Hampshire Officials

Hampshire Needs Officials! 

To run an athletics meeting at any level (open, league, county, region, national) officials are needed to ensure the competition is run in accordance with the rules and athletes are given the best possible chance of achieving a good performance. We are all volunteers and we need more volunteers to help run events across the county.

There are 7 disciplines to choose from:

1. Starter or Starter’s Assistant – Preparing athletes for the race and starting the race so it is fair for all.
2. Track Official – Ensuring all the rules are followed during the race and reporting any infringements, recording the final result.
3. Field Official – Calling athletes to take their trials, recording measurements for jumps and throws, ensuring all events are run in accordance with the rules.
4. Timekeeper – Starting the stopwatch at the start of the race, recording times for the final result.
5. Photofinish Official – Setting up the photofinish system, capturing the photo of the finish, recording the final result from the photo.
6. Race Walking Official – Ensuring all the rules are followed during the race and reporting any infringements, recording the final result. Similar to Track Official but specific to Race Walks, many officials are qualified in both disciplines.
7. Endurance Official – Officiating at cross country and road races. Ensuring races are run in accordance with the rules, recording the final result.

There are three simple steps to becoming an official:

1. Complete a Level 1 course in your chosen discipline (online or in person)
2. Complete the online safeguarding and health/safety modules
3. Complete a DBS check online

England Athletics have produced some flyers with more details on each of the above disciplines. Click here to download:  EA – Officiating Flyers 2026

What next?

For more information:

Contact Malcolm or Charles, our County Officials Secretaries,  cofsec@hampshireathletics.co.uk.

They can give you help and guidance and organise a course if there is enough demand.

For further information: www.englandathletics.org/officials

What is a COFSEC?

MOTTO – BE AWAKE, BE AWARE, BE ALERT.

Our County Officials Secretaries (or Cofsecs) are responsible for supporting all athletics officials in Hampshire.

Hampshire Cofsecs are Malcolm Wise and Charles Bromley Gardner. In conjunction with the Officials’ Committee they appoint officials for all the Hampshire Athletics and Hampshire Schools’ AA meetings, publishing these on this website and keeping them up to date.

They will assist in arranging courses and support prospective new officials to help them enjoy their officiating journey. They look after the development of all Hampshire officials so they can progress, maybe officiating at National or International meetings. Some officials only wish to officiate the support their local club and this is a valuable contribution.

Malcolm and Charles are supported by the Officials Committee that meets every six months. We also have a newsletter and annual officials get together.

To obtain Officials clothing, Polo Shirt, Sweatshirt, V-Neck Jumper or Fleece, all with the Hampshire Logo, contact Stuart Horsewood – stuarthorsewood@hotmail.com