New Zealand Children’s
Athletic Association Inc.
PO Box 13-209
Tauranga Central
Tauranga
[email protected]
ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND OFFICIALS EDUCATION SCHEME (ANZOES)
The education scheme is approved by the IAAF and is subject to regular review. In order for ANZ to retain
approval to run the scheme certain requirements must be met. These include continuing education, four
yearly review, participation at National events and being involved across all disciplines of each category.
Any breach of these requirements, at any level, could see ANZ stripped of the accreditation necessary to
run our own national scheme.
Lecturers must have appropriate grading’s and for some courses must be an IAAF qualified Lecturer.
Currently New Zealand has seven such approved lecturers.
At a recent meeting of the Regional Officials Coordinators (ROC) the matter of ‘C’ grade Officials
progressing to ‘B’ at meetings conducted by NZCAA was discussed. Many of the ROC are involved at
NZCAA level or have been heavily involved in the past.
The reasons for Officials not being able to progress are several. They include NZCAA not running all
events, e.g. Jumps not doing Pole Vault or Triple Jump. Throws not doing Hammer or Javelin. Track not
doing Steeplechase, long hurdles, 5,000m, 10,000m where lap scoring is used.
Another reason is that NZCAA does not run full six round competitions or qualifying events. Many
Officials sitting ‘C’ papers have no understanding of the concept even though covered during lectures. In
order to assist with ‘C’ papers the NOC have agreed to rename ‘C’ papers as Assessments and allow those
sitting to discuss a question with either the assessor or with others sitting the paper.
The question was raised of why include questions relating to these in ‘C’ papers. They are no different in
Officiating to other events other than the method of Jumping, Throwing etc. The recording of results is
exactly the same. Countback etc. is the same, as is measurement, time available etc. If they are not covered
the course, is not, as approved by the IAAF and ANZ could lose its accreditation.
The NOC and ROC are concerned that few "Children's" officials are progressing through to senior levels
and have agreed to encourage Centres to try to have combined Children’s and Senior meeting so as to
allow Children’s Volunteers to be able to experience Senior meetings. NZCAA has been, for many years,
the breeding ground for Senior Officials and we wish to assist wherever possible, but ANZ have
constraints that require the current protocols to remain.
It is hoped that NZCAA and ANZ continue to work together. ANZ employs an Officials Development
Manager and are happy for this staff member to assist NZCAA or Clubs at any time. ANZ has developed
an eLearning programme to assist in education. Information can be seen at
http://www.athletics.org.nz/Get-Involved/officials along with other information and resources.
We trust that that NZCAA and ANZ can continue to operate together for the benefit of our sport.
Brian Cockeram Trevor Spittle
President NZCAA Officials Development Manager, ANZ