Become a Table Tennis Umpire

How to Become a Table Tennis Umpire

A step by step guide. It starts with your Working with Children Check. It ends with your Level 2 State Umpire accreditation.

A note about this guide. Some words are in bold and inside quote marks, like "Log in". These are the words you will see on the screen. They are the names of buttons, links and courses. These words stay in English. If you read this guide in another language, look for these English words when you use the websites.

Section 1. Apply for your Working with Children Check

If you already have a current Working with Children Check, go to Section 2.

Every officiating accreditation needs a current Working with Children Check. Apply as a volunteer. In most states this is free or low cost.

Find your state in the table below. Go to the website. Follow the steps on the website to apply.

Save a copy of your Working with Children Check on your computer or phone. You will upload it in Section 3.

Section 2. Become a member

If you are already a member of a club or association, go to Section 3.

Option A. Join a club near you

1. Go to www.tabletennis.org.au/club-finder/.
2. Find a club near you.
3. Open the website of that club. Sign up as a member.

When you join a club, you also become a member of your State Association and of Table Tennis Australia.

Option B. Join through the education website

Choose this option if you are new to the sport and you only want to become an umpire.

1. Go to www.tabletenniseducation.org.au.
2. Click "Join Now".
3. Complete the registration.

All table tennis websites in Australia use one system. The system is called revolutioniseSPORT, or RevSport. You have one login. The same login works on the Table Tennis Australia website, on your State website and on your club website.

Section 3. Complete the Working with Children Check course

Spin Academy is the online learning platform of Table Tennis Australia. It is hosted by eTrainu.

There is a guide with pictures for steps 1 to 7. It is at www.tabletennis.org.au/news/how-to-access-spin-academy

1. Go to any table tennis website. This can be the Table Tennis Australia website, your State website or your club website. Click "Log in" at the top right.
2. Enter your login details and your password. Click "LOG IN".
3. Click "Account".
4. Find the "Spin Academy" tile. Click "LOG IN". Spin Academy opens in a new window.
5. Click "Training Library".
6. Under "Course Categories", find "Umpire Courses". Click "View courses".
7. Find the course called "Working With Children Check/Blue Card". Click "Enrol".
8. You will receive an email. The email says that you are enrolled in the course.
9. Click "My Training" on the left side of the screen.
10. Under "Not Started or In Progress Courses", find the course. Click "View".
11. Click "Start".
12. At the bottom right of the page, click "Take Assessment". A new window opens.
13. Click "Browse". Find the copy of your Working with Children Check on your computer or phone.
14. Click "Upload". Then click "Submit".
15. A staff member at Table Tennis Australia will check your document. They will mark the course complete. You will receive an email when this is done.

Section 4. Complete the Code of Behaviour and Level 1 Community Umpire courses

You must complete both of these courses. Do the Code of Behaviour course first.

The Level 1 Community Umpire course takes about 2 to 3 hours. It is online. You can do it at your own speed.

You cannot do the Level 1 exam until two other courses are complete. These are the Working with Children Check course in Section 3 and the Code of Behaviour course. Do these two courses first.

1. In Spin Academy, click "Training Library". Under "Course Categories", find "Umpire Courses". Click "View courses". Both courses are in this category.
2. Find "TTA Code of Behaviour". Click "Enrol". Complete the course.
3. Go back to "Umpire Courses". Find "Level 1 - Community Umpire". Click "Enrol".
4. Complete the modules. They cover the basic rules of table tennis. This includes equipment, definitions, the serve and the return, the order of play, lets, points, the format of a game and a match, and serving, receiving and ends.
5. Complete the exam.

Remember: the exam is locked until the Working with Children Check course and the Code of Behaviour course are complete.

You are now a Level 1 Community Umpire. You can umpire at club competitions and community competitions.

Section 5. Complete the ASC Community Officiating Essential Skills course

You must complete this course and upload your certificate first. Then you can enrol in the Level 2 State Umpire course in Section 6 and pay for it.

The Australian Sports Commission runs this course. It is free. You do this course on the Australian Sports Commission website. You do not do it on Spin Academy.

Part A. Complete the course

1. Go to www.ausport.gov.au/officiating/education/essential-skills.
2. Click "Sign up for officiating course".
3. Create an account on the Australian Sport Learning Centre. If you already have an account, log in.
4. Enrol in the Community Officiating Essential Skills course.
5. Complete all seven modules. The modules are: 1. Who you officiate. 2. How you improve. 3. What you officiate. 4. How you officiate. 5. Where you officiate. 6. How you connect. 7. How you engage. You can only get the certificate after all seven modules are complete. The certificate can take up to one hour to appear.
6. Download your certificate. Click "Record of Learning". Click the "Programs" tab. Click "Community Officiating Essential Skills Course". Click "Community Officiating Essential Skills Certificate". Click the "Certificate" tile. Click "View certificate". The certificate downloads to your computer or phone.

Part B. Upload your certificate to Spin Academy

These steps are the same as the steps in Section 3.

1. In Spin Academy, click "Training Library". Under "Course Categories", find "Umpire Courses". Click "View courses". Find "ASC Essential Skills in Officiating". Click "Enrol".
2. Click "My Training" on the left side. Under "Not Started or In Progress Courses", find the course. Click "View".
3. Click "Start". At the bottom right of the page, click "Take Assessment". A new window opens.
4. Click "Browse". Find your certificate on your computer or phone. Click "Upload". Then click "Submit".
5. A staff member at Table Tennis Australia will check your certificate. They will mark the course complete. You will receive an email when this is done.

Section 6. Complete Level 2 State Umpire, Principles (Part 1)

This is Part 1 of 2 for the State Umpire accreditation. It is online. You can do it at your own speed. Most people finish in 1 to 2 weeks.

1. In Spin Academy, click "Training Library". Under "Course Categories", find "Umpire Courses". Click "View courses". Find "Level 2 State Umpire - Principles (Part 1)". Click "PURCHASE". This course costs $75.00.
2. Complete the five modules. The modules are: 1. Laws of Table Tennis, Part 1. 2. Laws of Table Tennis, Part 2. 3. Regulations for International Competitions. 4. Para Table Tennis Rules. 5. Knowledge Check.
3. Pass the "Knowledge Check". You need 70% to go on to Part 2.

Section 7. Complete the SIA Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport course

You must complete this course before you attend the Basic Practical Training seminar in Section 8. You can do this course at any time before that seminar.

Sport Integrity Australia runs this course. It is free. You do this course on the Sport Integrity Australia website. You do not do it on Spin Academy.

Part A. Complete the course

1. Go to elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au. Create an account. If you already have an account, log in.
2. In the course catalogue, find "Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction". Enrol in the course.
3. Complete the course. It covers what a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is, who it applies to, child safe practices, and how to recognise and report a possible breach.
4. Download your certificate to your computer or phone.

Part B. Upload your certificate to Spin Academy

These steps are the same as the steps in Section 3. Note that this course is in a different category.

1. In Spin Academy, click "Training Library". Under "Course Categories", find "Child Safety". Click "View courses". Find "TTAus - SIA - Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction". Click "Enrol".
2. Click "My Training" on the left side. Under "Not Started or In Progress Courses", find the course. Click "View".
3. Click "Start". At the bottom right of the page, click "Take Assessment". A new window opens.
4. Click "Browse". Find your certificate on your computer or phone. Click "Upload". Then click "Submit".
5. A staff member at Table Tennis Australia will check your certificate. They will mark the course complete. You will receive an email when this is done.

Section 8. Complete Level 2 State Umpire, Training (Part 2)

This is the practical part of the accreditation. It usually takes about six months. It must not take more than 12 months. The more you umpire, the sooner you finish.

1. In Spin Academy, click "Training Library". Under "Course Categories", find "Umpire Courses". Click "View courses". Find "Level 2 State Umpire - Training (Part 2)". Click "PURCHASE". This course costs $100.00.
2. After you pay, send an email to education@tabletennis.org.au. Tell Table Tennis Australia that you have signed up and that you are ready for the final part.
3. Your State Association will introduce you to your Mentor. Your Mentor is also called your Assessor. Your Mentor guides you through the rest of the process.
4. Attend the Basic Practical Training seminar. Your State Association runs this seminar. It takes 4.5 hours. It starts with an exam. The exam takes 30 to 40 minutes. You cannot use notes or books in the exam. The questions are similar to the Knowledge Check. The seminar then covers scoresheets, how to check the net and the rackets, how to show the score, hand signals, behaviour regulations, how to time a match, and match procedures.
5. Complete the Oral Assessment with your Mentor. You need an average of 70% across the exam and the Oral Assessment together.
6. Umpire four tournament matches with your Mentor. At least one of these must be a doubles match. The first match shows your starting level. The next matches help you improve. The last match is assessed. You can do all four matches at one tournament. Your Mentor can be with you in person, or your Mentor can work with you online.

Section 9. Final sign-off

1. When you finish the four matches, your Mentor sends you a final competency completion document by email. Your Mentor also sends a copy to education@tabletennis.org.au.
2. Go back to Spin Academy:
   1. Click "My Training" on the left side. Under "Not Started or In Progress Courses", find "Level 2 State Umpire - Training (Part 2)". Click "View".
   2. Click "Start". At the bottom right of the page, click "Take Assessment". A new window opens.
   3. Click "Browse". Find the document on your computer or phone. Click "Upload". Then click "Submit".
   4. A staff member at Table Tennis Australia will check your document. They will mark the course complete. You will receive an email when this is done.
3. You are now a Level 2 State Umpire. You can umpire at State Championships and at Regional competitions.

Do you have a question? Go to www.tabletenniseducation.org.au/officiating or send an email to education@tabletennis.org.au