Officials' Courses

Masters Swimming Australia has its own accredited official’s courses

Both members and non-members can become MSA accredited officials.

Courses may be conducted by individual clubs, groups of clubs, or by the NSW Branch.

What are the pathways to become a Masters Swimming Australia (MSA) Official?

The table below outlines each of the positions of accredited officials and the courses candidates are required to do to become an accredited MSA official. Swimming Australia Ltd (SAL) and overseas officials can fast track the process. Refer to Cross Accreditation and Re-accreditation document at beginning of TECHNICAL section on the National website

What if our club doesn’t have enough people to run a course?

Individuals or Club Secretaries should contact the NSW Training Coordinator, Di Partridge, by email at officialstraining@mastersswimmingnsw.org.au with full details (name, club and course(s) required). This information can then be used to combine groups to make viable courses.

When Clubs wish to organise an Officials’ Course

Clubs will provide assistance to the NSW Training Coordinator by appointing a Course Coordinator, to be the liaison between the club and the Branch.

 
The Course Coordinator’s role is to:

• Encourage candidates to do courses.
• Explain to candidates what is involved especially the pre-requisites that candidates must have completed before attending the planned course(s) [see table on previous page]
• Organise the time, the venue, the Course Presenter and equipment needed to run the courses.
• Email or post completed Application to Conduct Technical Courses to the NSW Training Coordinator at least 3 weeks before the course is to be conducted.
• Ensure candidates have all notes and pre-reading materials at least one week before the course. The notes are available on the website at Technical.
• After the course check that candidates are doing supervised practical sessions and that these are being recorded on their log sheets.
• On completion of all the tasks on the log sheets, forward all of each candidate’s log sheets to the NSW Training Coordinator.

How to apply for a course.

• Check which notes will be required for the course on the National website under Technical and then download copies of each paper including the log sheet.
• Make a complete set of notes for each of the candidates.
• Complete and send an Application To Conduct Technical Courses form (available on the National website at Information/Forms/Branch Technical forms) via email or post to the NSW Training Coordinator at least 3 weeks before you want to run a course. This form will be forwarded to the National office to register approval for the course.
• When approval is granted, the NSW Training Coordinator will send the Course Coordinator the course approval number. Make sure each candidate writes this number and the date of the course on each of their log sheets.
• The Course Coordinator should also download a copy of the Technical Course Candidate List (available on the National website at Information/Forms/Branch Technical forms) and record on this form each course participants’ details. This form is to be forwarded to the NSW Training Coordinator who will copy it then send the copy to the National Office.

After the Candidates have completed their Practical Work.

• When the candidates have completed all the required competencies shown on their log sheets, the log sheets must be sent to the NSW Training Coordinator to record and file.
• The NSW Training Coordinator will enter the details of candidates who have completed all requirements on an Application for Officials Accreditation form and send this to the National office for approval and issue of accreditations.
• The Branch will forward the accreditations to the appropriate Course Coordinators or present them directly to successful candidates.

Course Presenters.

Course Presenters must be currently accredited in the position for which the course is being delivered. Candidates Papers are available from the website under the Technical button. Presenters Papers are only available from Branch Offices or the National Office.

Candidates will be required to:

• Check that they have completed any pre-requisites for the planned course [see table at beginning of this document].
• Pre-read the Candidate notes and the relevant rules for the position.
• Attend a theoretical course including a role play to review the duties of the position. They will also complete a worksheet which will then be discussed.
• Demonstrate competency in each of the activities listed on the relevant log sheets under direct supervision at a sanctioned swim meet or as required on the log sheets.
• Have their log-sheet completed and signed off by each separate official who supervises them (if 4 supervisors then 4 columns are to be completed and signed off).
  • When the candidates have completed all the required competencies, they must pass all their log sheets to the Club Coordinator or Club Secretary who will send them to the NSW Training Coordinator to record and file.
  • Complete demonstration of Competencies within 12 months of doing the course. In the event of extenuating circumstances preventing this, contact the NSW Training Coordinator.

Supervisors for each position:

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding any of the information above, contact

• The NSW Training Coordinator, the Branch Technical Director (Gary Stutsel) or
• Masters Swimming Australia National Office (03 9682 5666)