Officials

Speed skating officials help make the sport possible, both on and off the ice. Learn more about the training and certification programs officials must follow to ensure a safe and fair environment for our skaters.

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Let’s get Official.

Many officials start with no training as a club volunteer or being informally mentored by a Certified Official in one of many positions: referee, starter, meet coordinator/competitors steward, timer, place judge, lap counter, heat box steward (clerk of the course) announcer, track steward or other volunteer roles.

The officials' accreditation system used in speed skating is jointly administered by Speed Skating Manitoba (Level 1 - 2) and Speed Skating Canada (Level 3 - 5). 

Certification includes five levels for referees and three levels for competition stewards, meet coordinators, timers, finish line judges, announcers and recorders. 

Introduction to officiating through various streams, including competition referee, starter, competition steward, meet coordinator, timer, finish judge, announcer, lap counter, and track steward.

  1. Level 1 Officials Clinic 

  2. Assist in a position at a minimum of 2 events (at least one must be SSM-sanctioned)

  3. Submission of an online upgrade request to info@speedskatingmb.com by March 31 annually. 

Level 1

Level 2

Intermediate knowledge of stream, including assistance at non-sanctioned local, sanctioned region/provincial, and sanctioned national competitions 

  1. Level 2 Clinic (meet coordinator, competition steward, timer, judge, announcer, referee, starter)

  2. Chief in a position at a minimum of 2 SSM-sanctioned competitions

  3. Assist in a position at a minimum of 2 SSC-sanctioned competitions 

  4. Submission of a request to info@speedskatingmb.com with a performance evaluation form by March 31 annually. 

Level 3A

Referee/Starter

Level 3 Clinic (meet coordinator, competition steward, referee, starter)

  1. Chief in a position at a minimum of 3 SSM-sanctioned competitions

  2. Assist in a minimum of 3 SSC-sanctioned national/international competitions

  3. Submission of upgrade request by email to info@speedskatingmb.com before submission to Speed Skating Canada by April 15 annually

Level 3B

Official/Referee/Starter

Advanced knowledge of stream including assistance at non-sanctioned local, sanctioned regional/provincial and sanctioned national competitions. 

  1. Instruct a Level 1 Officials Clinic (referees only) 

  2. Chief in a position at a minimum of 3 SSC sanctioned competitions

  3. Assist in a minimum of 3 SSC sanctioned national/international competitions 

  4. Submission of upgrade supported by 2 performance evaluation forms request by email to info@speedskatingmb.com before submission to Speed Skating Canada by April 15 annually

All applicants must complete Speed Skating Canada's requirements for Level 3 Officials.