Swimming Wide Bay

Technical Officials Structure

We’ve introduced a new streamlined approach to Technical Official (TO) requirements in Wide Bay. Our goal is simple: to help our clubs host more great competitive meets and reduce the cost to run a swim meet.

The New Simple Structure 

We’re introducing two categories of Technical Officials in Swimming Wide Bay, Lead and Support Technical Officials.

Lead Technical Officials (Paid Positions)

These are our accredited Technical Officials who keep meets running smoothly and according to Swimming Queensland guidelines. A meet requires a minimum of seven (7) Lead TOs, including:

  • Referee
  • Starter
  • Inspector of Turns (x2)
  • Judge of Strokes (x2)
  • Timing Operator

NB: Lead TOs can choose to volunteer their time unpaid to support their home club swim meet. If your club is having any difficulty sourcing or funding your TO team please reach out directly to Swimming Wide Bay.

Support Technical Officials (Volunteer Positions)

These roles now require no formal training and are unpaid, making it easier for clubs to engage their volunteer community & manage meet costs:

  • Check-starter
  • Chief Timekeeper
  • Clerk of Course (Marshall)
  • Announcer
  • Timing Operator Assistant/Runner
  • Back-up Timekeepers for Friday/Distance events

Although there are no formal training requirements for these positions, we do encourage people interested in these Support TO roles to become accredited. This will enable them to be eligible to officiate and be remunerated at our Swimming Wide Bay championship events, as well as continue on a pathway to officiating at State and National events. If you are interested in becoming an accredited Lead TO all you need to do is email president@widebayswimming.org.au

Remuneration schedule

  • Trainee TO (with online COES certification): $60/day
  • Accredited Level 1 (6+ full-day meets experience): $125/day
  • Accredited Level 2 (2+ years experience): $175/day
  • Accredited Level 3 (Referee & TOs with 4yrs+ experience): $250/day*
  • Timing System Operator/Meet Manager: Individually negotiated

*Note: Maximum of two Level 3 TOs at $250/day per meet

Summary

  • Aim is to reduce meet costs for host clubs and allows clubs more flexibility to engage their volunteer base
  • Lead TOs can choose to volunteer their time unpaid to support their home club swim meet. 
  • You can now nominate your own Lead TOs or ask Swimming Wide Bay to help source them for your meet
  • We’ve removed the mandatory requirement that to be eligible to host a meet, clubs would need to nominate at least one (1) club member to be a Lead TO or Trainee TO on the day

We’re excited about these changes and how they’ll make it easier for our clubs to host fantastic meets. If you have any questions or would like to get involved as an official, please don’t hesitate to reach out to hello@swimmingwidebay.org.au 

Thank you for being part of our swimming community!