• Develop Junior Technical Officials, Umpires and Referee's alongside athletes within the sport squad programs. 
• Provide individual skill development and technical coaching within a high-performance training environment.
• Develop Junior Technical Officials, Umpires and Referee's rule knowledge, communication and interaction with athletes and coaching staff. 
• Provide opportunity for Junior Technical Officials, Umpires and Referee's to gain experience in officiating high-quality match environments. 

Participants will benefit from having access to the sport programs athletes and coaches within the performance pathway, and will be able to observe the training techniques, styles and structures coaches put in place.

Participants will be encouraged to communicate regularly with athletes and coaches to develop communication skills as well as technical rules knowledge for both parties. 

Participants will receive access to the athlete sport education program within their sport, as well as dedicated TOUR Program education opportunities such as Conflict Resolution, Negotiation Skills and Media Training as an example. 

Participants will be included within the sport programs strength and conditioning, and health and wellbeing support services within the Academy. 

Participants will be expected to make themselves available to officiate trial games and/or inter-Academy competition / tournaments participated in by the Academy, and to participate with that sport in officiating at the ClubsNSW ' Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games in Wagga Wagga, April 21-23, 2022. 

• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must be aged 14 - 18 years of age as of 31 December 2023.
  • ie born 2009 - 2005
• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must be a registered official with their respective State Sporting Organisation. 
• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must reside in, or attend school, or compete for an SSO affiliated association, club or team within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas

In addition;

• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must be actively officiating within their local club or representative association, and show evidence of the desire to progress to a higher level within their sports officiating pathway. 

• Specific sport programs may require minimum officiating qualifications or standards to have been met prior to being accepted. This will vary from sport to sport, however ideally would be the equivalent of the ability to officiate at a Division One level of the age group of athletes within the program. 

• Exceptions to the above eligibility criteria, such as the maximum age limit and locality may be considered on a sport by sport basis, and at the discretion of the Academy, in consultation with the SSO, in an effort to adequately provide officiating coverage of Academy sports competing at the Regional Academy Games. 

Nominations for the 2022-2023 program open Friday 16 September 2022, and close in line with the respective sport nominations close date. 

Selection Process:

• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must nominate and attend one or more trials subject to the sport program information below.
• The Technical Official, Umpire or Referee must attend all trials. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• The Academy may select the number of officials as required to compliment the sport program requirements.
• Successful officials will be advised after the final trial, and will need to attend an Induction Session on Wednesday November 23, as well as the Academy Media Day on Sunday December 4 (whether this is included in their sport program or not).  

Sport Specific Process:

NETBALL: 
Attend the Netball Trial as detailed within the Netball program

BASKETBALL:
Submit a nomination, and plan for an Interview; prospective referees should also attend Trial 2 as detailed within the Basketball program

HOCKEY:
Submit a nomination, and plan for an Interview

VOLLEYBALL:
Submit a nomination, and plan for an Interview

Program Levy

• A program levy of $400 inclusive of GST, will be applicable to all successful Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees. 

Additional Camp Levies

• Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees within the program who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Wagga Wagga during late April 2023 will be required to pay a Reduced Games levy of up to $200, which will be invoiced separately to the above Levies, and covers transport, accommodation and meals.  
• Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees attending the Regional Academy Games may be paid a per-match honoraria for officiating at the Games. Additional documentation by the host Academy may be required. 
• Additional Camp levies may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees will often receive a reduction of at least 20% off the additional levies. 

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless arrangements have been made with the Board of Management.

UNIFORM

NEW Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees

• New Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees will be provided a full uniform including a walkout polo, walkout shorts, training (gym) t-shirt, tracksuit jacket and tracksuit pants.

Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees who require any additional or replacement walkout, competition or optional uniform items (including hoodie, backpack, SWSAS socks, sportsbag etc) will be able to purchase these items through the Academy's Official Uniform Supplier Aceit.

• Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees will train alongside the athletes within their specific sporting program

• Additional training / education sessions designed specifically for Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees will also take place at venues throughout the region.

• Selected Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, in line with that of the specific sport program.