Post on 31-Mar-2015
Sports Officials CanadaConference ’13
Karen ButcherSkate Canada Official
Best PracticesTraining and Recruiting Officials
Have the right official in the right place at the right time with appropriate skills, knowledge, and motivation to do the job.
Talent Management for officials
AcquireDevelopRetainMobilizeMonitor / ReportExit / Retirement
Acquiring TalentHow many officials are needed?
Different types of officials.Different numbers for different levels.Different needs depending on the city/province.
What competencies should officials have?
How do you make officiating inviting?
How are you going to recognize/reward?
CompetenciesTechnical DeportmentCommunicationLeadershipEvent management
Using competenciesTECHNICALBefore the event
Gather all tools neededRefresh memory
During the eventNotetakingDuties
After the eventMaking results officialAnswering questions
Attracting TalentVolunteers – no payEducation – most athletes think of coaching
Scholarships Advertise / Information
Skate Canada website / Section websitesMentoring – encouragementPolicies
Officials Code of EthicsOfficials’ Child Care
Word of Mouth
So you want to be an official…Would I be a good official? A sincere desire to be of service to the sport. Ability to make an independent decision. Ability to handle stress. Knowledge of the sport.
Are there any basic requirements before I get started? Minimum age. Sport Association membership.
Do I have to be a really good athlete to be an official? Ability as an athlete is not in itself the measure of officiating ability.
Will I get paid? Reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, room and
meals at test sessions and competitions.
PoliciesCode of EthicsLinks the officials role to the Skate Canada
MissionOfficials are representatives of Skate Canada.Conduct themselves in a manner befitting
the privelege.Responsible for seeing the rules/policies are
observed.Standards of Conduct
Maintain technical knowledgeMaintain objectivity and integrityShare knowledge with skaters, coaches,
parents, other officialsDeclare a conflict of interest
Policies (continued)Child CareNo elderly, pets.Under 15 years of age.Only at national level events.Must provide receipts.Limits ($30 per day 1st child, $10 per
additional child).
Many provincial/local events organize babysitting on-site.
DeportmentExpected standard of conductDress Code
ProfessionalCost
InformationTravel claimsHotels
Double occupancyDress codeHospitality
Skate Canada OfficalsOfficials are a critical part of our organization and most have been former skaters and or coaches. They make test days and competitions happen and have spent years being trained to play their role within our sport. Like the coaches, they are passionate about skating and can be a great guide and support for skaters in the clubs.
Becoming a Figure Skating Judge/EvaluatorJudges are former skaters. Individuals interested in
being a judge must attend a seminar, trial judge and pass a written and video identification exam at each level. Each discipline of skating (singles, pair, dance and synchro) requires separate training.
Competitive JudgingSection Judge (Provincial Level) A judge begins at the Inter-club and advances to the Senior Sectional
level. Progress from one level to the next is determined by the judge's activity, success at the previous level, attendance at training seminars, passing the appropriate written exam and technical knowledge.
Canadian Judge (National Level) To qualify as a Canadian Championship judge, judges must have been a
Senior Sectional Championship Judge for at least one year and have judged successfully in at least two Sectional Championships and one Challenge Championship, attended training clinics and passed exams.
International Judge A judge may be nominated to become an International judge after being a
Canadian Championship judge for at least two years, passed the appropriate Skate Canada examinations and attended an international seminar. International judges must be less than 50 years old when first appointed and retirement is mandatory at age 70.
Become a Skate Canada JudgeSeminars and Clinics for provide learning.
The highly skilled facilitators are also active Skate Canada officials.
Candidates, who wish to become qualified to judge, must attend Skate Canada approved clinics, trial judge and pass both a written and video identification exam at each level. Each discipline of skating, singles, pair, dance and synchronized skating requires individualized training.
SelectionPublishEligibilityCriteriaDecision Making AuthorityAnnouncementAppeals
CommitteesNational LevelOfficials Learning and Development
CommitteeOfficials Assignment and Promotion
Committee
Section LevelJudges Committee
Primary Judge ManualWhat is a judge.Who can judge.What is judging all about.Mechanics of judging.Recording.Exercises.Scheduling.
Clinics/SeminarsLed by experienced facilitators.Need a favourable report from the leader.Often held at an event – opportunity to trial
judge.If not, videos can be used as simulation.
Opportunity to network, learn from each other, form friendships.
On-line pilots.Reduce cost and travel time.
On-Line Training“But don’t you miss the face-to-face contact with the
judges? Do the judges learn as much as at a face-to-face clinic? How do you know if they are really learning/able to judge?
The learning model is similar to an adult learning course at a college or university than attending a 1 or 2 day seminar.
It is delivered entirely online and has both synchronous components (every one on-line at the same time) and asynchronous components (individual self-paced activities using written and visual materials).
The e-learning format allows for the on-going creation of materials targeted to the needs of the participants.
Advantages / Lessons LearnedE-learning can be a powerful and effective environment for
training, especially when there are either very few or no athletes in a region.
Reduced spending on travel. Access to online courses is possible from anywhere.Possible to break into manageable sessions instead of packing
everything into one or two days.The moderators were critical in creating a community of learners. Participants took responsibility for their own progress. Some of the components of the course could be used as stand-
alone modules for the continuing education of judges already qualified.
The multiple delivery platforms (Dropbox, Facebook, YouTube, WebEx, Skype, live-streaming) carry a very heavy administrative load.
Train additional moderators in online instructional methods.
Trial JudgingOpportunity to test your skills
LiveVideo
Feedback
MentoringAssignedUnofficial Networking
Exam / TestsCompleted when ready.Mailed in.Skill identification
International
RecognitionThank you
Token of appreciation
Tax implications
Questions?