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?