Mission:  Metropolitan Swimming shall promote, develop and improve competitive swimming through education, support, and opportunities for participation, to a diverse swimming community.
 
Vision:  To inspire and provide quality opportunities for our members to achieve excellence in the sport of competitive swimming.

What to Expect as a new Metro Apprentice Stroke & Turn Official

 

1. Email the Meet Referee in Advance

  • Metro sends out a weekly email listing all the upcoming meets, including the meet referees' email addresses. Before attending meets as an apprentice, email the meet referee to introduce yourself and let them know you’ll be attending as an apprentice official. This helps the meet referee plan for your arrival and training.

 

2. Dress Code

  • Wear the official Metro uniform: a white polo shirt, navy blue pants, skirt, or shorts, and white sneakers.
  • Metro name tag. Name tags can be ordered using this link .
  • Bring a pen and the Metro Stroke and Turn Evaluation form.

 

3. Arrive Early

  • Plan to arrive at least an hour before the meet starts. This gives you time to check in, get comfortable, introduce yourself to the meet referee and sign in.
  • The Metro check-in sheet will ask for your name, team code, and your certification, AP S/T.
  • Confirm who you will be training with for the session.

4. Pre-Meet Officials’ Meeting

  • Attend the officials’ meeting and stroke briefing. Typically, the meeting is held 30-45 minutes before the session begins. The meet referee will discuss deck assignments, protocols, and meet-specific details.
  • Your trainer will guide you throughout the session, providing explanations and answering questions as you learn.

5. Observation and Learning

  • As an apprentice, your main role is to shadow your trainer and learn from their experience. Stand alongside them and observe how they watch the athletes, make calls, and communicate with other officials.
  • Your trainer will explain what they’re observing during each event and help you understand the key points for each stroke and turn.
  • Avoid pointing at athletes when asking your trainer questions.

6. Deck Rotation

  • During the meet, officials rotate through different positions on deck (e.g., stroke judge walking along the poolside, turn judge at the pool ends). Follow your trainer throug these rotations to experience different roles and see how each position functions.
  • Your trainer will teach you what to focus on in each stroke and turn, and how to recognize potential infractions.

7. Learning to Observe Athletes

  • Your primary task is to practice observing the athletes, learning to spot legal and illegal strokes, turns, and finishes.
  • Your trainer may ask you what you observed and walk you through the thought process of making a call, but as an apprentice, you are not responsible for making official calls.

8. Understanding the DQ Process

  • When your trainer observes a rule violation, they will raise their hand to signal a potential disqualification (DQ) and fill out a DQ slip.
  • Your trainer will explain how to fill out the DQ slip and why the violation occurred. Your trainer may have you fill out the DQ slip after explaining the process.

9. Ask Questions

  • Take advantage of having a trainer by asking questions throughout the session. This is a learning opportunity, don’t hesitate to seek clarification on any rules or procedures.
  • Trainers are there to help you develop, so use their expertise to gain as much knowledge as possible.

10. Safe Sport and MAAPP

  • Familiarize yourself with the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) and Safe Sport protocols. Always prioritize the safety and well-being of minor athletes.
  • Be mindful of appropriate interactions and communications with athletes, and report any concerns or violations to your trainer or meet referee immediately.

11. Post-Session Debrief and Evaluation

  • After the session, your trainer will complete your evaluation form, detailing your performance and progress during the meet.
  • Take time to discuss the evaluation with your trainer, asking any remaining questions or seeking clarification on areas where you can improve.
  • Once the evaluation is complete, have the meet referee review and sign it. This signed evaluation will count toward your apprentice requirements. Email the completed evaluation to the Metro Officials Chair .​

Key Tips for Success:

  • Stay Open to Feedback: The evaluation process is meant to help you grow. Take feedback constructively and use it to improve your skills for future sessions.
  • Focus on Learning: You’re not expected to be perfect. Focus on absorbing theinformation and understanding the process as you develop your officiating skills.
  • Watch and Learn: Pay attention to how other experienced officials operate on deck, as it will give you different perspectives on how to handle your responsibilities. 

By the end of each session, you’ll gain more confidence, and completing evaluations is a key step toward becoming a certified Stroke and Turn official!