Updated 2015/06

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Introduction to Officiating

Certification Process

Technical Rules

Logistics and Other Information

UIL Differences

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Introduction to Officiating

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National Governing Body for the sport US divided into 59 local governing bodies,

called Local Swim Committees (LSC’s)◦ We are in the South Texas (ST) LSC

Local officials certification responsibility of local Officials Committee◦ Documented in Policies and Procedures

Governing Officials (PPGO) National officials certification governed by

USA Swimming

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Meet Director Meet Referee Administrative Referee Deck Referee Deck Marshal Scorer Announcer Clerk of Course Head Timer Timers Head Lane Timer Starter Chief Judge Stroke and Turn Judges

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To provide a safe, fair and equitable condition for competitionEnsures there is an equal playing

fieldProtective of all swimmers

Your objective is not to catch violators, but to observe swimmers and report infractions

The swimmer always gets the benefit of the doubt

Photo: YMCA Training

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Certification Process

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Prerequisites◦ Register with USA-S and South Texas

USA-S registration fee is reimbursed http://www.stswim.org/szstxlsc/UserFiles/File/2015-

ST-Application-Non-athlete.doc

http://www.stswim.org/szstxlsc/UserFiles/File/SouthTexas-OfficialsRegistrationForm-2014-09-10.pdf

◦ Complete USA-S Background Check (BGC) and Athlete Protection Training (APT)

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Training◦ Attend the clinic and pass the Stroke & Turn/Timer

test Test is online and open book Test must be completed within 90 days of clinic

◦ Complete on-deck training 10 sessions over 3 meets No requirement to work all sessions at a meet; you

choose

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Technical Rules

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ButterflyBackBreastFreeIM

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Forward Start Head surface by 15 meters after start and after each turn Chest/shoulders past vertical to the breast after start/turn One arm pull and as many kicks as desired after start and

turns First arm pull must bring swimmer to surface of the water Up and down motion of the legs must be simultaneous,

not necessary to be at same level, shall not alternate Arms must pull and recover simultaneously, with forward

arm motions over the water Some part of the arms must break the surface of the water Simultaneous two hand touch on turns and finish at,

above or below water surface

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Start on the back, facing blocks Toes cannot be above lip of gutter or curl gutter Head must surface by 15 meter mark Must be on back throughout the race except when turning.

“On the back” means shoulders and chest past vertical to the back; arms, hands and legs no special rules

For backstroke turn CAN turn onto breast as long as followed immediately by one single or simultaneous double arm pull, which must be followed by turning motion/action

After turn, the swimmer’s shoulder must be at or past vertical to the back when feet leave the wall

Must finish on the back Can be fully submerged at (instant of) the finish

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Forward start Chest/Shoulders past vertical to the breast At start and after each turn the head must break the surface of

the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke

Head must surface during each cycle Stroke cycle is one arm pull first followed by a breaststroke

kick ALL arm movements/pulls must be horizontal to water surface

and be simultaneous; being horizontal to the surface of the water must be attained BEFORE the “first arm pull.”

Elbows remain under (forward position only) water except the last stroke into the wall at turn or finish

Breaststroke is Continued on the next page…15

Leg motion must be simultaneous Feet must be at the same horizontal and vertical plane with feet

turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick Simultaneous two hand touch on turns and finish, at above or

below the water surface Shoulders need not be parallel to the wall at turns and finishes Head can be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch,

provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding the touch.

The feet can break surface of water unless followed by a “downward” butterfly kick

After the start and at each turn 1 dolphin kick is permitted (BUT NOT REQUIRED) anytime prior to the first breaststroke kick.

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Head must surface by 15 meter mark Any style swimming allowed (exception IM and Medley Relay) Must touch wall at completion of each length Any part of body must touch wall at turn and finish Can stand on bottom, but not walk or push off Can hold lane line, but not pull on it Cannot leave pool before conclusion of race (Actually applies

to ALL the strokes, including the IM)

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Order:○ Butterfly○ Back○ Breast○ Free-can swim anything other than breast, back or

fly Intermediate turns must conform to TURN

RULES for the stroke Transition turns must conform to FINISH

RULES for the completing stroke

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4 individual swimmers◦ Swimmer order set before race-no switching order

Medley Relay order◦ Back◦ Breast◦ Butterfly◦ Free – Freesytle swimmer must swim anything other

than fly, back or breast Stroke rules apply to Medley Relay Exchange: swimmer on block can be in motion

◦ Watch the feet first and then verify the touch

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Logistics and Other Information

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1 2 3 4 5 6

15 meter mark

15 meter mark

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Turn/Finish Officials

Starter/Deck RefStarter/

Deck Ref

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◦ Freestyle Position yourself at 15 meter mark to judge heads up

◦ Backstroke Position yourself at 15 meter mark to judge heads up, then

walk toward finishing wall to judge completion of the race◦ Butterfly

Walk with swimmers Walk just behind the last swimmer For more advanced swimmers, start at 15 meter mark to

judge heads up◦ Breaststroke

Walk with swimmers Walk just behind the last swimmer

* Protocol can be changed by the Meet Referee.

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◦ Between assigned lanes At the start end, do not step forward until race starts

◦ Step forward when swimmers approach your jurisdiction

◦ Step back after swimmers have left your jurisdiction◦ Stand with one foot forward and one foot back at

the edge of the pool◦ Jurisdiction will be defined by your Meet Referee◦ Freestyle MAY be judged from the side - it will be up

to the Meet Referee◦ Backstroke starts MAY be judged from the side,

based on the Meet Referee’s decision

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Hand up, palm out, immediately Stay in position Be ready to answer the 3 questions:

1.Where were you - Jurisdiction?2.What did you see - Description?3.What rule was broken - Infraction?

DQ slip◦ Stroke and Turn Judge, Chief Judge, or Referee

may fill out slip

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One set of rules applies to all swimmers, no matter the age or ability level◦ However, rules can be modified by the Meet

Referee for a swimmer with a permanent physical or cognitive disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities

We do not judge style – we only determine if a swimmer conforms to the rules

Give equal time to all lanes, including empty lanes, so that no swimmer is watched more than others

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Always look and act professionally◦ No cell phones, food, extraneous material◦ Maintain focus, stay in position (you will get wet)

Be supportive but don’t cheer for one swimmer or team

Just as a football official does not commit pass interference and a basketball official does not foul the shooter, swimmers disqualify themselves – you are only recording it

Don’t argue with coaches or parents – let the Referee do it for you

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Meet attire – Meet uniform will be indicated in the published Meet Information Standard in South Texas LSC is white shirt over khaki shorts, skirts or long

pants (finals for some meets require long pants). Keep shirt tucked in (some shirts made for women are cut to be left

untucked – check with Meet Referee). You also need to wear white shoes.

Officials name tag should be visible What to bring to a meet

Pen Rule book

Arrive early (an hour BEFORE the session is to begin) to the meet to attend the officials meeting

You are always needed and welcome to work at meets, even if you have no children swimming

Assignment, jurisdiction and limitations are given by the Meet Referee (and at his discretion) – NEVER demand a particular assignment; however, you can always make a request (to be a “walker”, for example) at the pre-session meeting

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When do I work?◦ Work the sessions you can◦ Not required to work every session at a meet

How do I get to work?◦ If possible, ahead of time, let Meet Referee know

what meet sessions you will be able to work How do I document sessions worked

◦ Officials Tracking System (OTS) Meet Referee Individual

◦ Deck log

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UIL Differences

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Go to http://www.uil.arbitersports.com◦ Middle of page select Swimming/Diving

Go to testing to take test (closes Nov 1, 2015)◦ 2014-2015 rulebook:

http://www.amazon.com/2014-15-Swimming-Diving-Water-Rules-ebook/dp/B00NC4YM7S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414296674&sr=1-1&keywords=2014-15+NFHS+Swimming+%26+Diving+%26+Water+Polo+Rules

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One type of official Stroke differences chart:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/8c869c_809f250b7b6645af901e62d8da71b2d8.pdf

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Backstroke◦ Kick/glide permitted before and after turning

action (once head passes backstroke flags) Breaststroke

◦ Two-hand simultaneous touch required (no rule about separation

Butterfly◦ Two-hand simultaneous touch required (no rule

about separation◦ Hands must be horizontal level in stroke

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