All of the officials you see on the deck are volunteers in the Hawaiian LSC. Like you, many of the officials are parents of swimmers, but a good number of our local officials are still officiating at meets long after their children have completed their swim careers. They will tell you that it is fun to do, that they enjoy the friends they have made over the years officiating at local and national meets. They will also tell you that volunteering not only makes it possible for us to run our meets, but makes them feel better about themselves. Each of us helps to make our society a little better devoting our time to the swimmers and sport. Below you will find the certification standards we use in the Hawaiian LSC. We hope you will consider becoming an official!
Hawaiian Swimming Official Certification and Re-Certification Requirements
TIMER (Minimum Age 11)
| Education & Training | None, except pre-meet briefing. Performance monitored by Head Timer and/or Referee during the meet. |
| Evaluation & Certification | No evaluation or certification required. |
| Renewal | Based on satisfactory performance. |
JUNIOR STROKE & TURN JUDGE (Age 16-17) *9/1/24
| Education & Training | Member of USA Swimming. Attend Stroke & Turn Clinic training. Pass USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Judge certification test. Apprentice a minimum of four (4) Training Sessions total over two different meets with a Trainer (cannot make a disqualification during those apprentice sessions. Satisfactory performance. |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. Must complete certification within one (1) year from date of clinic. May officiate in competitions below LSC Championships for 12 & U athletes. |
| Renewal | When a Jr Official turns eighteen (18), their Jr. ST certification will convert to certified ST once adult membership requirements have been met. Time as a Jr ST official will convert to the S&T renewal cycle. |
STROKE & TURN JUDGE (Minimum Age 18)
| Education & Training | Member of USA Swimming. Attend Stroke & Turn Clinic training. Pass USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Judge certification test. Apprentice a minimum of four (4) Training Sessions total over two different meets with a Trainer (cannot make a disqualification during those apprentice sessions. Satisfactory performance. |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. Must complete certification within one (1) year from date of clinic. May officiate in any LSC meet. |
| Renewal | Worked a minimum of eight (8) Sessions, within a three (3) year period, at a minimum of two (2) different meets in Stroke & Turn or higher capacity. Attend Clinic every three (3) years. Pass USA Swimming recertification test every three(3) years for the highest certification held. Satisfactory performance. |
CHIEF JUDGE (Minimum Age 18)
| Education & Training | Must be certified Stroke & Turn Judge Sixteen (16) or more Sessions as certified ST. Attend a CJ Clinic or briefing of CJ duties. Have read the CJ Professional documents. Apprentice as CJ for four (4) Training Sessions at a minimum of two (2) meets with a Trainer(s). |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. May officiate in any LSC meet. |
| Renewal | Work eight (8) Sessions per year with at least four (4) as a CJ or Referee. Pass USA Swimming recertification test every three (3) years for the highest certification held. Satisfactory Performance as Chief Judge. |
STARTER (Minimum Age 18)
| Education & Training | Member of USA Swimming. Attend Starter Clinic training. Certified Stroke & Turn Judge for minimum of three (3) monts; worked at least four (4) Sessions at a minimum of two(2) meets since Stroke & Turn certification. Pass USA Swimming Starter certification test. Apprentice as Starter for at least four (4) Training Sessions total, over two (2) meets with two (2) Trainers. Trainer can be the Deck Referee. Satisfactory performance. |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. Must complete certification within one (1) year from date of Clinic. May officiate in any LSC meet. |
| Renewal |
Worked eight (8) Sessions, within a three (3) year period, as Starter.
Attend Clinic (recommend Starter) every three (3) years.
Pass USA Swimming recertificatioon testt every three (3) years for the highest certification held.
Satisfactory performance.
|
REFEREE (Minimum Age 19)
| Education & Training | Member of USA Swimming. Certified Stroke & Turn. Certified Administrative Official. Certified Starter. Attend Referee Clinic training. Pass USA Swimming Referee certification test. Apprentice as a Referee for at least four (4) Training Sessions total over two (2) meets with two (2) Trainers. Satisfactory performance. |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. Must complete certification within one year from date of Clinic. May officiate in any Referee role at any meet, except that in meets classified as USA Swimming Championships (as defined by 102.10.5), this certification may not meet the requirements of serving as the required Administrative Referee. |
| Renewal | Worked sixteen (16) Sessions, within a three (3) year period, at least eight (8) Sessions in any Referee position. Pass USA Swimming Referee recertification test every three (3) years. Attend Clinic (recommend Referee) every three (3) years. Satisfactory performance. |
ADMIN OFFICIAL (Minimum Age 18)
| Education & Training | Member of USA Swimming. Attend AO Clinic training. Pass USA Swimming Administrative Official certification test. Apprenticee as an Administrative Official for at least four (4) Training Sessions over two (2) meets with a Trainer(s). Satisfactory performance. |
| Evaluation & Certification | Apprenticeship signed off by a Certifier. Must complete certification within one (1) year from the date of Clinic. May officiate in any AO role at any meet. |
| Renewal | Worked at least eight (8) Sessions, within a three (3) year period, as an AO, or in a role identified under 102.14.1 A-D. Attend Clinic (recommend AO Clinic) training every three (3) years. Pass USA Swimming Administrative Official recertification test. Satisfactory Performance as AO. |
Notes:
Officials cannot Coach or compete in the same sessions they officiate.
Once a person is certified in a position, they are encouraged to participate in as many meets as they can to gain experience and knowledge. This will allow those running meets to have greater confidence in their ability to officiate at meets of various levels.
ALL LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION MUST TAKE THE RECERTIFICATION TEST EVERY 3 YEARS
Suspension or Decertification of an Official
Click here for the SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF OFFICIAL document.
Click here for the Decertification Process.
