17th June 2022

MEET THE OFFICIALS - MARK STRINGER

MARK STRINGER

Field judge Level 4

North Ayrshire AC.

 

How long have you been an official?

I have been an official for about 13 years. I was a club athlete with Whitemoss AAC although I’m now coaching with North Ayrshire AC. I took part in sprints, hurdles and jumps events but picked up a few injuries. When the club offered an introduction to officiating course, I thought I’d give it a go.

 

Where are you in your officiating journey? (Level/discipline)

I took the course as I was going into my probationary year for teaching having graduated the year before, so the timing was good. I took the field judge course and was lucky enough to get selected as a young official as part of the 2012 legacy programme which was a great experience. So, I was a field judge at both the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics. I didn’t expect that after just two years as an official but it made me realise what can happen.

In 2014 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow I was in the technical team. Then in 2017 I was a field judge at the World Athletics Championships and in the technical team at the World Para Athletics Championships. I have been fortunate in how many champs we have hosted in the UK. At the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships I was Technical Manager in Glasgow. I have the Commonwealth Games again coming up this summer where I am Clerk to the Course in the technical game.

I have worked up the levels to level 4 field judge and have also taken the track official course and I am level 3 at photo finish so I can spread my wings a bit.

In the technical team we are preparing all the equipment – for example, javelin, hurdles racks, for each session is in place across all disciplines so it is a very early start and late finish at championships.

In 2019 I was awarded the Sport Scotland’s Technical Officials award and in 2012 I had received the Young Volunteer of the Year award. I was also awarded Scottish Athletics Volunteer of the Year.

In 2014 our technical team from 2014 Commonwealth Games also received the Official of the Year.

 

Favourite moment as an official

The London Olympic Games so soon after I started was a special moment. I officiated at the heptathlon long jump with Jessica Ennis during the morning of ‘Super Saturday” and in the evening session I watched from the stands so that was very special.

Getting the role of Technical Manager for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow was also a great achievement as it was the first European event I had done and the first time I was in charge of the technical team so a lot of responsibility.

 

What do you love most about officiating?

I love being involved and helping the athletes compete and seeing them achieve their best. Watching some of the youngsters’ progress from grassroots through the ranks to senior and gaining GB vests is great to see.

It is like another wee family because you are working with other people and you can learn from it. It has helped me to develop as a person and has helped me as a teacher using my skills and communicate with others.

 

What are your ambitions in officiating?

I would like to gain some experience as an official in another country outside the UK either at an Olympics, a world, Commonwealth or European Championships. It would be great to see how it is organised and learn from it in a different environment and meet people from other countries. I think I could learn a lot from others.

I would also like to achieve level 5 which I am working towards at the moment as this would give me opportunities for some international events.

 

What would you tell others who are thinking of becoming an official?

Go for it! Volunteer and then see if you like it. I now tutor for some of the field level one courses and it is great to encourage newcomers to get into officiating. It can seem daunting, but it really isn’t once you start and it can be very rewarding.

You can do what you can when you can. Don’t think about the barriers as there is always a way around it.

Describe what officiating means to you in 3 words

  • Enjoyable
  • Valuable
  • Teamwork