Ongoing assessment of Technical Officials (TOs) in Triathlon is critical in ensuring all TOs meet the required level of competence required by the World Triathlon. Feedback resulting from the ongoing assessment enables the World Triathlon together with each TO to create a specific development pathway for the TO helping them improve their skills and knowledge and apply them in different triathlon situations.

The World Triathlon TOs assessment and feedback program forms part of the Wolrd Triathlon Technical Education program, which aims to give feedback to TOs on their performance prior to, during and post events. This enables the World Triathlon to create an evidence-based database of all its TOs, which serves in the evaluation of World Triathlon’s education programs and informs the appointment of the most competent World Triathlon TOs to events.

The World Triathlon assessment and feedback program is used in respect of World Triathlon TOs Seminars and World Triathlon Events.

Assessment and feedback at World Triathlon TOs Seminars is a three-way process involving the TOs attending the seminar, the Facilitators leading the seminar, and the World Triathlon Sport Department.

a) Participant’s Assessment of the Facilitator and World Triathlon:
The TOs participating in the seminar are expected to evaluate and provide feedback on the facilitator’s presentation and performance, including the content and usefulness of the seminar itself. This is being done by completing an evaluation form at the end of the seminar.

The World Triathlon Sport Department collects all of these evaluation forms and assesses the facilitator’s performance along with the facilitator’s seminar syllabus/plan (learning outcomes, content, schedule etc.).  As a result of this process, an action plan is created for improving both the facilitator’s delivery and the seminar’s syllabus.

b) Facilitator’s Assessment of the TOs participating in the Seminar:

The seminar facilitator(s) assess the individual performance of each TO throughout the seminar. This includes their level of understanding, interest, participation, application of theory to practice, etc. This assessment is taken into consideration when certifying successful participants, along with other elements of assessment, such as written exams.

c) World Triathlon Quality Assessment:

The World Triathlon Sport Department may deploy experienced facilitators to assess the performance of the seminar facilitator(s) to confirm them as Lead Facilitators. Part of this process will include the formation of a personal action plan for each facilitator which is part of our commitment to ongoing personal development and continuous improvement. Experienced facilitators will also be deployed to quality assure TOs seminars as part of our commitment to upholding high standards and to the continuous improvement of our sports education program.

a) Assessment of the Technical Delegate (TD):
(i). By the Local Organising Committee (LOC):
The TD’s performance at an event is reviewed and assessed from the beginning of their appointment by the LOC. This assessment covers a variety of technical aspects throughout the planning and staging of the event, which are broken down chronologically into the following phases:

Pre-event;
Event Week;
During the Event;
Post Event; and
Overall conduct.
The LOC uses a standard assessment form to evaluate their TD, which is submitted to the World Triathlon Sport Department post-event.

(ii). By the Team Leader / By the World Triathlon Project Manager (as applicable):
Similar to the assessment that is being conducted by the LOC, when a Team Leader is appointed at an event (World Triathlon events only), he/she needs to conduct an assessment for their TD, following the same assessment protocol mentioned above.

b) Assessment of the Assistant Technical Delegate (aTD) by the TD:

Assessment of the aTD by the TD enables the plan for the aTD’s personal development and provides feedback to the World Triathlon on the mentorship program and the Assistant Technical Delegate’s appointment program. Since 2015, the assessment focuses on the official’s qualities listed below:

Communication;
Responsibility;
Comprehension; and
Adaptation.
The Technical Delegate for each event is responsible for performing this assessment.

c) Assessment of International Technical Official (ITO):

Similar to the aTD’s assessment process, the World Triathlon through the assigned TD, conducts an assessment of the International Technical Officials who are selected and appointed to the highest level of World Triathlon events. The qualities of the ITO that are assessed are the same as those for the aTD’s assessment protocol.

d) Assessment of Technical Officials:

The Technical Delegate for each event is required to submit to World Triathlon a post-race report as a way of transferring the knowledge gained during the event. A component of this report is an evaluation of the team of TOs. Each TO is individually assessed based on their performance at their respective positions. This evaluation is numerical from 1-5 and it does not include the analytical form that is being used for TDs, aTDs or ITOs.

e) TD’s feedback on World Triathlon management:

Through a number of pre-event and post-event conference calls between the TD and World Triathlon Sport Department, the World Triathlon TD is given the opportunity to provide constructive feedback on the management of the World Triathlon event. This feedback is valued and is taken into consideration during the annual events planning process.

f) TO’s assessment on TD (coming soon)
g) Assessments’ evaluation:

Following the assessment of all TOs and submission of the assessments to the World Triathlon Sport Department, there is a filtering process in place for this information and this is the stage where it is decided whether further follow up is needed with the technical official in question, or not. In the case that more clarification is needed about a TO’s performance, a meeting is scheduled in order to discuss and decide on an action plan or development pathway for the technical official in order to strengthen the official’s competencies.

h) Assessment Process:

The assessment process is followed for all World Triathlon Events.

The process involves both assessment and feedback not just on an individual TO’s performance on the field of play, but also and especially for Technical Delegates on the preparation before and after the event.

The assessment and feedback process is not set up to negatively criticize, intimidate or scare TOs, but rather to assist in their personal development as a TO and to assist the World Triathlon to maintain and improve standards of officiating at its events. Some people fear assessment and feedback because of previous negative experiences, fear of failure, lack of confidence, high expectations or overestimation of the level of performance required. This can affect the performance of a TO and may result in a distorted picture of the TO’s real ability.

As the assessment and feedback process can be stressful for some TOs (both the assessed Technical Official and the assessor) we use the following guidelines to reassure those being assessed and assessing:

(i). We respect the rights of TOs to have views that may differ from the assessor’s;
(ii). We recognize the Technical Official’s feelings by showing consideration and regard;
(iii). We evaluate performance, not personality;
(iv). We communicate clearly, effectively and in a friendly manner;
(v). We use the assessor’s own words and not what’s reported;
(vi). We ensure the Technical Official is informed they will be assessed and against what criteria.
The assessment and feedback process endeavours to empower TOs to develop a cooperative relationship. Although ultimately, the assessor must make a decision on performance, both parties are involved in as much of the process as possible.

The result is that the TO can take a more realistic view of their own level of competence as they have received feedback. Self-assessment is also a great method for the TO to explain their level of knowledge or performance. This is gauged by asking the TO how they think they performed at the event(s). The emphasis is on communication and participation.