Dear CMSA Parents, 
 
Thank you for stepping up to become a USA Swimming official!

Your involvement is a huge asset to our team, and we’re excited to help you through the certification process. Below is a step-by-step outline of what you need to complete to begin working on deck and eventually become certified as a Stroke & Turn official. 

Step 1: Complete Your Online Requirements - Before you can begin shadowing at meets, the following items must be completed: 

• Non-Athlete Membership Registration - Register as an official with USA Swimming and affiliate with Southeastern Swimming (SES). Here’s the link to use: https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/6B79473C88BE12 
• Background Check - This is required for all non-athlete members. Complete it through the USA Swimming site. 
• Athlete Protection Training - Available online in your USA Swimming portal. 
• Concussion Protocol Training - Required under SafeSport and available online. 
• Stroke & Turn Online Certification Test - Once you’re logged into your USA Swimming account, take and pass the S&T test. 

 
You can find all of these at: How to Become an Official – USA Swimming 
 
Once these five items are complete and your status is active in the Officials Tracking System (OTS), you’re ready to begin shadowing. Send me an email when you are done and we will reimburse you for the certification cost!  

Step 2: Shadowing on Deck - To become certified, you’ll need to shadow at least 4 sessions, spread across 2 different meets, under the supervision of 2 different certified Stroke & Turn officials. You must shadow someone actively working as a Stroke & Turn official—not someone multitasking (e.g., announcing, starting, or handling other roles). We’ll help you coordinate shadowing opportunities at upcoming meets!

Step 3: Attend a Stroke & Turn Clinic - We’ve coordinated a Stroke & Turn Clinic between sessions at the upcoming CMSA Vance Rose Meet in October. We'll provide food, go over the rules in detail, and hold a short Q&A to make sure you feel confident and supported before stepping into an official role. This clinic is a key step in finalizing your certification and gives you the chance to learn in a relaxed, team-friendly environment alongside other new officials. 

Step 4: You’re Official! After your clinic and shadowing requirements are complete, you’ll be certified as a USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Official! You’ll be eligible to work at USA Swimming meets and sanctioned high school meets—and your support will be vital to our swimmers’ success. We’re here to help every step of the way. If you have questions or need assistance with any of the steps above, don’t hesitate to reach out. 
 
Thank you again for supporting CMSA and helping us build a stronger team from the deck up!
 
Tyler Kerns
Head Coach