RLSS UK aim to have a clear pathway for the training and development of officials that meets the needs of the sport, including our competition and club development structures.

All candidates must attend and have completed the Branch Sports’ Officials course before starting on the SERC Officiating or Ocean pathways. 

Branch: to become a Branch Level Official, individuals need to complete a Branch course and gain experience at two competitions.

Once achieved, individuals who have their Survive & Save instructor status can attend a Simulated Emergency Response or Ocean course to extend the competitions they can officiate at. For each specialism the shadowed experience building will need to be completed at an appropriate competition.

Award

Competition / Events

Branch Sports Official

Speed based events, open water swims and Rookie festivals.

Branch SERC Official

Simulated Emergency Response and Initiatives (dry, pool and open water)

Branch Ocean

Ocean (or lake) events

Regional: to become a Regional Level Official, individuals need to have completed the appropriate Branch level award and then build experience. Officiating at, at least six separate competitions and fulfilling a variety of roles, depending on the type of official they are aiming for (Sports [speed], SERC or Ocean). 

National: to become a National Level Official, individuals need to be a regional officials in the appropriate area and complete a National course.  Additional role workshops will also be made available to support those taking on these roles.

International: to become an International Level Official, individuals need to be National level officials in the appropriate area and attend an International course.

Training

Instructors need a range of knowledge and experience to be able to train candidates in the skills included in this award.  Therefore before applying to instruct you should be:

  • A qualified official (in the same strand and to a higher level)
  • A current RLSS UK member
  • A Survive & Save Instructor
  • A Trainer (For example, a TA, Instructor Tutors, PTLLs)
  • A considerable amount of officiating experience

To qualify as an instructor you will need to co-deliver a course and be signed off as competent by a National Instructor. 

Minimum guided learning hours

Award

Hours

Branch Sports’ Official

6 plus post course experience building

Branch SERC Official

3 plus post course experience building

Branch Ocean

TBC

Pre-requisites

Name

Prerequisites

Timekeepers

None

Branch Sports’ Official

16 Plus

Individual Membership

Branch Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) Official

17 Plus

Individual Membership

Survive & Save Instructor

Current LS3

Branch Sports Official

Branch Ocean Official

17 Plus

Individual Membership

Open Water Experience

Branch Sports Official

Regional Sports Official

16 Plus

Individual Membership

Branch Sports Official

Regional Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) Official

17 Plus

Individual Membership

Survive & Save Instructor

Current LS3

Branch Simulated Emergency Response Official

Regional Ocean Official

17 Plus

Individual Membership

Branch Ocean Official

 

The Branch Official’s Syllabus

Introduction

The Branch Officials award has three separate elements:

  • Branch Sports’ Official [Speeds, Open Water Swimming and Rookies]
    • Branch Simulated Emergency Response Official [SERC’s and Initiative, including open water initiatives]
    • Branch Ocean Official – not yet launched [Ocean and Beach events]

The Branch Sports Official Candidate resource is the main resource for all three elements, printable activity sheet are in the instructor appendixes for the SERC course.

Branch Sports’ Official

Candidates should understand…..

  • The RLSS UK Officiating structure.
  • The structure and purpose of Lifesaving Sport.
  • Where to find and how to apply laws / rules of Lifesaving Sport.
  • Key skills and expectations relating to Officials.
  • Roles and responsibilities of Officials.
  • The key elements of Speed Lifesaving.
  • How to manage and ensure the wellbeing of competitors.
  • How to progress and develop within officiating.

On completion of this award candidates (with the required pre-requisites, for example, individual membership) will be able to officiate at speed based events, open water swims and Rookie festivals.

Branch Simulated Emergency Response Competition Official [Branch SERC Official]

In addition to the areas covered in the Branch Sports’ Official course (a prerequisite), candidates should understand…..

  • The roles and responsibilities as they relate to simulated emergency response competitions.
  • The rules and regulations relating to simulated emergency response competitions and where to find up to date rules.
  • The main events involved in the National Championship.
  • Competitors and their motivations.
  • How to set Initiatives and simulated emergency response scenarios.
  • How to write a mark sheet for Initiatives and simulated emergency response scenarios.
  • How to progress and develop within officiating. 

On completion of this award candidates (with the required pre-requisites, for example, individual membership and Survive & Save Instructor) will be able to officiate events including SERCs and initiatives.

Branch Ocean Official

This award will be launch at a later date.