Team officials requirement:

For both home and away meets, each team is responsible to supply a certain number of trained and carded officials. The number of officials is based on the number of swimmers the team has entered in the meet. Those teams who have not provided a sufficient number of officials may have their swimmers treated as “exhibition only”, which may prohibit them from earning points, awards, ribbons, or swimming in finals. The requirement applies to each session of the meet.

Volunteer officials are the most important volunteer positions required by a team. Since practice groups may attend different sessions and meets, volunteer officials are needed from each age group.

 

If you are interested in volunteering as a WAC official for the 2023-2024 season:

 

Upcoming Officials clinics:

SNS Administrative Referees (AR) Clinic: October 10, 2023 @ 6:30 PM

For ALL Returning Administrative Referees (AR)

​​After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 

SNS Administrative Officials (AO) Clinic: October 11, 2023 @ 6:30 PM

For ALL New, Prospective & Returning Administrative Officials (AO)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 

Steps to become a USA Swimming Official in Sierra Nevada Swimming:

  1. Attend an annual clinic. Clinics are held quarterly (Sep/Jan/Apr/Jul).

  2. For New officials, email the SNS officials coordinators ([email protected]) and introduce yourself as New. Provide your whole name, your team, and your contact information. This will get you onto the SNS officials email list and also give you the clinic credit. 

  3. Register and pay for USA Swimming non-athlete/Officials membership (~$80). Use the same team link as you use to register your swimmer.

  4. Complete a Level 2 Background Check (~$40) 

  5. Complete Athlete Protection Training

  6. Complete CANRA/Mandatory Reporting: Understanding Your Responsibility Training 

  7. Complete Concussion Protocol Training.  Send concussion protocol training proof to the SNS Registrar (Mark Brown, [email protected]) to apply to your account.

  8. Download Rule Book (https://www.usaswimming.org/officials/ and on the USA Swimming phone app)

  9. Complete Stroke + Turn test

  1. Complete 6 training sessions with a mentor. You need to have your USA swimming Officials registration and complete the background check, APT, and concussion training before you work a meet. Make sure you print a training slip and have it signed by the Meet Referee.

    • This can be done at any Sierra Nevada swim meet, it does not even need to be a meet that WAC is attending. You can go to SwimConnection to see all upcoming SNS meets and see the meet sheets (https://ome.swimconnection.com/meets). Email the Meet Referee (listed in the Meet Sheet) to let them know to expect you.

    • Print training slip prior to 1st training session (Stroke-and-Turn: https://www.snofficials.com/s/StrokeTurn-Training-Slip.pdf)

  2. Once you complete the 6 training sessions, you will be qualified to work independently. You need to complete 4 sessions as a certified official in the given year to carry over to the next year.

  3. You are eligible for team reimbursement of the annual USA officials registration (~$80) and the background check (~$40) after you work 6 sessions as a certified official in one year.

  4. Uniform: white sneakers, blue pants/shorts, white polo shirt, clipboard. Don't go immediately to buy a bunch of white polos. Some of the bigger meets give white polos to officials who work a majority of the sessions. 

  5. Download the USA Swimming app from your Apple or Android App store.

 
Notes:

  • Please check your junk folder, and add [email protected] to your contacts so that you get updates.

 

Useful links:

  1. USA swimming site: https://www.usaswimming.org/officials/

  2. Sierra Nevada Swimming site: https://www.teamunify.com/team/snslsc/page/home (Officials and Volunteers)

  3. Sierra Nevada Swimming officials site: https://www.snofficials.com

  4. Training videos: https://www.youtube.com (search USA Swimming officials training video)

  5. Stroke briefing: https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/officials-training-resources/clinic-resources/officials-briefing.pdf

  6. Stroke clinic: https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/officials-training-resources/clinic-resources/stroke-and-turn-judge-clinic-powerpoint.pptx

  7. Guidelines (“Professional” Stroke & Turn Official): https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/national-certification-and-evaluation/professional-official/professional-stroke-and-turn-official.pdf

  8. Guidelines (“Professional” Administrative Official): https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/national-certification-and-evaluation/professional-official/professional-adminstrative-official.pdf

  9. Guidelines (“Professional” Chief Judge): https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/national-certification-and-evaluation/professional-official/professional-chief-judge-07-22.pdf

  10. Sample situations and resolutions: https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/officials-training-resources/situations-and-resolutions/situations-and-resolutions-stroke-and-turn.pdf

  11. Recommended supplies: