There are Level 1 and Level 2 classes in September and October 2024.
Check "here" for the class details.
Welcome to the PSSA Officials Webpage!
The purpose of this page is to provide Puget Sound Swimming Association (PSSA) officials with resources that will help each official improve their skills, recruit officials for meets, and provide resources such as stroke training videos and meet forms.
Who are PSSA Officials?
PSSA officials are usually parents of children who are swimming as members of one of the YMCA’s teams that belong to PSSA. These parents volunteer their time to learn the rules of swimming and then help run the various swim meets.
PSSA is made-up of swim teams located at the following YMCAs:
- North - Snohomish, Skagit Valley, and Whatcom.
- Central - Greater Seattle Y teams (Auburn, West Seattle, Northshore)
- South - Gordon, Grays Harbor, Lakewood, Mel Korum, Morgan, Bremerton, Haselwood, Tom Taylor, and Briggs (South Sound.)
In addition to parents there are other people who become officials because they see the benefits that swimming offers children and who believe in the YMCA’s vision of “Youth Development, Health Living, and Social Responsibility.”
Key contacts for PSSA Officials
| Name: |
Title: |
Role: |
Email: |
| Dave Baer |
PSSA League Official Commissioner YMCA Swim Official Trainer |
Rules on all league technical competitive questions. Teaches all YMCA levels |
|
| Earl Long |
Pacific NW YMCA Regional Officials coordinator & Trainer |
Teaches all YMCA Levels |
|
| Linda Vicik |
YMCA Swim Official Trainer |
Teaches all YMCA levels |
|
| Chris Fako |
YMCA Swim Official Trainer |
Teaches all YMCA Levels |
|
| Jim Cornforth |
YMCA Swim Official Trainer |
Teaches all YMCA levels |
Roster of officials = This is a list of all the PSSA Officials as of December 29, 2023. The list is now three pages divided by the divisions as well as by Level 1, Level 2, and Adminiastrative Officials (AOs). The list is located at:
| Click here for the PDF Version |
|
If you have any changes to your information on the Roster of Officials, please email those changes to Earl Long at [email protected] |
Resources:
There are a number of resources available that can help you become a better official. These are:
National YMCA website. There are many resources on the National YMCA website. Here are several links that you should find particularly helpful:
Information for Officials – This link provides information on YMCA Swimming.
Training Levels – This link describes the three types of officials that are required for swim meets. These are Level I (Stroke & Turn Judges), Level II (Starter and Referee), and Administrative Officials (ensures the results are accurate and complete).
Official uniform attire and dress code – YMCA officials should dress for swim meets according to the uniform standards described in (Hint - it’s a white polo shirt, navy blue bottoms, white socks, ad white shoes):
YMCA Swim Officials Shirts - vendor for purchasing white officials shirts
Officials Requirements for YMCA Meets – For all YMCA meets, at least two officials must be YMCA Certified including one certified as a Level II Official who acts as the Referee:
- Dual Meets require at least three (3) officials including a Starter, a Referee and an Administrative Official. The Starter and Referee may also serve as Stroke & Turn judges, if necessary.
- All other meets require at least four (4) officials including a Referee, a Starter (who may also act as a Stroke & Turn judge), a Stroke & Turn judge and an Administrative Official.
- Any YMCA Level II Certified Official can function as the Administrative Official, but not in that role and another deck role (e.g. the Deck Referee cannot also serve as the Admin Official)
- USA Swimming Certified Officials may assist with the officiating at such meets, provided that there are at least two YMCA Certified Officials, one of whom is YMCA Level II certified and acts as the Meet Referee. Here is the link to read the USA Swimming/YMCA reciprocal agreement regarding the assistance of USA Swimming officials at YMCA meet.
Record of Meet Experience - PSSA officials should keep a record of the sessions worked at meets. Click here for the Official’s Meet Log Form.
- IMPORTANT - In order to qualify to re-certify, an official must have worked at least twelve (12) sessions over the three-year certification period. (A session is defined as either a dual meet, or a session at an invitational or championship meet.) The Official’s Meet Log Form can be used to document the sessions worked. It should be completed for each session and signed by the Referee. It must then be presented to the instructor at the certification clinic.
- This form will also serve to document sessions worked for purposes of a Level I official qualifying to take the Level II Certification Clinic.
USA Swimming Officials website. PSSA follows the same rules of USA Swimming. Here are some links to resources from the USA Swimming Officials Webpage:
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USA Swimming Timing Policy manual - The purpose of this manual is to provide general guidance to the swimmers, coaches, and volunteers who will be providing or using the times data in the SWIMS system. Section 7.3 contains the section titled "Mutual Guidelines for YMCA Teams, AAU Teams, and USA Swimming Officers for SWIMS Database."
January 2023, Stroke and Turn Briefing – A summary of the how to judge each stroke.
Other resources from USA Swimming that can help you as a Y Official.
Link to Novice Training Videos – This links contains videos of each of the strokes. These are good training videos for all officials. The videos are in MP4 format.
ATTENTION, the videos may automatically start or you might need to download the videos. It will depend on your computer or internet settings.
USA Swimming developed the following descriptions of each of the following positions:
One last item! – Help
If you even have a question about officiating you can send the question to our helpline email address at [email protected].
Good luck and we will see you soon on deck!
