For Officials

As an umpire or official you play a key role in creating a safe, fair and inclusive sporting environment, particularly for children. To assist you tomeet your responsibilities, your sport should:

• explain your duties and responsibilities;
• provide you with information about expected codes of behaviour;
• support you to complete training to improve your skills and knowledge; 
• provide you with guidelines to support you in your role (e.g., blood rules, heat guidelines).

In order to meet its legal/moral obligations your sport may also request that you undergo a Working With Children or other police check.

To manage your risks as an official you should:

• apply guidelines to ensure athlete safety (e.g., heat or blood rule guidelines);
• make fair and consistent decisions about the rules of the game;
• manage and minimise conflict;
• take action against inappropriate behaviour (e.g., racist comments);
• try to accommodate an athlete's request for flexibility (e.g., allowing a Muslim woman to wear her hijab);
• avoid being alone with a child.

Search for more resources relating to "Risk Management" in the Resources section