Photo Finish

For anyone with an eye for detail and a interest in the technology

Photo Finish combines the drama of a close race with genuinely interesting technology. Using the latest camera and software systems, Photo Finish officials are the ones who settle it when a race is too close to call by eye — determining exact finishing positions and times down to the hundredth of a second. It's open to anyone 16 or over with an interest in how the technology works alongside the sport.

Level 1 Photo Finish

A three-hour course covering:

• The roles and responsibilities of a Photo-Finish Judge, and the specific tasks that come with them
• How a photo finish image is actually created — the technology behind what you'll be reading
• How to interpret that image accurately, under time pressure, to produce a correct result

From here: gain a minimum of two competition experiences, upload your licence photo to Athletics Hub, complete your Access NI check, complete the self-taught Safeguarding and Health & Safety modules, and submit the Level 1 Track and Field application form to officials@athleticsni.org.

Our courses run throughout the year. Wherever possible, we aim to deliver them face-to-face with our Northern Ireland-based tutors. However, where demand is lower, some courses may be delivered online through our colleagues in the other Home Countries.

If you're interested in any of our officiating courses or disciplines, please complete an Expression of Interest form here.