Making the right call under pressure is one of the greatest challenges in sport.
Every Technical Official is expected to deliver accurate, consistent decisions while navigating split-second judgement calls, constant scrutiny and the intensity of world-class competition. That was the focus of the latest World Aquatics educational webinar, which brought together more than 150 elite Technical Officials from around the world on 16 July.
Led by sports psychiatrist Dr Alan Currie, Performing Under Pressure: Mental Preparation for Artistic Swimming Technical Officials explored the mental side of officiating as part of the growing Webinars for Technical Officials series on the CORAL e-learning platform.
Rather than discussing stress in theory, the session placed participants in realistic competition scenarios they could face on the pool deck. From missing a score element during a routine and handling difficult coach interactions to responding calmly during a medical emergency, the webinar examined how stress affects focus, decision-making and performance - and, crucially, what officials can do about it.
Dr Currie shared practical, evidence-based techniques that officials can use in the moment, including grounding exercises and breathing strategies designed to regain focus and maintain composure when the pressure is highest.
As competitions continue to evolve, so too does the role of the Technical Official. Success depends not only on a thorough understanding of the rules, but also on resilience, concentration and the ability to make clear decisions in demanding environments. Supporting those wider performance skills is an important part of official development.
The webinar reflects World Aquatics' wider commitment to investing in the people who make the sport possible. Through CORAL, Coaches, Technical Officials and National Federations have access to a growing range of educational opportunities, including live webinars, self-paced courses, a curated learning library and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. More live webinars and new educational content are planned in the coming months as World Aquatics continues to expand its global learning programme.
For Technical Officials, that means building on technical expertise with the social and psychological skills needed to perform consistently at the highest level – from focus and composure under pressure to clear communication and sound judgement at key moments
Certified World Aquatics Coaches and Technical Officials can now watch the full webinar on demand in the CORAL Library.