Officials

Become an Official

Who We Are

  • Volunteers who ensure safe, fair, and efficient competitions.
  • Apply sport rules across various levels of competitions.
  • Come from diverse backgrounds and ages, including athletes, coaches, parents, and enthusiasts.

Why We Do It

  • Help make young athlete's dreams come true!
  • Staying involved in the sport
  • Social interaction
  • Strong sense of community
  • Skill development

How to Join

  1. Become a BC Athletics Officials Member
  2. Sign up for the Pathway to Level 2
  3. Start Officiating!

Important Info

Officials Management System:

BC Athletics is excited to announce the launch of the Officials Management System in BC! The OMS is a software application which was developed to meet the track & field officials’ data management needs. This 
application is easily accessible, secure, and facilitates the collecting and sharing of that data for officials 
and track & field officials’ managers.

All officials in BC will be expressing their availability for meets through the OMS. If you are not currently registered with the OMS please fill out this form or contact Hailey at hailey.kjaer@bcathletics.org.

Is there incorrect information on your OMS profile? Fill out this form.

Upgrading Clinics:

Are you trying to upgrade your officiating qualifications in 2024? Make sure you are signed up for the required clinic for your discipline! 

Sign up for clinics here!

Unsure what you need to upgrade? Check out the Upgrading tab.

Upgrading

Officials at this level are generalists and have the opportunity to work alongside seasoned officials in all disiplines!

  • Pathway to Level 1: The pathway to Level 1 Official is for those who have not had exposure to the world of athletics through participation as an athlete, coach or parent.
  • Pathway to Level 2: The pathway to Level 2 Official is for those who have any prior experience in athletics (athlete, coach, parent, fan, etc).

Not an official? Sign up here

Level 2 Certification Requirements:

  • Online module 201
  • 1 year experience as an Official (from certification as Level 1)
  • Minimum of 8 sessions
    • 2 Throws
    • 2 Horizontal jumps
    • 2 Vertical jumps
    • 2 Track

Questions about becoming an Official or upgrading to Level 2? Contact the Recruitment Working Group here!

Find out more about officiating disiplines here!

Officials at this level will be able to act as the “Chief” for events such as track and field club meets, school meets and other meets up to a Provincial level championship. They will also be eligible to officiate at National level championships such as the Canadian Track & Field Championships. Officials at this level are specialists in specific disciplines such as starter, vertical jumps judge, throws judge, etc. Information on the disciplines and the advancement requirements can be found in the National Officials Committee Upgrading Criteria document.

Level 3 Certification Requirements:

  • Successful completion of the Level 3 clinic on the specific discipline and the take home assignment.
  • At least one year of service as a Level 2 official.
  • 16 credits in the discipline for which the upgrading is requested since upgrading to Level 2—4 of which must be Provincial or higher level meets and 8 of which must be performing as a Chief, Assistant Chief or Section Head.
  • Successful completion of the NOC open book exam on the rules in the World Athletics Rule Book with a mark of at least 80%.  Please send a screenshot of your finished exam to hailey.kjaer@bcathletics.org!
  • Completion of one practical evaluation by a Provincial Evaluator.

Want to upgrade? Complete this form!

Contact the Officials Upgrading Coordinator here! 

Officials at this level will act as the Chief at a National Championship, qualifier for a national championship and/or a meet involving para-athletes at venues inside and outside of B.C. They will also be eligible to officiate at international level meets.

Level 4 Certification Requirements:

  • 24 credits working as a Chief or Assistant Chief in the specific discipline. Experience requirements are listed in the National Officials Committee Upgrading Criteria document. Requirements include at least 2 credits at an indoor meet.
  • Successful completion of a National clinic and take home assignment in the discipline.
  • Successful completion of the NOC open book exam on the rules in the World Para Athletics Rule Book with a mark of at least 80%. Please send your completed exam answer sheet to hailey.kjaer@bcathletics.org!
  • Completion of two practical evaluations by a National Evaluator. Evaluations are defined in the National Officials Committee Upgrading Criteria document. Requirements include being evaluated in all events or tasks within the discipline.
  • 2 years’ service since the last upgrading in the discipline.

Want to upgrade? Complete this form!

Contact the Officials Upgrading Coordinator here! 

NOTE: Upgrades to Level 4 are determined, evaluated and approved by the National Officials Committee.

Officials at this level will act as the Chief, at all meets including international level meets. These meets typically have more complexity in terms of international athletes (e.g., multiple languages), media involvement and involvement of international officials. Leadership and management skills are the predominate skills required at this level as well as the ability to proactively identify issues and address appropriately to minimize their impact.

Level 5 Certification Requirements:

  • 36 credits working as a Chief or Assistant Chief in the specific discipline since obtaining level 4. Experience requirements are listed in the National Officials Committee Upgrading Criteria document. Requirements include at least 2 credits at an indoor meet.
  • Completion of two practical evaluations by a National Evaluator. Evaluations are defined in the National Officials Committee Upgrading Criteria document. Requirements include being evaluated in all events or tasks within the discipline.
  • 3 years’ service since obtaining Level 4 in the discipline requested.
  • Having attended an activity such as a webinar, rules update or clinic.

Want to upgrade? Complete this form!

Contact the Officials Upgrading Coordinator here! 

NOTE: Upgrades to Level 5 are determined, evaluated and approved by the National Officials Committee.

Leadership Opportunities

Clinicians, Evaluators, Mentors

Overview

The Officials Certification Program, designed and maintained by Athletics Canada-National Officials Committee requires evaluators, clinicians and mentors to support the development of officials through the certification pathway. Information on becoming an evaluator, clinician and/or mentor is contained below.

Evaluator (Level 3)

Evaluators play a key role in the Athletics Canada-National Officials Committee Certification Program for officials by confirming an official has met the upgrading requirements of a specific level.

Evaluators (Level 3) will assess an official’s readiness for promotion to Level 3. The Evaluator (Level 3) is someone who can observe and assess an official’s performance for achievement or consistency with the requirements of Level 3 and, using good communication skills, provide honest and effective feedback.

More information on being an Evaluator (Level 3).

Clinician

Clinicians will assist in the delivery of the Athletics Canada-National Officials Committee Clinics Program for officials. The program fosters continuous improvement in officiating through a competency-based model and aims to ensure officials apply the rules in a fair, consistent and positive manner.

The Clinician is someone who has excellent communication skills in disseminating information and delivering in a way that maximizes retention of the key concepts. The Clinician must be able to “teach” a group or an individual through either in-person training or via video conference.

More information on being a Clinician.

Mentor

Mentors will assist in the delivery of the Athletics Canada-National Officials Committee Mentor Program for officials. The Mentor Program anchors the development program for officials through retention of new and existing officials and preparing officials for upgrading.

The Mentor is someone who listens and supports the Mentee become the best official they can be.

Working Groups - 2024

Mentorship

The Mentorship Working Group within the Official Committee is committed to helping each official become the best official they can and desire to be. This group plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining a mentorship program that ensures every official in the province has access to a mentor while encouraging experienced officials to contribute as mentors. The primary goal is to enhance the officiating experience, accelerate the development of officials, and increase retention rates through a robust mentorship framework. Currently, Marnie Benz, Vince Sequeria, Celina Wong, Carol & John Cull, Dawn Driver, and Brian Thomson are members.

Development

The Development Working Group within the Official Committee is at the forefront of nurturing and advancing the skills of officials along the officiating pathway from Level 3 to Level 5. This group is responsible for coordinating essential clinics, managing the upgrading process, and ensuring officials possess the necessary soft skills for success. The role involves close collaboration with other working groups, particularly the Mentorship Working Group, to provide comprehensive support for officials at every stage of their development. Currently, Bill Koch, Wayne and Cheryl Elke are members.

Recruitment

The Recruitment Working Group within the Official Committee plays a pivotal role in expanding and nurturing the pool of new officials for our organization. This group is dedicated to identifying, recruiting, and supporting new officials to Level 2, ensuring they feel welcomed, engaged, and empowered within the community. The primary focus is on building a diverse and skilled team of new officials while fostering a positive and inclusive environment. Currently, Debbie Foote, Lanie Man, and Cathy Carr are members.

​Regional Development Coordinators - 2024

Name Region Email
Carol Cull Lower Mainland (Zones 3,4,5)  johncull@telus.net
John Cull Lower Mainland (Zones 3,4,5) johncull@telus.net
Todd Blumel  Vancouver Island (Zone 6) toddler@shaw.ca
Vince Sequeira Vancouver Island (Zone 6) vince.sequeira@shaw.ca
Daniel Elke Okanagan/Kootenays (Zones 1,2) daniel.elke@me.com
Joan Harris

Northern BC  (Zones 7,8)

jpcider62@gmail.com

Admin Forms & Expense Claims

Expenses

Member officials can claim reimbursement for authorized event travel and meet supplies. Local travel expenses do not need approval. Out-of-Region travel requires Officials Committee approval. Eligibility for reimbursement necessitates at least 4-6 hours of event work. Officials cannot claim travel expenses if they are coaching, parenting, or competing in the meet. Carpooling is encouraged. Provide a rationale for individual travel if others are attending the same meet.

Reimbursement rates: (Updated 4/8/22) 

Local travel:                $.35 per kilometer,  $.45 for a carpool

To another Region:     $.25 per kilometer,  $.30 for a carpool

Some general rules for claiming expenses:

  1. claims will only be paid for current BC Athletics members
  2. claims must be on the printable form (pdf) or the  Download fillable form
  3. claims must be submitted within 30 days to John Cull for approval
  4. receipts must be submitted
  5. list specific events (meets) and any members of the car-pool
  6. do not claim for meals...eat whatever is provided at the event

Filling out the forms

Steps to fill out the Printable Form (PDF)

  1. Print the form
  2. Fill in the following sections(blue) by hand:
    • Personal information and address
    • Date and name of the event
    • Departure point (or indicate “home” if departing from your home address)
    • Location of the event (or name of stadium)
    • Total Kilometers
    • Ferry, tolls
      • The rest, (gst applicable rate etc.) will be filled in by the Officials Committee
  3. Attach receipts if claiming for ferry fares or tolls
  4. Scan and e-mail, or post to John Cull  with attachments or mail to John Cull

Steps to fill out the Fill-in form (Excel)

  1. Download and save the form to your computer
  2. Open the form in Excel or compatible program
  3. Fill in the following sections (blue) :
    • Personal information and address
    • Date and name of the event
    • Departure point (or indicate “home” if departing from your home address)
    • Location of the event (or name of stadium)
    • Total Kilometers
    • Ferry, tolls
      • The rest, (gst applicable rate etc.) will be filled in by the Officials Committee
  4. Save the file and name it - Your Last Name, First Name - amount of claim - ie; Doe, Jane - $74.50
  5. Send the file with scans of receipts by e-mail as attachments to John Cull 

Record Card

Event Feedback

Misc

Resources & Technical Info

Rule Books:

Other Rule Books:

Mentorship Resources

 

Quick Guides for Community Level Officials:

The BC Athletics Officials Committee, along with senior officials, has developed a series of Quick Guides aimed at aiding new officials and host organizing committees in achieving a more uniform and professional standard of officiating for track and field meets.

Acknowledging the scarcity of accredited officials, the committee understands that club or school volunteers may sometimes find themselves officiating without formal training or guidance. Hence, the committee advocates for the widespread adoption of these guidelines by all host organizing committees. By providing meet volunteers with copies of both the decorum guidelines and the specific event guidelines, host organizing committees can elevate the quality of their meets.

General:

Track:

Field:

Throws:

Jumps:

Professional Development

General

Technical

Track:

Umpire forms

Race Walk Forms

Field:

Para Training:

General Information

Information in this section is intended for Meet Organizing Committee members. BC Athletics Officials are available to advise at any stage of the development process, and are willing to serve on organizing committees as technical advisors. We also recommend that Host Organizing Committees make use of the Meet Director's Manual - updated 9/30/19The Organizing Committee itself is responsible for:

  • entries and results
  • assembly and organization of equipment (see T&F Meet site preparation in left menu)
  • stadium booking and management
  • obtaining a sanction for the meet
  • development of a competition schedule
  • hosting and liaison for officials (see below)

More info:

Other Technical resources