ABSTRACT
From local parks, pools and sports facilities to high profile international events, sports officials are prominent in almost every sporting contest. Often maligned by players, coaches, spectators and the media, sports officials are an essential part of organized competitive sport. The knowledge, skills and performance quality of those who officiate at sport contests and events has an impact on the quality of the sport experience for all involved. Standards of officiating also affect the safety of participants in many sporting contests. Consistent with the five-segment model of sports practice (see Chapter 2), the bulk of the officiating workload is shared among volunteer or low paid officials, occurs at the foundation of the sports system, and, most often, within VSOs. Governments and sport organizations are becoming increasingly interested in the recruitment, retention of officials and the standard of officiating as they work towards the implementation of policies aimed at increasing participation in organized sport, the vast majority of which require the services of sports officials. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the importance and significance of sports officiating, the roles of sports officials, problems and issues in sports officiating, and the development and management of sports officials.
