Welcome to Swim Officiating

There are lots of great reasons to become a swim official…

• We need you! Maybe it looks to you like we have plenty of folks on deck…but the fact is that at most meets we have about half the number of folks we need to effectively officiate!
• Contribute meaningfully to the sport! Sitting in the stands or in a lawn chair on deck is better than not showing up for your children, but becoming an official demonstrates to them the kind of parent you are --- caring and active.
• Great view! You are right there at the point of the action.
• Hospitality! At most all meets you are ‘fed and watered’ to your hearts content.
• Camaraderie! Meet and make friends with lots of other folks from all over your area and the state, and enjoy the energy and spirit of the officials group.
• We are NOT little league…in swimming, unlike many sports, we pay for professional coaching, and rely on volunteer officials…that’s the way it should be, not the other way around!

Levels of Officiating

- Stroke and Turn

- Starter

- Deck Referee

- Meet Referee

-Clinical Instructor

What do Officials Do?

The officials help the coaches and swimmers by maintaining a fair competitive environment. Stroke and Turn Judges (S/T) will observe the swimmers after the start and report any violations of the stroke and turn rules to the Referee. Officials should never incorrectly report a violation of the rules, as it is expected that all reports are based on 100% certainty that what is reported as a disqualification is a violation of the rules. The swimmers ALWAYS get the benefit of the doubt!

Learn the Rules

Butterfly

Backstroke

Breaststroke

Freestyle

Individual Medley

Relays

The Start