Program Summary

Program Season: February - September
Age Group: 13-21 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status: 
Accepting Expressions of Interest for 2025.

This program is targeted at the education and development of Technical Officials, Umpires and Referees within the sport high-performance programs conducted by the South West Sydney Academy of Sport. This program includes development in both training and performance scenarios, with an added focus on officials education, and official - coach - athlete communication and game management.

Opportunities for Talented Officials, Umpires and Referees currently exist within the 3x3 Basketball, Basketball, Hockey, Softball and Volleyball programs.
 

Whilst Netball Umpires selected within the Academy's Bingara Gorge Netball Umpire Program have their own program, Umpires who have "graduated" from the theoretical and practical outcomes of the program, (I.e. Achieved their National B Badge, whilst within the Netball Umpire program), yet who remain age-eligible, are eligible for, and therefore encouraged to participate within the TOUR program. 

Participants may be selected to represent the Academy at events such as the ClubsNSW Regional Academy Games, Regional Academy Challenges, or other events, tournaments or performance opportunities throughout the program.

Program Objectives

Develop Junior Technical Officials, Umpires and Referee's alongside athletes within the sport squad programs, and maintain officials development alongside their representative sport commitments. 

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 within a high performance environment.

Provide opportunity for Junior Technical Officials, Umpires and Referee's to gain experience in officiating high-quality match environments.

"Athlete" Benefits

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 a 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. 

Where available, participants will either be included within the sport programs strength and conditioning program, or provided their own strength and conditioning support, and have access to health and wellbeing support services within the Academy. 

Participants may be selected to represent the Academy at events such as the ClubsNSW Regional Academy Games, Regional Academy Challenges, or other events, tournaments or performance opportunities throughout the program. 

Training and Performance Opportunities

Subject to the Official's individual needs, and status of the sport program they are participating in, Officials will be provided with an individualised performance plan, including training and performance opportunities. 

Where possible, these training dates will mirror those of the sport program, with the intent being that the Official / Referee will be able to attend as much of the training program as possible. This includes participating in officiated match-play / scrimmage opportunities within the squad training program. 

Additional education sessions, including strength and conditioning programs, will be conducted at dates to best suit the load and time management requirements of the participant. 

Athlete Eligibility

• Umpires, Referees or Technical Officials, Male or Female and between 13 and 21 years of age as of 31 December 2025.
  • ie born 2004-2012
  • Officials aged 18 and over are encouraged to participate, however are required to hold a valid NSW Working with Children Check to participate in training and officiating Academy events. 
     
• Umpires, Referees or Technical Officials must be a registered member of the State Sporting Organisation of the sport they are officiating in, and actively participating within the officiating pathway of that sport at minimum an advanced local association level. (I.e. Similar Age and standard to the Academy sport program participating in)
   
• Umpires, Referees or Technical Officials must meet the Academy eligibility criteria. 
   
• Netball Umpires who meet the age eligibility criteria of the Netball Umpire program shall nominate for that program, unless they have previously obtained their National B Badge or above.

Selection Process

What to Expect:

Selections will take place based on information supplied as a part of the selection process. Officials may be requested to attend an interview, whether online or in person at the Academy office prior to selection. 

Acceptance into the Academy TOUR program is therefore primarily made on an individual and "invitation" basis.

Selection Process:

• Officials must submit as an Expression of Interest in the program via email to sport @ swsas.org.au, including a brief resume of their officiating experience, and reasons as to why they wish to participate within the Academy TOUR program.
   
• Following receipt of this EOI, Officials will be advised if they are required to provide further information, attend an interview, or complete a skills assessment.
   
• Prospective Officials and their Parents must attend an online information session, which will be held via zoom at a date and time TBC (After the close of nominations, and prior to the interview process). Athletes and Parents will be sent the link to this session as soon as possible. 
   

• The TOUR program operates on a September to August program year. 
   

• Officials may nominate for inclusion into the program at any time throughout the Calendar year, and may be selected to participate at any time during that year. 

• The Academy reserves the right to reject any nomination with reason.

• Unsuccessful officials will be advised in writing.

• Successful officials will be offered an athlete scholarship.

• Returning Officials who have concluded their scholarship must re-apply for re-selection for the TOUR program on an annual basis. 

  • To be eligible for re-selection, officials must have demonstrated of compliance the athlete requirements and maintain eligibility.

Alternate Selection;

• Netball Umpires who have previously been a part of the Academy Netball Umpire program, and achieved their National B Badge aged 14-18 years of age may be automatically selected (invited) within the TOUR program. 
   

• The Academy may invite Talented Officials, Umpires or Referees who have been identified through local associations, or State Sporting Organisations who meet the Academy Eligibility criteria to participate within the program without need for nomination or interview. 

Athlete (Officials) Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

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

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