USA Swimming requires all meet officials to be certified.  The majority of officials you
meet at any sanctioned swim meet are parents, just like you, who willingly volunteer
their time to provide the opportunity for all athletes to participate in fair and equitable
competitions.  However, once your are certified, our team pays for your annual
membership to USA Swimming, provides discounts on our monthly training fees, and
officials are exempt from our fair share program when they work our meets.  

Our parents are the backbone of our organization and play a significant role in our
ability to host our own meets.  We are always looking for new officials.  We provide
the training and will help you become an official.  It is a great way to help the
swimmers, meet new people and support our team.  We welcome anyone interested
to please contact Todd Patterson, [email protected]
 

Certification Standards for Officials – Mississippi Swimming Inc. (MSI)

*session – sufficient time to observe a significant number of swimmers and to observe all strokes

 

Position

Certification Requirements

Renewal Requirements

Stroke and Turn

  • Stroke and Turn Clinic
  • USA Swimming on-line Timer/Stroke and Turn test - minimum score of 80%
  • Train 4 sessions* (2 trainers with minimum 1 year exp.)
  • Evaluation by  member of the Officials Committee (any referee)
  • Every two years pass on-line Stroke and Turn re-certification test  
  • Work 4 sessions each calendar year

Starter

  • Current Stroke and Turn Certification
  • Starter Clinic
  • USA Swimming on-line Starter test - minimum score of 80%
  • Train 6 sessions (2 trainers with minimum 1 year exp.)
  • Evaluation by member of the MSI Officials Committee (any referee)
  • Maintain Stroke and Turn Certification
  • Every 2 years pass on-line Starter  re-certification test
  • Work 4 sessions each calendar year (sessions count for Stroke and Turn renewal)

Admin
Official

 

(Stroke and Turn Cert. not required)

  • USA Swimming on-line test:  Administrative Official test, – minimum score 80%
  • Administrative Official clinic, or review clinic materials online
  • Train as Administrative Referee. 4 sessions (2 trainers with minimum 1 yr. experience)
  • Train as Administrative  Official 2 sessions (2 trainers with minimum 1 yr. experience)
  • Evaluation by member of  MSI Officials Committee (any referee)
  • Every 2 years pass on-line Administrative re-certification test
  • Work 4 sessions each calendar year

Admin   Referee

  • Current Stroke and Turn Certification
  • USA Swimming on-line tests: Timer, Timing Judge, Clerk of Course, and Administrative  - minimum scores of  80%
  • Set-up and run one entire meet with Meet Manager
  • Train as Administrative Referee 6 sessions    (2 trainers with minimum 1 yr. experience)
  • Work with Certified Administrative Referee at MSI LSC Championship Meet
  • Evaluation by a member of the MSI Officials Committee (any referee)
  • Every 2 years  pass on-line Administrative re-certification test
  • Work 4 sessions each calendar year
  • Recertification as Administrative Referee satisfies all currently held positions except (Deck) Referee

 

Referee
(Deck)
  • Current Stroke and Turn and Starter Certification
  • Administrative Referee Certification*
  • Referee clinic
  • USA Swimming on-line Referee test - minimum score of 80%
  • Work as  Referee 6 sessions  (2 trainers with minimum 1 year experience)
  • Successful evaluation by chairperson of the MSI Officials Committee
  • Every 2 years pass on-line Referee re-certification test
  • Work 6 sessions each calendar year
  • Re-certification as Referee satisfies re-certification for all other positions

 

*May concurrently pursue certification for Referee and Administrative Referee – 12 total sessions

Benefits of being a USA Swimming Official

1.  You get the BEST seat in the house for the swim meet.
2.  It is a great opportunity to learn the sport so you can talk with your swimmers about it.
3.  You meet some wonderful people from all over the country and most swim meets have 
     great hospitality rooms for you to retreat to.
4.  There are tax deductions for every meet you attend since you are representing USA 
     Swimming:  a) deduct your mileage to and from the meet as well as in town, b) deduct
     your hotel room, c) deduct all of your personal meals
5.  Once you are qualified, the team will reimburse all of your registration costs and will 
     continue to pay for renewals each year.
6.  Official's are exempt from the fair share requirements, pending they stay current and 
     work meets.  
7.  Our team officials will receive discounts on monthly fees.  Discounted amount is greater 
     for the higher level of official.
8.    MOST IMPORTANT!  Swim meets cannot happen without the support of volunteers/
     parents willing to officiate the event.
 

Prior to officiating, all positions require (click on each for more information):

Created account on USA Swimming,
 
Non-Athlete USA Swimming membership (print, complete form, and return to Todd Patterson),
 
USA Swimming level 2 background check, 

USA Swimming online athlete protection training