Officiating 101
Swim meets are an essential part of the sport of swimming allowing athletes to test their skill and reach their swimming goals!
Swimming Officials implement the technical and administrative rules of swimming and ensure the competition is fair for all athletes.
In Ontario, official’s positions are filled by volunteers including parents, family members, and individuals dedicated to the sport of swimming. To qualify as a swim official individuals attend clinics and receive on-deck training.
WAC, like all swim clubs in Canada relies heavily on parents participating as officials. Most parents complete the Timer and Safety Marshall Clinic and the Stroke and Turn Clinic and spend their time on deck as Timers, Head Lane Timers, Stroke Judges or Turn Judges. However, all volunteers are encouraged to move beyond these entry-level officials’ positions. It will add a little variety to the volunteer experience and help fill an ever-present need to develop deck officials.
DESCRIPTION OF OFFICIALS’ POSITIONS
As a TIMEKEEPER, you operate various timing devices, such as stopwatches or electronic buttons attached to the automatic timing equipment. Lane timers 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.
The TURN JUDGE observes the swimmers from either the start/finish end or turn end of the pool. The turn judge is responsible for judging the starts, finishes, and turns during each race
The STROKE JUDGE walks the distance alongside the side pool, typically between the backstroke flags, and observes the swimmers on his half of the pool. The stroke judge ensures compliance with the rules pertaining to the mechanics of the swim such as the arm stroke and kick.
The CLERK OF COURSE greatly contributes to a well-run meet. The clerk of course checks swimmers into the meet (for meets that are marshalled), "scratches" swimmers that are absent or do not intend to swim an event, and seeds swimmers according to their entry times. The clerk of course may also shepherd swimmers from a staging area to the starting blocks (Marshalling).
The CHIEF TIMER assures that all lanes have timers, working stop watches and/or electronic timing buttons, clipboards, pencils, and timing cards or sheets and bells when required.
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 marks", 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 timers in their duties.
If you know your way around a computer, the 2 positions in ELECTRONICS (Chief Judge of Electronics/Chief Finish Judge/ Scorer Recorder), may be the place for you. The swimmers' times are received electronically through the Omega timing system or manually by stopwatch. These timing results are received or entered into the Hy-Tek Meet Manager software, where they are matched to the individual swimmer's name. The CJE/CFJ is responsible for overseeing the City Operated Omega in determining that the order of finish and that times received electronically from the system are correct. The Recorder is responsible for bringing all this information together, for posting the results of races, entering disqualifications and for printing labels for the awards.
The SAFETY MARSHALL is assigned the important responsibility of maintaining a safe swim environment which may include supervision of warm-up sessions, crowd control on deck, and supervising the behaviour of swimmers in and out of the pool.
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.
The MEET MANAGER is responsible for planning, organizing and executing every aspect of the meet. This individual makes sure it runs without a hitch. They prepare the swim meet package, complete the sanction application with Swim Ontario, 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.
SWIM OFFICIALS – WHO, WHAT, WHY & WHEN?
Each swim meet requires a large number of Officials and Volunteers to make a meet successful. The chart above indicates the number of officials and volunteers required to run one session in a 25 or 50-meter pool.
.JPG)
Officials Attire
Swimming Canada Officials attire and look has changed as part of the review and updating process of the Swimming Canada officials programming. This coming year WAC along with all clubs in Canada will wearing the new officials look at all swim meets.
For the upcoming Swim Season ALL WAC Officials & Volunteers both "on - deck" and "off-deck" will be required to wear the official’s attire (this means everyone from the Referees to the volunteers selling programs).
To Officiate/Volunteer WAC uses...
It is easy to use and each individual family member can have their own account. Below is a link to show you how to create and account, sign up for a meet that WAC is hosting, and how to search for a meet to sign up.
If you have any questions or comments please contact the Club Officials Chair
WAC Officials 2022-23 Swim Season
WAC will have both Club Officials’ Chair and a Club Officials Administrator.
- All Officials (those who have taken the level 1 clinic) are required to submit the following 2 documents to the Club Officials Administrator in order to begin this years registration process:
1. Officials Registration Application
2. SNC / SO PIPEDA Consent Form
(Personal Information Protection & Electronic Documents Act)
Local In House Officials Clinics
Stay posted for hosted clinics throughout the year - held upstairs in the WIATC.
Swimming Canada E-Learning
Instructions to access to E-Learning website
E-Learning link - https://edu.swimming.ca/
