Referee Accreditation
Touch Football Australia has a six-tier accreditation system. Becoming an accredited referee is an important step in ensuring you are equipped with the knowledge of the rules of the game and skills to manage and create a safe and enjoyable environment for all. It is also a great way for you to create goals to work towards while you stay fit to participate in the game.
Referees begin their careers by completing a Level One referee, which consists of Sport Australia's online Community Officiating General Principles course, followed by a face-to-face workshop conducted by one of Touch Football Australia's accredited Course Facilitator.
The online course can be completed at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home and teaches participants the basics of being a sports official at the community level.
The face-to-face workshop is held over four (4) hours and helps participants to learn the basics of being a touch football referee, including rules, basic positioning, and game management techniques.
Once both elements of the course are completed, referees are eligible to take the field in local-level, and junior regional-level competitions.
After twelve months at Level One, a referee may be considered for upgrade to Level Two following the successful completion of the Touch Football Australia Level Two Referee course and assessment of their on-field performance.
The course consists of a single face-to-face workshop held over four (4) hours, where participants take a more in-depth look at the rules of touch football, referee-to-player and referee-to-referee communication, attacking play strategies, and athletic performance.
After the completion of the face-to-face session, a level two candidate must be assessed as "competent" by an accredited Referee Coach to be upgraded.
Level Two referees are eligible to officiate senior regional-level, and junior state-level touch football matches.
A referee who has held their Level Two accreditation for at least twelve months can considered for upgrade following the completion of a Touch Football Australia Level Three Referee course, an endorsement by their local Director of Referees, and several competent assessments of their on-field performance in a sanctioned competition.
The course consists of a single four (4) hour face-to-face workshop where participants take a deep dive into the playing rules of touch football, learn conflict awareness and resolution techniques, discuss advanced positioning and game awareness, as well as referee systems and elite athletic performance.
Upgrade to Level Three is made by accredited talent-level Referee Coaches working on a regional or state panel, and under the direction of the state Director of Referees.
Once accredited, a Level Three referee is eligible to officiate senior state-level, and junior national-level touch football matches.
A Level Three referee who has demonstrated twelve months of consistent performance may be considered for upgrade to Level Four following the endorsement of their local and regional Director's of Referees and several competent assessments of their on-field performance in a sanctioned competition.
There is no course completion requirement, as upgrade to this level is based solely on the on-field performance of the candidate referee, as assessed by accredited talent-level Referee Coaches working on a regional or state panel under the direction of the state Director of Referees.
An accredited Level Four referee is eligible to officiate all levels of touch football up-to and including senior national-level, and is the entry-level badge for Touch Football Australia's National Touch League.
A Level Four referee must hold their accreditation, and perform at a high and consistent level, for a period of twelve months before being considered for upgrade to Level Five. Endorsement for upgrade is provided by the state Director of Referees, which is based on their performance in state-level matches over the preceding twelve month period.
Upgrade to Level Five is made by Touch Football Australia's panel of elite-level referee coaches following several competent assessments of the candidate referee officiating matches at a senior national-level touch football competition, currently the National Touch League.
Once upgraded, a Level Five Referee can be appointed to officiate junior international-level matches including the Youth World Cup.
The pinnacle level of officiating in the sport of touch football, Level Six, can be achieved by referees who have held their Level Five accreditation, and performed at an extremely high and consistent level, for a minimum of twelve months.
Touch Football Australia's panel of elite-level referee coaches makes several on-field assessments of a candidate referee's performance when appointed to matches at a senior national-level touch football competition, currently the National Touch League, and a candidate must be marked "competent" in all areas to be considered for upgrade.
An accredited Level Six Referee can be appointed to officiate elite national-level events such as State of Origin and the NRL Touch Premiership, and senior international-level matches including the World Cup.