Training is critical to both the initial development of skills for new officials and for the continuing education of current officials. On-going training is essential to stay up to date with the various rule changes.
Training can be conducted in a variety of ways: In-person clinics and virtual clinics, one-on-one mentoring, self-teaching by viewing online videos and recordings of clinics, and reading Best Practices materials. Of course, the best way to learn is to officiate actual competition.
Scott Phoenix, National Officials Committee Training Chair
Contact your USATF Association Certification Chair or Officials Chair to ask for a schedule of your Association’s training sessions. In addition, contact the neighboring Associations to ask about their training schedule. These in-person training sessions are typically free and involve some hand-on activities.
The NOC Training Chair Scott Phoenix hosts a series of virtual training meetings each year. Watch for his emails announcing future virtual sessions. If you are not a USATF Official, contact Scott and ask to be put on his email distribution list:sandcphoenix@gmail.com
Read the NOC newsletter each month to view a list of previous virtual training sessions that were recorded.
The NOC Training Committee has begun to develop original training videos on specific topics. You can view the videos on the USA Track & Field Training Channel on YouTube.
If you would like the help of an experienced official, contact your USATF Association Certification Chair or Officials Chair. Or you can contact Scott Phoenix, sandcphoenix@gmail.com or Mike Trego, mikeogert@gmail.com, and they will do their best to match you with a mentor in your area. The mentoring activities can be both in-person and online.
The NOC Best Practices Library contains training material covering a wide range of topics. Visit the Library frequently as the material is continuously updated.
The monthly NOC newsletter has articles from Dick Boyd, NOC Rules Chair, Jamero Rainy, NOC Certification Chair, and Scott Phoenix, NOC Training Chair.
These articles are a highly useful training resource for all officials. Follow this link to an online archive of past newsletter issues. Go here to subscribe to the free newsletter.
Training clinics are held each year at the USATF Annual Meeting.