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Have you ever looked at the referee at a race and thought "I could do that!" or thought that you might like to put something back into the sport that you enjoy. If you are a spectator or a competitor this could be for you. You may wish to be one of the highest level referees who officiate at elite and national championship races or you may just want to be the referee at your small club races. Either way the path starts at the same place.

 

What qualifications do I need?
The most important part of being a referee is that you are sensible. A feel for the sport and knowledge of what triathletes, novices right through to the top boys and girls, go through is desirable. This, however, if you are not an athlete, can be learned by talking to the athletes both before and after the race. The referee is responsible for making sure that the race is fair and safe. There are always issues arising that do not fall into the neat guidelines of the rule book. This is where your common sense comes into play, not all referees will come to the same conclusion on how to deal with issues just as long as you are constant within the race.

 

How do I go about it?
Visit the British Triathlon referees page which gives you most of the information you need. Once you have completed your at-home study and passed the test you should contact Triathlon London's Technical co-ordinator Lynda Chase.  She will ask you what your plans are and arrange for you to shadow an experienced referee. This will qualify you as a level one referee. She will also help you with your chosen path and arrange for you to referee at suitable races so that you can progress to your chosen level.