Referee levels have been structured to ensure that each level carries a differing degree of commitment and responsibility. The levels and the responsibility associated with each are outlined below.
A Level 0 referee is a beginner referee who run lines and/or buddies with a more experienced referee. Level 0 referee’s may also referee alone. A Level 0 referee:
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The written exam for Level 0 Junior Divisions can be taken online here The written exam for Level 0 Senior Divisions can be taken online here |
A Level 1 referee is able to referee by themselves at a domestic competition. A Level 1 referee:
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The written exam for Level 1 Junior Divisions can be taken online here The written exam for Level 1 Senior Divisions can be taken online here |
A Level 2 referee is able to referee grands finals by themselves at a domestic competition. A Level 2 referee:
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The written exam for Level 2 can be taken online here. |
A Level 3 referee is able to referee at Australian Oztag representative tournaments. A Level 3 referee:
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A Level 4 referee is a senior official capable of refereeing a Grand Final at the Australian Championships. A Level 4 referee:
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A Level 5 referee is an International Referee, who has refereed at an International Tag Federation sanctioned event. A Level 5 referee:
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A Level 6 referee is GURU level. This is a referee who has officated an International Tag FederationWorld Cup final. A Level 6 referee:
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Area’s of Assessment
For referees to progress to the next level they are required to be deemed competent in 3 areas of assessment. These areas may be assessed at the domestic competition and or an AO delivered referee course / tournament:
Written | Assessed at levels 0, 1, 2 and 3 |
Practical | Assessed at levels 1, 3, 4 and 5 |
Experience | Assessed at all levels |
If a referee is deemed “not yet competent” in any of the above areas of assessment or if an assessment is not completed / submitted within the allocated time, then re-assessment is required. A re-assessment cannot be done within a 1-month period.
A referee must pass the written exam for the next level before they can request a practical assessment. If a referee fails the written exam for levels 1 and 2 they are required to review the questions and re-submit these answers. If the referee fails the exam again further education and training is required before they can sit the exam again.
If a referee wishes to progress to a higher level, they must follow the steps outlined below:
- Written assessment criteria exist for levels 0, 1, 2 and 3 and must be achieved before being able to progress to the next level.
- The level 0 exam can be given to the referee by the domestic competition convener, may be taken home to complete and be re-submitted the following week. This is an open book (refer to AO’s rule book). The Level 1 exam is to be completed at the AO referee theory course.
- If the referee fails the written assessments for levels 1, 2 or 3 they will need to wait a minimum of 1 month before they are able to review the questions and allowed to re-answer these questions a maximum of one re-sit is permitted.
For specific criteria for levels 0, 1 and 2 please see the written exam templates.
- Level 0 Junior Exam
- Level 1 Junior Exam
- Level 0 Senior Exam
- Level 1 Senior Exam
- Level 2 Senior Exam
- Level 3 Exam – This exam will consist of random questions, it’s not a set template. Referees will be given this when they wish to progress.
- Practical assessments involve an assessor watching the referee during a game/s
- If required an assessor may provide feedback to be utilised in future games in order to pass the assessment.
- AO has developed the Practical Assessment criteria and it should be utilised for all assessments.
- Practical assessments may take place at either a domestic competition or various tournaments depending on the level being assessed.
If the referee fails an assessment they will only need to be re-assessed on areas deemed “not yet competent”. The re-assessment can be completed during a later game that day / night. Should these areas still not be deemed competent after multiple attempts then the referee will be required to redo a full assessment for that level.
- Level 0 – Assessed by local senior referee.
- Level 1 – Conducted by an AO Assessor at a domestic competition
- Level 2 – No assessment required.
- Level 3 – Conducted by an AO Assessor at a representative tournament.
- Level 4 – Conducted by an AO Assessor at the Senior Australian Championships.
- Level 5 – Conducted by an AO Assessor.
A referee will not be able to proceed to the next level without first meeting the experience criteria. Domestic competition conveners can assess and award a referee Level 0 providing they have passed the Level 0 Referee exam and meet all other criteria.
Refereeing experience criteria exists for all levels and must be achieved to progress to the next level. This will take into consideration:
- Referee’s age.
- Games refereed at domestic competitions over any number of years.
- Games refereed at AO Oztag tournaments over any number of years.
The experience levels to be achieved are:
Level 0
- Must be a minimum of 15 years of age for senior games, and 13 years of age or a minimum of 2 years older than the division they are refereeing for junior games.
Level 1
- To be deemed competent to referee at a competition on their own
- To have successfully completed an AO official referee course
- No minimum age once they have successfully completed the referee course
Level 2
- To have refereed a minimum of 2 seasons at their domestic competition
- To have successfully passed the Level 2 referee exam
- No minimum age once they have successfully completed the referee course
Level 3
- Nominated/Invited to Officiate Junior/Senior State Championship
- Display the ability to referee Grand Final games
Level 4
- Officiated at 2 Senior Australian Championships or
- Officiated at 2 Senior State Championships
- Officiated a Grand Final at a Senior Australian Championship
Level 5
- Officiated at International level including ITF World Cup
Level 6
- Officiated an ITF World Cup Final.