FINA Beginner Judging School Increases our Judging Community

Latest FINA Judging Clinic a success

Synchro competitions can't run without judges and the lastest FINA Beginner Judging School, held in Auckland, has seen our NZ judging pool grow by over 20%.   Hosted by SSNZ, FINA A Judge Gabriela Marina Viglino presented a 3 day workshop to get new judges up to speed. Participants came from all over New Zealand and were put through their paces, studying FINA resources, becoming familiar with FINA rules, learning basic movements and positions for figures, and covering technical and artistic elements for routines. 

SSNZ Board Member, Katie Bruffy who has the Judging Portfolio, says "Everyone enjoyed the course and there were many entertaining and memorable highlights. Gabriela was a fantastic teacher and broke down the judging components in an easy way for the participants to learn quickly." Gabriela Viglino from Argentina, is a highly experienced FINA A Judge - and has judged in many countries around the world.  She is also an experienced Evaluator, who we hope to get to Nationals to support our wider judging pool.  

Shirley Hooper, SSNZ Chair, says "The Board is very appreciative of the support provided by FINA to help us bring Gabriela to New Zealand. It is one of our mandates to grow our judging community in New Zealand and Judges Schools such as this allow us to achieve that goal.  FINA has a new Judging Pathway - comprised of Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Judging Schools.  Judges who want to move up the pathway are encouraged to attend these as they come up in future." 

Just in time for the North and South Island Championships in June, many of these judges will get the chance to  put their new knowledge to use.