Support your swimmer by volunteering as an official!
 
Swim meets are an essential part of competitive swimming and give athletes the opportunity to test their skills and reach their swimming goals. 
 
Officials are the backbone of a swim meet and implement the technical and administrative rules of swimming at swim meets to ensure the competition is fair for all athletes. Many volunteers are needed as officials in each swim meet in order to have consistent and fair racing opportunities for the swimmers and to ensure that each competition runs smoothly.  In Alberta, officials are volunteers who have completed Swimming Canada clinics and received on-deck training in the officiating role that they perform.
 
Without sufficient volunteer officials, swim meets cannot happen!
 
 
What are the different Officiating Positions?
Level 1
Safety Marshal
A Safety Marshal is assigned the important responsibility of maintaining a safe swim environment during warm-up by monitoring the behaviour of swimmers in and out of the pool.
 
Timekeeper
As a Timekeeper, you operate various timing devices, such as stopwatches or plungers (electronic buttons) attached to the automatic timing equipment. Timekeepers are responsible for starting their watches at the starter's signal, and stopping their watches or activating their buttons when any part of the swimmer's body touches the wall at the finish. The watch time is then recorded and used to determine the race results.
 
Level 2
Inspector of Turns (IT)
An Inspector of Turns or IT observes the swimmers from either the start/finish end or the turn end of the pool. The inspector of turns is responsible for judging the starts, finishes, and turns during each race. 
 
Judge of Stroke (JS)
A Judge of Stroke or JS walks the distance alongside the side pool, typically between the backstroke flags, and observes the swimmers on their half of the pool. The JS ensures compliance with the rules pertaining to the mechanics of the swim such as the arm stroke and kick.
 
Chief Timer
The Chief Timer assures that all lanes have timekeepers, working stopwatches and/or electronic timing buttons, clipboards, pencils, and timing cards or sheets. If a Timekeeper didn’t start their stopwatch or needs to step away from their lane during a race the Chief Timer will step in to temporarily backfill.
 
Administration Desk (formerly called Clerk of Course)
The Administration Desk checks swimmers into the meet, "scratches" swimmers that are absent or do not intend to swim an event, and seeds swimmers according to their entry times. The Admin Desk may also shepherd swimmers from a staging area to the starting blocks or other necessary tasks during a meet session.
 
Chief Finish Judge (CFJ) / Chief Judge Electronics (CJE)
The Chief Judge Electronics determines official times when electronic timing equipment is in use.
 
Starter
The Starter ensures that all swimmers receive a fair and equitable start. The Starter works closely with the referee, and assumes responsibility for the start at the referee's signal. The Starter steps the swimmers onto the starting blocks or into the water, directs the swimmers to "take their mark", and in conjunction with the referee, determines when a false start has occurred. The Starter is also responsible for making sure that the starting equipment is in working order prior to the start of a session, and may instruct the timekeepers in their duties.
 
Chief Recorder and Recorder (formerly called Recorder-Scorer)
If you know your way around a computer, the Chief Recorder and Recorder, may be the place for you. Swimmers' times are received electronically or manually by stopwatch. These times are received or entered using Hy-tek software, and are matched to the individual swimmer's name. The Recorder is responsible for bringing all this information together for posting the results of races.
 
Meet Manager
The Meet Manager is responsible for planning, organizing and executing every aspect of the meet. This individual makes sure the meet runs without a hitch. They prepare the swim meet package, complete the sanction application with Swim Alberta, arrange for equipment and items needed for the meet right to the awards presentation. This job requires someone with patience, perseverance and attention to detail to ensure the swim meet is a success.
 
Referee
The Referee has the overall authority and responsibility for seeing that the competition complies with all of the appropriate rules and regulations. The Referee resolves all questions related to the conduct of the swim meet and reviews any disqualifications.

 

How to become an Official

To volunteer as an official, you must:
  • be registered as an official with Swimming Canada (SNC) and;
  • have completed officiating clinics available on the SNC education website.
New officials are registered once an officials account has been created for them on the SNC registration system.  With a SNC officials account, the owner can:
  • Register for and complete officiating clinics as administered by SNC and;
  • Track completion of clinics and maintain their own deck log.
To request a new SNC officials account, please email the Silver Sharks Club Officials Administrator (COA) and include the following information:
  • First Name of new official =
  • Last Name of new official =
  • Email address of new official = 
  • Birthday of new official =

Once you receive your new account, log into the SNC education system and complete the following 2 clinics first, in either order:

  • Introduction to Swimming officials (Timer)
  • Safety Marshal
Once you have some experience as a Timer, you can log into the SNC education system and complete additional officials training: 
  • Inspector of Turns (IT)
  • Judge of Stroke (JS)
  • Chief Timer
  • Starter
  • Chief Recorder and Recorder (formerly called Recorder-Scorer)
  • Meet Manager
  • Administration Desk
  • Referee
Questions?
 
Please email the Silver Sharks Club Officials Administrator (COA) with any questions you have.