National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS)
Officials play a crucial role in managing the bowls environment to ensure all matches are played safely, fairly and within the laws of the Sport of Bowls.
Officials accredited through the National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS) are recognised by Bowls Australia (BA), the States (STA), and the Australian Sport Commission (ASC).
Bowls Australia has three officiating accreditations – ‘Marker Accreditation’, ‘Measurer Accreditation’ and ‘National Umpire Accreditation’. These accreditations are competency based and have a four-year validity period.
Bowls Australia offers three training methods for candidates to accredit as a ‘National Umpire’:
- Face-to-Face Learning:
- Candidates attend three sessions of approximately 3.5 hours each for the ‘Marker’, ‘Measurer’ and ‘Umpire’ modules – generally spaced a week apart. Face-to-face is the Bowls Australia preferred method of delivering the accreditation.
- Online Self-Paced Learning:
- Candidates complete an online theory version for each of the three modules – ‘Marker’, ‘Measurer’ and ‘Umpire’ – using ‘Bowlslink’. This method of delivery is restricted to situations such as work commitments or travel constraints where candidates are unable to attend face-to-face training.
- Following the online components, candidates must attend the on-green component, which includes ‘Marker’ and ‘Measurer’ on-green assessments.
- BOWLS LEARN, (Video Online Learning):
- Candidates attend three online sessions of approximately 2 hours each (Zoom meetings) for the ‘Marker’, ‘Measurer’ and ‘Umpire’ modules, generally spaced a week apart.
- Prior to each session, candidates are provided with assignments and reading to complete for each module.
- Following the online components, candidates must attend the on-green component, which includes on-green ‘Marker’ and ‘Measurer’ assessments followed by relevant discussion and questioning by P&A.
Depending on their interests and requirements, candidates can also choose to complete separately – the ‘Marker Module’ and/or the ‘Measurer Module’ and gain accreditation in each of these modules. This provides flexibility for a club member who chooses to officiate as a ‘Marker’ or ‘Measurer’ but not become a ‘National Umpire’.
All officiating courses are to be conducted by accredited ‘Bowls Australia Presenters and Assessors’.
All candidates should have a copy of the current:
- ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Edition’
- ‘Bowls Australia Officiating Manual – Marker, Measurer and National Umpire’
The final step in the Officiating pathway is an option to complete a World Bowls Accreditation as an International Technical Official (ITO).
The International Technical Official accreditation is designed for those who have been accredited as a National Umpire for a minimum of three years, and who wish to umpire at National and International level.
