How to Become a Stroke & Turn Official - Updated 9/15/2022

NEW OFFICIAL CHECKLIST 
Send all apprentice session forms to Becky Gilpatrick - [email protected]

All certification items need to be completed within one (1) calendar year

___ Attend New Officials’ Stroke & Turn Clinic

· View USA Swimming Instruction Video (NOTE: Rule not found in video – separated two hand touch in breaststroke & butterfly)

___ Create a USA Swimming Account 

· Go to https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/B54330122E8543 to begin the process.

· If you have not created an account with USA Swimming,  see page 2 for instructions on setting up your user ID and password.

· If you have created an account since 9/1/22 and registered your swimmers, do not create another account. Go to the next step.

___ Register as a Non-Athlete Member

· Go to the URL listed above and login to USA Swimming’s website with your user ID and password from the previous step. 

· The Welcome screen should show your LSC as Kentucky Swimming and your Club as Unattached.  Hit “continue”.

· When asked “Who is the membership for?” Select “The membership is for myself”.  Then complete the form as prompted.

· On the membership types page, scroll down and select “Apprentice Official”.  No payment is required for apprentice officials.   

· Once all of the certification requirements are completed and you are ready to become a full member, your club will provide a registration link
   and you’ll go through the registration process again and pay the membership fee. 

___ Complete a Background Check

· You have 60 days to complete the Background Check on the usaswimming.org website. After this time, you will not be able to  apprentice until after the Background Check has been completed.

· You must be registered with USAS to access the background check.

· Login to usaswimming.org. Then go to Education> Course Catalog> All Courses> Background Screening

· There is a $38 fee to complete the Background Check.

___ Complete SafeSport Athlete Protection Training

· You have 60 days to complete the Athlete Protection Training on the usaswimming.org website. After this time, you will not be able to apprentice until after the Athlete Protection Training has been completed. 

· You must be registered with USAS to access the athlete protection training.

· Login to usaswimming.org. Then go to Education> Course Catalog> All Courses> Athlete Protection Training

___ Complete Concussion Protocol Training

· Complete one of the two options. 
  National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)  or
  Center for Disease Control - Heads Up

· When the course is completed, you will receive a certificate via email.  Forward a copy of the certificate to [email protected]

___ Take Certification Stroke and Turn/Timer test 

· Contact Becky Gilpatrick, KY Swimming Officials’ Chair, at [email protected] when you are ready to take your test. 

 ___ Apprentice 4 sessions

· Wear white top, khaki bottoms, white shoes

· Download Apprentice Verification form on kylsc.org “Meet Forms” page

· Inform Meet Referee of your intention to apprentice, contact info found in the meet information

· Attend stroke briefing 45-60 minutes prior to each session – Be sure to SIGN IN

· MUST have Apprentice Verification form filled out by your mentor official for each session

· Apprentice with various ages/levels of swimmers to gain a variety of experience

· Submit your completed Apprentice Verification Form to KY Swimming Officials’ Chair. Contact info is below.

Once all of the steps above are completed and your certification has been processed by the KY Swimming Officials Chair, you will receive a name tag and further instructions regarding the credentials you’ll need to present when working at meet

Additional Resources

· KYLSC.ORG Officials page. New Official Info found on dropdown menu

· USASWIMMING.ORG – member resources > officials

· Officials Tracking System (OTS) - CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION