Starter LSC Certification/Recertification
Starter Certification/Recertification Tests
STARTER (SR) (Minimum Age 18)
| Education & Training
|
Member of USA Swimming. Attend Starter Clinic training. Certified Stroke & Turn Judge for minimum of three (3) months; 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. |
| Recertification every 3 years recertifies LSC SR, ST |
Worked eight (8) Sessions, within a three (3) year period, as Starter Attend Clinic (recommend Starter) every three (3) years. Pass USA Swimming recertification test every three (3) years for the highest certification held. Satisfactory performance. |
| Comment |
Once a person is certified as a starter, 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 be a starter at meets of various levels. |
STARTER CERTIFICATION/RECERTIFICATION TEST
- Login to your account on usaswimming.org.
- Navigate to Education > Course Catalog > Officials > Certification Exams (or Recertification Exams).
You do not need to report your test score.
- Utah Swimming Officials’ uniform is white top, black bottoms, and black closed-toe shoes.
- Contact the meet referee of your intent to apprentice. Meet Referee contact information can be found in the Meet Information.
- Download the Starter Training Log and bring it to each session.
- Arrive on time to the Officials’ meeting, typically one hour prior to the session, sign-in to work the session, and login to the USA Swimming app to show your ‘Good Standing’ status to the Meet Referee or his/her designee.
- Have your ‘trainer’ complete the Certification Record and signed by the Meet Referee.
- At the completion of the 4th session, the Meet Referee will mark Yes or No in the Recommend Certification box. Submit the completed Starter Certification Record to [email protected].
- VERY IMPORTANT: A ‘No’ recommendation IS NOT a failure. It merely means some areas you were not exposed to or may need more practice.
- In the event it is believed that an official has not shown the necessary competency in the position after completion of the required training and apprentice sessions, the official will be provided a written action plan of the steps needed to successfully obtain certification. Written notice shall be provided to the official within 2 weeks of the last apprentice session (or submission of the appropriate documents to the Certifier).
- An apprentice may also request additional training.
- Certifier: An official designated by the LSC OC to certify training is complete and who shall record it in Officials Tracking System (OTS).
- Clinic: Formal in person or online training clinic, recorded in OTS. Current LSC training curriculum will stay in place until USA Swimming Online Certification Training is available. When USA Swimming training curriculum is available, then that will be the required training.
- Certification: The act of certifying. An official must meet certain requirements to be certified in a particular position.
- Satisfactory Performance: Demonstrates the requisite knowledge of the applicable rules and satisfactorily performs the on-deck protocols and duties for the position. Deficiencies must be provided by LSC OC, or designee, in writing to the affected official with an Action Plan to success.
- Session: Any portion of a meet distinctly separated from other portions by locale, time, or type of competition, i.e., preliminaries and finals; morning and evening; Senior or Age Group, etc., which has been sanctioned or approved by USA Swimming and recorded in OTS.
- Trainer: An official designated by the Referee at a meet, or the LSC OC, who has been certified in the position for at least one (1) year. If an official meeting the one (1) year requirement is not on deck, the Referee may select the most experienced certified official(s) to be a Trainer(s).
- Training Sessions: Sessions that include strokes and/or relays. Time Trials & Freestyle Only Sessions shall not count toward Training Session requirements. Sessions shall be recorded in OTS.
- USA Swimming Membership: Completed all USAS member associated requirements before being certified in any position.
Starter/Deck Referee Situations and Resolutions
USA Swimming Officials Certification Standards
