Track judging

Field judging

Starter/marksman

Endurance / Risk Awareness

If you’d like to find out more, or book any of these courses please get in touch with me for more details: ihodge@serpentine.org.uk