Support Our Athletes

Why become an official?

• Support an excellent sport for children and promote a healthy lifestyle for children.
• You will gain a more thorough understanding of competitive swimming.
• Fulfill your volunteer obligations. 
• Get closer to the action; know what’s happening on deck with the “most awesome seat” at the pool.
• Get mentally and physically engaged during the meet rather than merely “spectating.”
• Receive free admission and great hospitality during sessions officiated.

STEP 1: USA Swimming Registration

• Using the link provided by your club, you can register yourself as an official through the USA Swimming site.
• Chances are, you created an account when registering your athletes. Go ahead and login with the same user and password so your registration will be linked with your athletes. 
   
• If you have not created a login with the new SWIMS platform released 9/1/22, please use this handy guide to create your login and attach your previous member record to your new login.
• Cost is $80.00 – Ask your Club if they will reimburse you.  Many do!

STEP 2:  USA Swimming Athlete Protection Policy

All Non-Athlete USA Swimming members, including Officials, must complete the following:

• USA Swimming Criminal Background Check (regardless of any previous criminal background check you may have completed). There is a $39 fee for first-time officials.
• Take the Athlete Protection course.  It takes about 20 minutes.
• Take a Concussion Protocol Training course. You can take either the CDC or NFHS versions. Submit your certificate to Missouri Valley upon completion. Please note: You MUST submit this certificate with this link, as your progress is not recorded on the USA Swimming site automatically. 
   
• NOTE:  Prior to getting taking your APT training you will need to set up an account on the USA Swimming Site.  Simply click Sign-In in the upper right hand part of the page.  You will also need to have completed your registration as a non-athlete member.  Please use the exact same name for registration, background check and APT.

STEP 3:  Start Your Training
 

Complete the Online Training Courses     

• Complete the “Foundation of Officiating” and “Stroke and Turn Certification and Assessment” courses found on the USA Swimming website.  These can be access through the Education tab once you have logged into your account.

Apprentice On-Deck

• The Stroke & Turn is required to work with a full status official for a minimum of four meet sessions (not including Time Trials).  In order to provide the trainee with the opportunity to work with a number of experienced officials, these four or more meet sessions must be worked at a minimum of TWO DIFFERENT MEETS.  These work sessions shall be recorded in the Official’s Tracking System database via the USA Swimming official’s website by the meet referee.

Certification

USA Swimming Certifications – You can confirm your certifications you have achieved after you have registered and successfully completed the Criminal Background Check and USA Swimming online Athlete Protection Training module.

• Log in you your USA Swimming account
• Click "My Official History," under the Officials tab.

Questions about your certification should be sent to:  [email protected]