Lifesaving SportThe Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the National Governing Body for pool-based Lifesaving Sport - a sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Lifesaving Sport is the only sport whose skills are first learned for humanitarian purposes. As showcased in our new promotional video, Lifesaving Sport is a competitive and dynamic international sport, with a variety of fun and challenging activities that take place in and out of the water at swimming pools and the beach. It is also an important vehicle to engage young people in lifesaving and support drowning prevention. About Lifesaving Sport Lifesaving Sport Home About Pathways The History Meet our Athletes and Coaches All Sport Awards Competitions National Speed Lifesaving Championships National Lifesaving Championships Simulated Emergency Response Championship (SERC) Rookie Lifeguard Festivals Recognised Competitions Roles Officials Coaches Team Managers Competitor Organisers Event Roles Performance GBR Lifesaving Anti Doping Transgender Policy for Sport Records & Results Apply for National Records Records Results Latest News Events RLSS UK Shop Visit Shop Lifesaving Sport Equipment Officials, Coaches and Timekeepers Essentials Officials The RLSS UK Pathway for Officials As an RLSS UK Official, you will be part of a team of skilled and dedicated volunteers who enable Lifesaving Sport to run to its fullest potential within the UK and Ireland. RLSS UK Officials are highly regarded in the international Lifesaving Sport community. Our commitment to training and mentoring new Officials to a high standard equips RLSS UK Officials with the skills they need to progress to become Referees at European, Commonwealth, and World Championship events. There are three entry level awards, each with their own specialism. Timekeeper This award is designed to provide confidence and training to be a timekeeper at a lifesaving sport event. This is the ideal award for a club volunteer or young person looking to take their first steps into officiating. Who can take this course:Anyone over the age of 12. How to qualify:The course is an on-demand Opportunity accessed through your RLSS UK Online Account. Post-course experience:There is no probationary period for the Timekeeper award. Once the Opportunity is complete you will be a qualified Timekeeper ready to use those skills at a lifesaving sport event. Sports Official (Pool) This award is designed to equip you with the skills required to officiate at a Lifesaving Sport Pool event, such as the annual RLSS UK Speed Lifesaving Championships. The course teaches about principles of officiating as well as the rules for individual events. The Sports Official (Pool) award contains all the content that is found in the Timekeeper award. Who can take this course:Anyone over the age of 16 with individual (or higher) RLSS UK membership. No experience of Lifesaving Sport is required, although it is recommended that those taking the award understand Lifesaving Sport events and their structure. How to qualify:The course is an on-demand Opportunity accessed through your RLSS UK Online Account. Post-course experience:Newly qualified Sports Official (Pool) candidates are considered probationary officials. To pass your probationary period you must attend two competitions and be mentored by a more experienced Official at these events. Award maintenance:To officiate at events you must maintain individual (or higher) RLSS UK membership and have a CRC (Criminal Records Check) registered on your RLSS UK Online Account. SERC Official This award is designed to build on the assessing skills taught as part of the Lifesaving Academy Instructor award. The award teaches candidates how to apply these assessing skills to initiative tests and SERC events at Lifesaving Sport competitions such as the RLSS UK National Lifesaving Championships. Who can take this course:Any over the age of 16 who also holds a Lifesaving Academy Instructor (or higher) award and all its pre-requisites. No experience of Lifesaving Sport is required, although it is recommended that those taking the award understand Lifesaving Sport events and their structure. How to qualify:The course is a two-hour face to face course with an RLSS UK Officiating Instructor. To register your interested in taking this course please email [email protected]. Post-course experience:Newly qualified Branch SERC Officials are considered probationary officials. To pass your probationary period you must attend two competitions and be mentored by a more experienced Official at these events. Award maintenance:To officiate at events you must maintain individual (or higher) RLSS UK membership and have a CRC (Criminal Records Check) registered on your RLSS UK Online Account. You must also maintain the pre-requisites for your Lifesaving Academy Instructor (or higher) award, including any mandatory updates. Progression for RLSS UK Officials The three awards above form the first steps on the RLSS UK officiating pathway. Over time our officials will build their skills and experience through attending competitions and mentoring opportunities. The next step on the RLSS UK officiating pathway is participating in a Referee’s course. If you are interested in finding out more, please email [email protected]. Recognition of Prior Learning Officials who already hold an ILSE (B) award from another organisation can register as an RLSS UK Referee by competing the Sports Official (Pool) Opportunity in their RLSS UK Online Account, and then submitting their ILSE (B) award to [email protected]. View more on the Officiating Pathway Prerequisites Timekeepers Aged 12+ Sports’ Official Aged 16+ Individual Membership Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) Official Aged 17+ Individual Membership National Lifesaving Academy (NLA) Instructor Current LS3 Branch Sports Official Contact RLSS UK Competitions If you need further information and advice about Officiatiregng at RLSS UK Competitions, please email [email protected]. Officiating Roles Referee Ensures that all competitors can compete on a fair and equal level. Referees are officials and shall be responsible for: all matters of conduct. the implementation of rules and regulations. pre- and post event briefings. working to ensure the safety of all. considering, adjudicating and reacting to event needs. decide if the decision of finish judges is confirmed by recorded times. confirming all results. The Referee can have deputies which assist in the conduct and organisation of the competition. Event Director The Event Director shall be responsible for setting up and ensuring readiness of each of their events. signal the beginning of each event to competitors with three short whistles, followed by one long whistle to signal the competitors to get ready (onto the dive blocks or ready to start from the side or in the water). signal to the starter that competitors and judges are ready. Starter The Starter shall have full control of the competitors from the time the Event Director turns them over, until the race has commenced. decide if the start is fair and can disqualify competitors. report a competitor to the referee for any misconduct taking place at the start. Marshall The Marshall shall be responsible for assembling the competitors in the appropriate order prior to each event, and for maintaining discipline among competitors before the start. Head Scorer The Head Scorer shall be responsible for the overall record keeping, calculation of results, and release of official results for all competition events. Act under the direction of the Referee. Chief Timekeeper Chief timekeeper shall be Responsible for checking timekeepers’ watches are accurate If electronic timing is used to advise on use of back up switch Make sure paperwork is handed out to timekeepers Be aware if any timekeepers watch has not started to note time for that lane. If electronic timing is used to collect paperwork and liaise with referee re any disqualifications. Timekeeping Judges Timekeeping Judges shall be responsible to the Chief Timekeeper. be used to specifically as timekeepers. time and record all events where needed. other roles as needed. Finish Judges Finish Judges shall determine the order of finishing of competitors. report any breach or infringement of the rules to the chief judge or area/sectional referee or event director. Lane Judges Lane Judges shall be a judge of fact in relation to the observation of the conduct of an event for the particular lane to which they are assigned. report any breach or infringement of the rules to the chief judge, or area/sectional referee or event director. Turn Judge Turn Judges shall ensure that the turn rules are being followed. immediately raises hand to signal potential infraction. describes the infraction to Referee or Chief. writes up or signs DQ slips when asked. Announcing Panel Announcers shall announce events, calls for athletes, results, changes to the programme provide running commentaries of event activities, such as event descriptions, or explanations of official decisions deliver messages to spectators Competitor Liaison Competitor Liaison shall be the first port of call for questions and queries from team managers and competitors Contact For more information please contact The College of Referees via [email protected]. Manage Cookie Preferences