The introductory officiating position for the Junior Official will be the role of the Stroke & Turn Judge.
The Junior Official must meet the Apprentice and Certification Requirements established by the member’s LSC. Those requirements will often include:
If USA Swimming Athlete Registered, then obtain Non-Athlete Add-In
Safe Sport for Youth Athletes 13-17
Attend a Stroke & Turn Clinic, as needed
Complete the Stroke & Turn and Timer tests on the USA Swimming University website
Complete the Concussion Training
Apprentice on deck with an Officiating Mentor for the required sessions/hours
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GETTING STARTED
Officials in each LSC wear uniform-colored shirts, shorts/slacks/skirts, and shoes. Check with your LSC to see if shirts, in particular, are provided.
Officials utilize items that aid in officiating and should be brought to each meet the Jr. Official is attending, both as an apprentice and certified official. They are:
Rule Book
Clipboard
Pen or Pencil
Walkie Talkie radio (some teams or LSCs provide radios)
Name tag (some teams or LSCs provide name tags)
Weather Gear for outdoor facilities
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GETTING STARTED
Arrive at the meet dressed to officiate and with the needed gear at least one hour before the session start time for the Officials’ Briefing, where all officials are updated on the information for the meet.
If officiating after the Jr. Official’s practice, the Jr. Official is permitted to change into officiating attire in the athlete locker room. The Jr. Official is also allowed to use the restrooms in the athlete locker room during the meet.
At the Briefing the Jr. Official Apprentice will be paired with a Deck Mentor who will instruct on the application of the rules to the actual swims.
Ask questions of the Deck Mentor and encourage dialogue.
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GETTING STARTED
Most LSCs have an Apprentice Form the officials use to log their sessions/hours and tasks experienced, such as relay take-offs or various protocols. Make sure that form gets signed/initialed by the Deck Mentor at the end of each session.
For each apprentice session make sure to move around deck and experience officiating duties at the start-end, turn-end, walking stroke, relay take-off judging, etc.
Work with different deck mentors to get a broad education of officiating and application of the rules.
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HELPFUL TIPS
“Know What You See, See What You Call.”
The purpose of Officiating is to maintain a level field of competition where swimmers fairly achieved times based on an adherence to the rules.
Disqualifications are not punishments to swimmers.
Disqualifications help swimmers and coaches know what areas of a swim need to be corrected.
Enforce rules fairly and equitably. Avoid any appearance of bias or favoritism.
No excuses! Judge swimmers of all ages and ability using the same standard of adherence to the rules.
Always Remember the Benefit of the Doubt goes to the Swimmer.
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HELPFUL TIPS
There may be times when a Deck Referee or Meet Referee request more details about a DQ call. That is likely because a coach has asked them for more information and not because they question the Jr. Official’s knowledge or ability. Such information assists a coach form a plan for the swimmer’s next practice.
AT NO TIME should a Jr. Official be approached or questioned by a coach, parent, or teammate about any disqualification calls or operations at a meet.
ALWAYS politely refer the coach to the Meet Referee.
ALWAYS politely refer the parent or swimmer to their Coach.
Should any Official feel they’re being harassed, always report the incident to the Meet Referee, the Jr. Official’s head coach or to the LSC Officials Chair.
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JR. OFFICIAL: COACH TIPS
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TIPS for COACHES
Encourage the advancement of swimmers to the Jr. Official position.
Positively acknowledge the Jr. Official’s dedication to the Sport of Swimming and the knowledge they have gained.
Consider praising all Officials in Team newsletters, meetings or bulletin board postings.
Acknowledge that DQ calls are helpful to making corrections to technique or a reminder not to fall back on old habits.
Help officials with the attire or equipment needed to officiate by providing items such as shirts, clipboards or radios.
Veteran officials will often have excess equipment to share or give. Ask them.
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TIPS for COACHES
Avoid approaching any deck official at a meet about a DQ call. Always direct any questions to the Deck Referee for that event or the Meet Referee.
Try to be calm and logical in those discussions.
Avoid criticizing the Jr. Official and All Officials in team practice gatherings.
Remind Parents and Swimmers that only the Coach will get additional details about all DQ calls.
Parents should avoid criticism of Officials and should NEVER approach an Official for information about calls or meet operations.