OFFICIATING Vol. 7 | No. 1 | June 2008 | ausport.gov.au AUSTRALIA

Sports accreditation online by Cathy Reid

IN THIS edition The Australian Sports personal contact details or link back to the Commission’s Coaching and national sporting organisation’s database Officiating unit is in the final for that to occur. Coaches and officials will be able to access their accreditation 2 Editorial: Officiating — a great way to development stage of its new status and print off their own certificates. be part of sport internet online service to An integral part of the new approach national sporting organisations, 3 Football refs hit the right pitch is to provide coaches and officials with coaches and officials — Sports additional educational resources to 4 Officials profile: Jacqui Jashari Accreditation Online. keep them up to date with national and international developments. The system provides access to 6 The unfamiliar official out to familiarise Initially individuals will get access to the accreditation and training program the face of umpiring last four years of the publications Sports details, plus a wide range of educational Coach and Officiating Australia. Both these resource material. 7 Online course for officials released resources will be regularly published Colin Lane, General Manager of National online and added to the library of articles 8 State Coaching and Officiating Programs at the Australian Sports that can be searched by category. The Centre contacts Commission, initiated the development of online library will expand to include Sports Accreditation Online and believes other resources such as audio and video it is a strong IT foundation for the future interviews and information. of the National Coaching Accreditation The Coaching and Officiating unit will provide Scheme and the National Officiating six-monthly statistical reports covering Accreditation Scheme. coaches and officials from all sports ‘Sports Accreditation Online will provide involved in the accreditation schemes. valuable information to around 70 Over time this will enable sophisticated national sporting organisations, their state statistical analysis to be undertaken by counterparts and more than 175 000 the Australian Sports Commission and coaches and officials. It will add significant national sporting organisations to gain a benefits to being an accredited coach or better understanding of the trends in official,’ Lane said. these sports. Use of the internet to upload accreditation It is hoped that in the future the data streamlines the system and enables university sector may be able to assist sporting organisations to implement new in that analysis. business systems. This avoids multiple Sports Accreditation Online has been handling of data and reduces the workload developed in partnership with national of both paid staff and volunteers. sporting organisations. It was first ‘National sporting organisations will be raised at the 2006 National Coaching able to stay abreast of their approved and Officiating Directors’ Conference in accreditation programs and the expiry Melbourne and this was followed by a dates for those programs, as well as series of three prototyping sessions over keep track of any programs under review. the next 18 months. Numerous reports will be available to ‘A trial has been underway with four national sporting organisations on the national sporting organisations since number of accredited coaches and January 2008 and this gives us officials they have,’ according to Lane. confidence that it will work when we take One function of Sports Accreditation it out to all sports, coaches and officials in 05067-05 Online enables individuals to update their July this year,’ said Lane. 2 OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1

04137-01 Editorial Officiating – a great way to be part of sport Tony Wynd, Manager, Coaching and Officiating, Australian Sports Commission

Becoming an official is often not Officiating provides opportunities for a conscious decision for most people of all ages to participate in first-time officials. A person will sport. Encouraging juniors to take on an officiating role is increasingly being be asked to help out or sees seen as a positive way to extend their the need to take on a role, and involvement in sport. If juniors are For more information on enrolling in an before they know it they are an actively participating in a sport and cease officiating course, checking your National official. For some, that first-time to compete, they can continue their Officiating Accreditation Scheme status, involvement by officiating, allowing them to updating your contact details, or general experience of officiating has flourish and develop skills that will assist information on officiating in Australia, led them to a rewarding and them outside of sport. visit the Coaching and Officiating web site satisfying officiating career, be it at ausport.gov.au/participating/officials/. at local level or, like the officials Retired athletes can also continue their involvement in sport by making the The Australian Sports Commission is the featured in this newsletter, at transition from athlete to official. When Australian Government body responsible international level. for developing and funding Australian you consider the fitness required for active sport through the implementation of the officials or the criteria for judging events, Australians fill close to one million Government’s sport policy, Australian Sport: many athletes already have some of the roles as referees, umpires, scorers or emerging challenges, new directions. It was skills to become competent officials. established in 1985 and operates under timekeepers according to recent research (ABS Involvement in organised sport and Many people have a keen interest in sport the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989. and one way they can participate is by Its national leadership role is achieved physical activity, 6285.0, April 2007), which means the number of people who officiating. Not having played a sport does through seven operational areas: Australian not preclude people from taking on an Institute of Sport, Sport Performance and officiate is greater than the number of officiating role in that sport. Development, National Sports Programs, people who coach. Community Sport, Corporate Services, Recently I was handed the whistle to Parents will often find themselves Commercial and Facilities, and Finance. trial matches in Australian football. officiating in a sport in which they have The Australian Sports Commission forms I have played and coached footy, but have no background, simply because their part of the Health and Ageing portfolio. only spasmodically filled the umpire’s child is involved and a person is required For general enquiries: role. There were many trial matches that to take on an officiating role. For many, Tel: (02) 6214 1111 day and volunteers were in short supply. this initial experience as an official has Fax: (02) 6251 2680 While my approach may have been a little led them to continue in a sport long after Email: [email protected] unconventional for some onlookers, the their children have moved on. Web site: ausport.gov.au experience reminded me that the role is a It is great to see so many Australians For a complete listing of Australian challenging one. The support of my fellow taking on officiating roles. Regardless of Sports Commission publications, visit volunteer made it a little less stressful how people find their way into officiating, ausport.gov.au/publications/catalogue/. and once we were underway I actually the important thing is that they do. They enjoyed the experience. In the end, the then need support, encouragement and © Australian Sports Commission 2008 chance to get in and have a go was great assistance from other officials to stay in This work is copyright. Apart from any use for me on several levels. I would be more the role. The environment officials operate as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, confident to do it again, but at the same in will impact on their longevity in the no part may be reproduced by any process time it also reminded me that the skills sport. This is an area that we can all work without prior written permission from the and abilities of ‘real’ umpires are generally to improve so as to make it better for all Australian Sports Commission. Requests and under-appreciated. involved. Are your recruits in good hands? enquiries concerning reproduction should be addressed to [email protected]

ISSN 1448-3491

Unless otherwise specified, all images are the property of the Visit the Australian Sports Commission officiating website Australian Sports Commission Produced by Australian Sports Commission ausport.gov.au/participating/officials Publishing staff.

Printed by Union Offset Printers OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1 3 Football refs hit the right pitch by Sharon Phillips

When football referees Tammy elite-league experienced referees, he will Ogston and Mark Shield were need ‘a pretty good helping of luck’. named best referees in the Shield returned from the seminar in Spain Asian region late last year, in time to referee the grand final of the it marked a turning point for Hyundai A-League. The match was marred by an incident in which Central Coast football in Australia. goalkeeper Danny Vukovic was charged with violent conduct for striking Shield Australia only joined the Asian Football after Shield dismissed appeals for a Confederation (AFC) two years ago, and penalty following an apparent handball by Ogston and Shield picked up their awards a Newcastle player. over more than 55 male and 57 female AFC peers. Shield said he was personally ‘gutted’ after the match. ‘I missed it. Obviously if For Shield, the award was a career aapimage I’d seen it I would have given the penalty. I highlight, ‘outside being appointed to believe very few people actually saw it the a World Cup, and a really good thing first time around. We have a split second in terms of cementing the reputation She has seen a lot of changes in her decade at the top of the sport, citing to make decisions. We don’t have the that Australian referees are building’. advantage of seeing it 16 000 times in For Ogston, being named in the same an increase in professionalism and opportunities for referees among them. slow motion replays. I thought I’d refereed category as Shield was surreal. ‘I a good match up until the 93rd minute of nearly had a heart attack. Mark is just ‘When I first started, you might be lucky to do one international a year. Now there the grand final. It does toughen you up a a wonderful referee and has done so bit, which in the long run is a good thing.’ much for men’s football.’ are so many international games, World Cup qualifiers, friendlies ... last year I He said that when he has bad days, he Yet Ogston’s record is no less impressive had 31 weeks reffing. The AFC invests often likes to watch a tape of a France than Shield’s. She has refereed in three a lot of time in women’s refereeing. versus Japan match in St Etienne, France women’s World Cups, the most recent [Australia] going into Asia has definitely in 2003. ‘The moons must have lined up as referee for both the opening and final lifted the game.’ and I just had the best game ever. It’s the matches of the 2007 FIFA Women’s best feeling I’ve ever had on a pitch. It’s World Cup. Mark Shield agrees. ‘Since Australia joined the AFC, it has opened up a lot what keeps you going.’ It is a long way from her first refereeing gig more opportunities for appointments — a Division 6 men’s game in Brisbane throughout the region.’ in 1993 — but her progress towards top- class refereeing appointments has not He, too, has seen many changes since his been without hiccups. Ogston recalls a first international friendly match between ‘friendly’ match in 1996 between Australia New Zealand and Norway in Brisbane and Italy in Sydney that nearly caused in 1997. ‘The way we’re being trained her to give refereeing away. ‘I don’t know now at international level has definitely what was going on, but it just seemed changed. The fitness requirements to that the way the Italians were tackling, qualify mean that you can’t be 50 years they were out to kill Australia. I was cool old and go out for a jog every now and and calm until half time when I went to then.’ In the three-month lead up to his the rooms. I broke down and took off my second World Cup refereeing appointment boots and shirts and told the national in 2006, Shield wore a heart rate monitor coach of referees that if I had to go out so fitness trainers in Belgium could record there again, someone would be killed and his heartbeat. I might not get off the park alive. It took The 34-year-old has just returned from the him 15 minutes to convince me to get FIFA Referees Seminar in Spain as part back out there.’ of the first stage of the 2010 FIFA World This, and many other experiences racked Cup official selection process, where top up on the pitch, is what is tempting referees are tested for physical fitness Ogston towards a move into referee and educational knowledge. instructing. ‘I’ve had a good run and I want His aim is to qualify and then referee a to give something back to the sport ... to high-profile match, but because of the help prepare up-and-coming referees.’ politics of the sport and wealth of older, aapimage 4 OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1 Official profile: jacqui jashari Netball umpire leads the way by Cathy Reid

Striving for excellence rather scene since she began blowing the Fremantle Netball Association — the than aiming for perfection is whistle 15 years ago. people there and the learning environment the philosophy of top Australian ‘To start with it was really hard, but I’d and opportunities they created for me.’ netball umpire Jacqui Jashari. been a player and a coach and had a good At first she did not know about the affiliation with the sport. I knew a lot of pathways that were available. It is a motto that she is now passing the people I umpired and that made it ‘I had no idea that umpiring could on in her role as a mentor for Netball easier, but I still had to earn their respect.’ one day take me around the world to Australia, as part of the Australian She took up umpiring so her club didn’t international events.’ Sports Commission’s National Officiating have to pay for one, and at first she had This has included world championships, Scholarship Program. no great aspirations. world youth games, test matches, the ‘We all make mistakes, but I call them Her first mentor was Faye Gladstone from Trans Tasman Cup and the highlight — “learnings”,’ Jashari said. ‘I work at Fremantle Netball Association. the Commonwealth Games. making less of them each time I umpire.’ ‘She influenced my early umpiring through ‘Just being part of that was fantastic. It Jashari has had a meteoric rise on the encouraging me and always being honest was also great to watch the techniques national and international umpiring with me. I’ll never forget the support from and skills of officials at other sporting Getty Images OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1 5

events to see what they brought to their ‘Like in when we were picked up of my whistle, sending it somersaulting competition. It is always good to learn late to be taken to the court, because they through the air until I caught it with my from other sports.’ had the match time wrong. We arrived ten other hand.’ minutes before the start of a televised Walking onto the court for any Jashari has been officially recognised with match. I had everyone telling me there international match still gives Jashari many awards, including WA Netball Umpire was no time for a warm-up and trying to goosebumps, particularly when the of the Year and the Women SportsWest get me to run onto the court. So it was a national anthems are played. But there Official of the Year, but the highlight was case of being firm and saying I needed at is one game in particular that is etched being named Official of the Year at the least ten minutes. in her memory. 2007–08 ANZ Sports Star Awards. ‘When I did step out the players were on ‘That was really fantastic as it doesn’t ‘The most exciting game I’ve umpired the court, the cameras were rolling and often go to a woman. It was a huge was the bronze medal game at the the coaches were saying, “Where have honour to receive it in front of so many last world championships when you been!” I still did SOPs — with a few sportspeople and officials that I have Jamaica beat England by one goal. The adjustments of course. This kept me always admired.’ atmosphere was intense, the play was relatively calm. exhilarating and the crowd was wild.’ She would not have been able to get ‘As far as the nerves go — it’s about where she has without the support of her However, getting to that level has taken still having them but controlling them family and a great network, particularly a lot of time, effort and sacrifice. — the old “getting the butterflies to mentors such as Chris Burton, Nola fly in formation”. That is more about ‘Initially, I set myself small goals each Goldman and Maureen Boyle. game. If you do that the rest will come.’ belief in yourself, confidence and mental toughness — having the strength to say, Now she’s enjoying being a mentor for the Jashari honed her skills by attending “I have done all the hard work, I can next generation of umpires. training sessions. umpire this match”, and getting down to ‘I really get a great deal of satisfaction out ‘I’d go to everything from regional to the business of being there for the players of it and it’s really nice for me to be able state and national league training — and the game.’ to give something back. anything where I could work with players Sometimes a bit of levity can ease ‘Something that I teach and abide by and coaches. I was determined to the pressure. understand the game at every level.’ is that no matter what level you are ‘I remember umpiring a state league game officiating, it is important to be the best Jashari continued to graduate through and I was running down court and went you can be, and to be a good role model the different badges until she achieved to put my whistle in my mouth and it was for other umpires — but probably the her All Australian Umpire accreditation facing the wrong way. Another time I went most important thing is to enjoy the and her International Umpires Award. to do a hand signal and I flicked the end experience and have fun.’ And one of the hardest things she has had to work at is overcoming her nerves. ‘I have had to come up with some techniques to deal with them, and the main thing I do is have standard operational procedures (SOPs). SOPs is about doing everything the same each Thanks official time, like arriving, starting warm-up, drinking and eating pre-match at the ausport.gov.au/supporting/coachofficial/ same time ... it seems to work for me. thanks/national ‘I always have my bag packed. I re- New web-based resources including: pack it each time I get back from a tournament and just have to make > certificates sure my children haven’t borrowed my > e-cards whistles and forgetten to put them > recognition ideas and retention information back — which has happened on a few for clubs occasions. They now know not to touch > state ‘Thanks’ programs and other the “bag”!’ awards information. This helps when things do not always go according to plan. 6 OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1 The unfamiliar official out to familiarise the face of umpiring By Mike Coward

It is not only in Canberra where, enveloping International Cricket Council exciting opportunity to lure younger for the moment, unfamiliar elite umpires and people to umpiring. . names are attached to Scotford himself first stood in a match unfamiliar faces in unfamiliar And to add to his woes the game’s of consequence at the age of 20 and places yet demanding foremost and most decorated umpire, believes that with appropriate training Australian , made public his young men will be challenged by officiating considerable attention. dissatisfaction with a system that has in the accelerated form of the game. While drained him of energy and ambition and it is improbable they would gravitate to the That he has lost neither faith nor focus put in doubt his future in the game. first-class arena, their involvement would during this tumultuous international be invaluable to the image and branding of cricket season tells us a good deal A lover of cricket and its conventions the game. about the steely resolve of Andrew and virtues from boyhood, Scotford Scotford, the latest addition to Cricket discovered early in his sporting life that ‘We need to do everything we can to Australia’s front bench. his true calling was to officiate. That he improve the brand of the game and a had umpired at senior level in a range of part of that is building a relationship Appointed nine months ago to the new sports was a striking recommendation of trust and respect with the players,’ portfolio of umpire manager, Scotford, 36, when Cricket Australia acted on the Scotford said. has worked earnestly to ensure the findings of a comprehensive review fall-out from a succession of umpiring undertaken 18 months ago and created ‘And this is not to be demanded but crises at the elite level has not affected the position. earned — earned by us because we are the mood and morale of his charges honest and have integrity and we can look across the country. Scotford is a renowned volleyball official people in the eye every day we make our who served at the Sydney Olympic Games decisions. It doesn’t mean we think we A former chief executive officer of in 2000, has umpired Australian football are faultless. Volleyball Australia, it is his extensive at reserves level and stood in domestic experience as an officiating officer that limited-over cricket matches when the ‘It means that if we build a relationship enabled him to provide a cool head and Canberra Comets were in competition. the players know the decisions we make a steady hand as those around him are made honestly by the person actually at Jolimont dealt with controversies He also stood in matches involving making them and there are no influences. visiting international teams and the Prime If an error is made there is no malice in it, Minister’s XI and in an occasional non-first no cheating and no bias. class fixture of four-day duration. ‘The sole drive for perfect decision doesn’t ‘My whole philosophy is about the need happen at any other level and doesn’t to humanise the face of umpiring,’ happen in any other sport or any other Scotford said. component of the game. There are many facets to his portfolio ‘There’s not such intense scrutiny and along with former Test umpires Tony of players. This is not a defensive Crafter, 67, and Dick French, 69, he has mechanism but it is unusual that you chosen the first-class officials who have have to have a perfect decision from served throughout the season. Above all, the umpire but the rest of the game can however, it is his responsibility to oversee accommodate imperfections.’ the development, training and education of umpires at all levels, and invest in the Scotford is proud of the relationship that tools and resources to service the game exists between umpires and players at at the grassroots. domestic first-class, limited-over and district-cum-grade cricket throughout ‘We’ve got to use all the apparatus the country. available to make sure the umpires are the most professional they can be Indeed, it has become common practice because they must deliver on such a huge for players, umpires and coaches to stage,’ Scotford said. sit together at the end of a game and review proceedings, developing a greater While he is a traditionalist with a deep awareness and regard for each other’s affection for the excitement and theatre of , Scotford believes the roles and responsibilities. Twenty20 phenomenon that has gripped Scotford, like so many within the umpiring the cricket community provides an fraternity, is a keen advocate of involving Cricket Australia Cricket OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1 7

former first-class players as umpires and points to the progress made by Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker and . ‘Involving former players is a positive Online course for officials released and a help to debunk the many myths The Australian Sports Commission has released a new online course for of umpiring,’ he said. officials. The online Introductory Officiating General Principles course is ‘When players see their peers involved designed to assist beginner-level officials and covers three modules of a greater understanding comes. And it training: self-management, managing the competition environment, and also helps those who didn’t come through people management. that playing pathway to understand the The online course is initially available free of charge to Australian officials. demands of the games and demands This is due to a subsidy provided by the Australian Sports Commission as an made of the players. initiative to encourage beginner officials to undertake training. ‘Players don’t see that umpires make the A major benefit of the online course is that officials can complete it in their own same level of commitment — especially time, from the comfort of their home. The course covers a range of general pre-season. The parties can learn from officiating topics, including ethical responsibilities of officials, preparation for each other.’ officiating, safety, communication, dealing with conflict, and people management. Scotford, who played some sub-district The course takes approximately four hours to complete, and there is cricket in Canberra while studying law assessment included within the course. Officials have six months to complete and economics, is the new face of cricket the course after they register. The course is available from the Australian Sports umpiring in Australia. He cares deeply Commission’s online learning portal (https://learning.ausport.gov.au). about the spirit of the game, and with his energy, vision and familiarity with the From the portal officials can obtain further information on the course technology tools of the day, can bridge the requirements and view some ‘taster’ pages before they enrol. generation and communication gap and so raise the profile of umpiring throughout the country.

This article was first published in The Australian on 1 March 2005, and is reproduced with permission. 08033-04 8 OFFICIATING AUSTRALIA VOL. 7 NO. 1

STATE coaching and officiating centre CONTACTS as of JUne 2008

Australian Capital Territory Queensland Victoria Ashley Synnott Joanne Lester Les Bee Project Officer Industry and Sector Development Unit Manager, Sport Education Victoria Sport and Recreation ACT Sport, Recreation and Racing Victorian Institute of Sport PO Box 147 PO Box 15187 PO Box 12608 CIVIC SQUARE ACT 2608 CITY EAST QLD 4002 MELBOURNE VIC 8006 Tel: (02) 6205 4701 Tel: (07) 3237 9906 Tel: (03) 9425 0057 Fax: (02) 6207 2071 Fax: (07) 3225 8493 Fax: (03) 9425 0100 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] New South Wales South Australia Western Australia Simon Woinarski Jodie Freund Jacqui Jashari Sport Education Unit Senior Project Officer Officiating and Coaching Consultant NSW Tourism, Sport and Recreation Coaching and Officiating Development Department of Sport and Recreation Locked Bag 1422 Office for Recreation and Sport PO Box 329 SILVERWATER NSW 1811 PO Box 219 LEEDERVILLE WA 6903 Tel: (02) 9006 3827 BROOKLYN PARK SA 5032 Tel: (08) 9492 9760 Fax: (02) 9006 3884 Tel: (08) 8416 6625 Fax: (08) 9492 9711 Email: [email protected] Fax: (08) 8416 6674 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Northern Territory Sam Gibson Tasmania Sport and Recreation Consultant Julie Tomat Department of Local Government, Client Manager Housing and Sport Sport and Recreation Tasmania GPO Box 1448 Department of Economic Development DARWIN NT 0801 GPO Box 646 Tel: (08) 8982 2328 HOBART TAS 7001 Fax: (08) 8982 2320 Tel: (03) 6233 5774 Email: [email protected] Fax: (03) 6233 5800 Email: [email protected]