Refer following notes from WPQ outlining the steps they need to take to achieve their accreditation:

 Step 1:

• Must be 14 years or older to start refereeing.

 Step 2:

• Complete the Community Referee Course on Learning Pool (Gold Membership status or higher is required).
• You can access the Learning Pool here: Learning Pool Login.
• At the end of the course, select Water Polo Queensland (WPQLD) as the assessor.

 Step 3:

• After completing the course, the individual will contact me to arrange their observation period. During this phase, they will observe a qualified referee officiating a game to gain insight into the role.
• This is also when they should connect with their club to arrange regular training games where they can gain practical experience. This ensures they learn and develop in a supportive environment, with guidance from experienced coaches, before advancing to more technical aspects. This foundational experience will be invaluable during their Shadow and practical stages.

 Step 4:

Once the observation is completed, they move on to:

•  Shadow A: Standing behind a qualified referee during a game to get a feel for refereeing on the pool deck.
• Shadow B: Officiating a game while a qualified referee observes, providing real-time feedback and support.

 This is also the mentoring stage, which varies in duration for everyone. Our goal is to ensure they are well-prepared and supported before progressing to any practical assessments.

 Step 5:

• After completing the Shadow phase and receiving sufficient mentoring, a senior referee will assess their readiness for the two practical assessments.
• Both practicals must be completed with two different WPQ assessors to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation from multiple qualified referees.

 Paperwork:

• At each stage, individuals are responsible for bringing the necessary paperwork to the pool and having it signed off. It is their responsibility to upload the completed paperwork to the provided link. Failure to do so will result in WPQ not validating their accreditation with Water Polo Australia.

 I hope this provides a clear pathway for the boys. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

 Kind regards,

 Lorena

 officials@waterpoloqld.com.au