Official's Guide to Surf Life Saving Australia Surf Sports Officiating 2026/27

The appointment of officials rests solely with the relevant SLSA authority running the carnival, which may call for nominations.

• Minimum qualification: SLSA Officials' Accreditation, or an approved equivalent, is regarded as the minimum qualification for appointment. Probationary or on-the-job training officials may be appointed alongside accredited officials to gain experience.
• Impartiality: officials should be impartial in the discharge of their duties.
• Tasks without accreditation: people without SLSA or specialist qualifications may be appointed to tasks such as video operation, recording assistant, holding a finish pole, judge in boat, timekeeper and recorder. They are given instructions for the task and should not be placed in complex roles that could influence the outcome of an event.
• Notification and briefings: officials should be told as soon as practical of their appointment, their specific duties, and the times and places for briefings and reporting. All appointed officials must attend all briefings, and attendance should be recorded.
• Rule breaches: officials should record any infringement of competition rules or conduct violations that may be needed to support later action.
• Membership: only SLSA members, or other people duly recognised by SLSA, may participate (including officiating) in an SLSA activity.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, Introduction (g) and clauses 13.1 to 13.3 and 13.5.

The normal dress for officials is navy blue shorts, pants or skirt with a white shirt, or clothing specific to that competition.

• Protective clothing may be worn in inclement weather.
• White or blue caps or hats for maximum sun protection are strongly recommended but not mandatory. Officials are also strongly encouraged to use suitable apparel, eye protection, footwear and sunblock.
• The SLSA authority running the competition may require or provide coloured garments or other apparel to identify specific officials.
• With prior approval of that authority, the Organising Committee may provide sponsor-identified apparel for officials to wear.
• Officials should not wear club-identifying clothing at inter-club competition, or branch or state clothing at inter-branch or inter-state competition.
• Certain judges may be permitted to wear costumes, wetsuits or similar garments in their duties.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clause 13.4.

The Referee, in conjunction with the Competition Committee, is responsible for all matters relating to the actual conduct of the competition, including matters not covered by SLSA rules, and implements the rules governing the event. The Referee:

• is aware at all times of the safety and welfare of competitors, officials and others, and can immediately suspend the competition wholly or in part, referring that decision to the Safety Coordinator and the Competition Committee
• can initiate and coordinate any search and rescue actions, and must immediately notify the Safety Coordinator and the Competition Committee
• responds immediately to safety concerns from competitors, power craft, water safety personnel, officials and lifesaving or lifeguard personnel
• conducts pre and post briefings for senior officials, team managers, coaches and competitors on entry conditions, timetables, area layouts, special events, safety and emergency arrangements
• can alter the program where necessary and must communicate changes without delay, taking account of the safety and welfare of competitors and officials
• adjudicates on reports, protests, breaches of rules and unbecoming conduct, and can refer offences to SLSA for consideration of further penalty
• can disqualify or penalise a competitor, and is not required to give notification of a disqualification or penalty until the event concludes
• reports to the relevant SLSA authority on the conduct of the competition, with recommendations

The Deputy Referee assists and takes over the Referee's authority in their absence. Area and Sectional Referees control a specific area or section and answer to the Referee (or Area Referee).

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 13.12 to 13.15.

The Starter, with the Check Starter, has sole jurisdiction over competitors for the start, including any briefing on course conditions and the number of competitors to qualify for future rounds. The Starter:

• is elevated or positioned to best see that starting conditions are fair and the Check Starter's signal can be seen
• gives an appropriate signal that a start is imminent
• recalls competitors by whistle signal, second shot of the gun or another means if the start was unfair in their or the Check Starter's opinion
• has the power to disqualify or eliminate a competitor for breaking the start, wilfully disobeying orders, or any other obstruction during the start
• notifies the Sectional Referee of all disqualifications
• makes sure competitors, water safety, duty boats, judges, equipment and (in IRB events) patients are correctly positioned before starting
• refers questions about event conditions to the Referee

The Check Starter, if appointed, works with the Starter, signals when competitors are in line and ready, and is also responsible for recalling competitors if the start conditions were breached or the start was unfair. They can be called on to act as Course Judges, for example for relay baton changeovers, equipment replacement and gear positioning in team events.

A start decision by the Starter or the Referee (or their delegate) is not subject to protest. The Manual strongly recommends ear protection while starting.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 13.23, 13.24 and 14.3.2(a).

Finish Judges help set up the courses, determine the finishing order of competitors, and report any breach or infringement to the Chief Judge or the Sectional or Area Referee.

• Position: they stand on either side of the finish line, away from the finishing poles or markers, to get the best uninterrupted view of the finish.
• Judging aids: they refer to SLSA judging aids (for example video) if necessary to determine a finish.
• If judges disagree: a majority decision is taken under the supervision of the Referee or the Chief Judge.
• Reporting: they note the results and advise the Chief Judge or Referee, and where required, once results are determined, authorise the issue of placing indicators to competitors.
• Reviews and protests: a protest or appeal directly challenging a Finish Judge's decision cannot be accepted. However, on request and at their absolute discretion, officials may review their order-of-finish decisions before finalising a result.
• Electronic devices: where appointed, Electronic Device Specialist Judges (video, finish gates, cameras, drone operators and so on) may be used to judge and confirm placings. The surf lifesaving authority nominates at its discretion which source or sources determine the final decision.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 13.22.3, 13.22.7 and 14.3.2(b).

Chief Judge (responsible to the Area or Sectional Referee): supervises or helps set up courses; rosters, rotates and allocates duties for judges; positions judges to best determine the finish; makes sure finish judges know the number of placings required; adjudicates judges' or recorders' decisions if necessary; reports breaches to the Referee; and co-ordinates and confirms results, signing result cards if required.

Course Judge: a judge of fact who should, as far as possible, be in an elevated position or a boat for a constant view. They immediately report safety concerns or rescue situations to the Referee or delegate and/or Safety Officer, report rule breaches to the Referee, and check the alignment of all buoys before and during the competition, especially if conditions change.

In IRB events Course Judges also watch that driving and crew techniques comply with the Driving and Crew Safety Procedures:

• For a cautionary matter (the crew falls below the expected standard where common sense and skill are ignored, or they endanger their own safety), the Course Judge may caution the driver and crew on correct technique and reports it to the Referee.
• For unsafe or dangerous technique (the crew puts their own safety, their IRB, or other competitors or IRBs at risk of injury or collision), the Course Judge reports to the Referee with a recommendation that the crew members be disqualified from the event, or from the event and the rest of the competition.

A Course Judge in Boat must report to the Sectional Referee or Chief Judge no later than 30 minutes before the start of competition.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 13.22.2 and 13.22.5.

Only the Competition Committee can cancel, postpone or relocate part or all of a carnival: the Manual says the sole responsibility rests with the Competition Committee, advised by the Safety Committee. The Safety Coordinator is solely responsible to the Competition Committee for safety recommendations.

Authority to suspend is wider (Appendix D):

The Referee must be aware at all times of the safety and welfare of everyone involved, and can immediately suspend the competition wholly or in part, referring that decision to the Safety Coordinator and the Competition Committee.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 1.6.3 and 13.12, Appendix D.

If the Competition Committee decides to postpone, cancel or relocate all or part of a carnival, the Manual lists four primary options:

• complete relocation of the competition
• partial relocation, where only the events considered unsafe are moved
• postponement of part or all of the competition to a later date
• cancellation of part or all of the competition

If the carnival continues, the programme may be rescheduled or rationalised, which can include prioritising events and age groups and cancelling some events and age groups. Provided competition can proceed safely, the suggested priority in Appendix E gives preference to open events, then decreasing ages to younger age groups, while simultaneously increasing Masters ages.

Other points from the contingency plan:

• Weather monitoring should start about one week before a large competition, depending on its size and risk assessment. For multi-day carnivals the Competition Committee should review weather and surf forecasts each morning and evening.
• The decision to relocate should be made as early as possible, preferably the day before.
• If water conditions prevent water events but the beach is unaffected, only the water events may need to be relocated.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, section 1.6 and Appendix E.

Protest steps and time limits under the Surf Sports Manual:

1. Conditions of a race: a protest against the conditions under which a race or event is to be conducted must be made verbally to the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee before the event or race starts. It cannot be accepted at any other time.
2. Protest against a competitor, team or official's decision (including a declared result): must be lodged verbally with the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee within 5 minutes of the end of the event or the announcement of the result. The Referee may extend this, provided results have not been declared final.
3. Written protest: must then be lodged within 15 minutes of the verbal protest, on the authority's protest form (or on plain paper if no form is provided).
4. Result held: while a protest is lodged, the result is withheld or not finalised until it is decided. If the protest is upheld, placings and trophies are varied to match.
5. Record: the outcome is noted on the back of the event result card or result records, and on the protest form.

Not protestable: a start decision by the Starter or the Referee (or their delegate); and a protest or appeal directly challenging a Finish Judge's decision cannot be accepted. A competitor cannot protest the actions of another competitor or team in the same event unless they suffered direct interference.

Beach flags: a protest against an elimination must be lodged within 5 minutes or before the next run-through begins, whichever comes first.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clause 14.3.2.

Once a protest is lodged correctly, the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee (as appropriate) can either decide it or refer it directly to the Competition Appeals Panel Convenor. There is no fee for protesting a decision, or when the protest is referred directly to the Appeals Panel without a decision.

• Refusing a protest: the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee may choose not to accept a protest they consider frivolous or not of a serious nature, in their absolute discretion.
• Video evidence: video or other electronic aids may be used, but the onus is on the protestor to provide proof of authenticity, and any clearly viewable evidence and viewing mechanisms, within 15 minutes of lodging the protest.
• Deciding it: if the protest is accepted, the official decides it as they see fit, having regard to the protesting competitor, all other competitors and officials in the event, and the conduct of the event.
• Appeal: if the protest is refused or dismissed, the competitor may appeal to the Competition Appeals Panel. The appeal must be lodged in writing with the Competition Appeals Panel Convenor within 15 minutes of being told of the decision. The Referee may extend these time limits at their discretion, provided results have not been declared final.
• Panel: the Convenor appoints Appeals Committees of not less than two and not more than three people from the Panel.
• Beach flags: there is no appeal on a Referee's decision on a beach flag elimination protest, although a competitor may protest and appeal a disqualification in beach flag events if the correct processes are followed.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clauses 13.10 and 14.3.3.