OFFICIALS INFO
Join our team of certified officials and support our swimmers while deepening your swimming knowledge. Becoming an official is easy, and it’s a rewarding way to be a part of our swim community! No experience needed!
Why Officiate for OSHY?
Support Swimmers: Help our athletes succeed in a fair and competitive environment.
Learn and Grow: Gain a deeper understanding of swimming rules, strokes, and techniques.
Build Community: Connect with fellow swim enthusiasts and make new friends.
How to Get Started:
- Contact Us: Reach out to our Lead for Officials Jennifer Dudzinski at [email protected]
- Training: Attend online training sessions to learn officiating rules and procedures.
- Certification: Pass exams to become a certified official.
- Experience: Gain practical experience at OSHY swim meets or other swim meets.
Cost of certification is reimbursed by the Oshkosh YMCA! Please contact Lawson Harris - Aquatics Director at [email protected] or (920) 230-8913 and email a copy of your receipt to receive reimbursement for training requirements.
Official Roles:
There are multiple officials needed to run a swim meet. The below provides a high level overview. On deck officials start at the Stroke/Turn level.
The Referee: This position initiates the required whistles that signal the swimmers and timers at the beginning of each race. This position also oversees the entire pool deck and addresses any issues, concerns or problems throughout the swim meet.
The Starter: This position initiates the start of each race.Typically it is positioned next to the referee.
Stroke/Turn Official: This position is normally located at either end of the pool and judges the stroke and turns in each race.
Administrative Official (AO): This position, located in the crows nest, is responsible for overseeing the computers/software, making any deck changes on the computers, and helping the results computer analyze swim times when there are questions, concerns, or discrepancies.
Starting Signals:
While most of the swimmers will know what these signals mean, it is also useful for the timers to know them. In some cases, the starters can prompt the swimmers, particularly the youngest of the swimmers, to respond correctly to these signals.
For Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle Relays there are 4 signals:
- Multiple (typically five) short whistle blasts - next up/call to the blocks.
- One long whistle blast - step up onto the blocks.
- Verbal “take your mark” - swimmers should grab the bottom of the blocks and get into starting position.
- Starter horn - starts the race, swimmers dive off the blocks.
For Backstroke and Medley Relays there are 5 signals:
- Multiple (typically five) short whistle blasts - next up/call to the blocks.
- First long whistle blast - enter the water.
- Second long whistle blast - place hands on the blocks or the wall and feet on the wall.
- Verbal “take your mark” - swimmers should curl up in preparation for the start.
- Starter horn - starts the race, swimmers push off the wall and begin swimming.
Interested in becoming an official? Reach out to our Offical Lead - Jennifer Dudzinski at [email protected]
