1 of 14

Referee Roundtable

UPDATED FOR THE 2026 SEASON

2 of 14

Agenda

  • Referee Role
  • Meet Cover Sheet
  • Rules and Recommendations
  • Communication (Facebook)
  • New Developments & Best Practices

​

3 of 14

4 of 14

Information to put on �the Meet Cover Sheet

  • Division
  • Meet # (1 – 6)
  • Meet Date
  • Teams competing
  • Meet Location
  • Pool Measurement (Yards or Meters)
  • Meet Start Time

​

  • Time Event 44 begins (don’t forget to note this)
  • Meet Completion Time
  • Checkbox for Weather Delay
  • Meet workers & walkers (this is how people get credit!)

​

Remember: REFEREES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS

NOT COMPUTER REPS!

5 of 14

Recording Officials on Cover Sheet

  • For most part: should be self-explanatory
  • Nuances for Strokes & Turns:
    • Any walks prior to final walk, the S&T Trainee goes in section 10 or 11
    • For the final “shadowed walk” the S&T judge is actually the judge of record. His/her name goes in section 2 or 6
    • The experienced “shadow” goes in section 10 or 11
    • Ultimately, GRAL needs to know that it is the trainee’s final walk and who shadowed him/her

6 of 14

On a phone, tablet or computer, it looks like this…

Please (i) print the paper cover sheet before the meet, (ii) enter the information on the paper sheet during the meet, and (iii) enter the information electronically that night or the next morning

​

​

Links for the electronic and paper cover sheets on the GRAL Webpage:

https://www.gralva.com/officials

​

7 of 14

Swimmer Exemptions

  • The referee is responsible for checking swimmer exemptions for both teams prior to the meet
    • Exemptions are found on the GRAL Website

​

  • During the Meet
    • Do not discuss or explain the exemptions with S&T Officials
      • If a call is made that concerns the subject of the exemption, the referee would simply not sign and submit the DQ card
    • Do notify the coaches of the exemptions you found on the web

​

8 of 14

Rules & Recommendations

  • Standard & Required Deck Coverage
    • Separate referee and starter
    • 4 stroke and turn judges (2 on each end)
      • Try to separate Veteran and Novice officials if possible
    • 3 timers per lane
    • Dual confirmation of relays (usually starter and ref, but consider using “off” S&T officials)
  • Backstroke turns same as VHSL (but no sculling back to wall)
  • Backstroke flags used as 15 m marks; calls made by S&T officials
  • Taping allowed with Dr’s note in regular season; none @ Champs
  • No cell Phone or other pictures behind the blocks

​

​

9 of 14

Strokes & Turns Training Card

All training officials should carry THIS TRAINING CARD with them

10 of 14

Updates to Rules & Recommendations

  • New USA Swimming rules
    • Butterfly, Backstroke, Freestyle Finish — … once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the final 5-meter mark (long course and short course meters) or 5-yard mark (short course yards), immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged.
    • Individual Medley Turn - Intermediate turns within each stroke shall conform to the turn rules for that stroke, except that in the freestyle turn, the swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke after leaving the wall.
    • KT Tape now permitted - GRAL will continue to follow previous GRAL rules on taping

​

​

11 of 14

Updates to Rules & Recommendations

  • Points of Emphasis in 2026
    • Ensuring that our S&T Officials are seeing and making calls
      • NO video review to overturn a call
      • Video CAN be used for coaching
    • Consistency across S&T Officials
    • Walking the deck frequently
    • Discussing calls with S&T Officials
      • It is okay to do in the moment corrections

​

​

12 of 14

13 of 14

Comments & Questions

  • We want to hear from you
    • What have you learned or observed as a Referee?

​

    • What do you find challenging or frustrating?

​

    • What do you feel noticed works well?

​

    • If you could change anything, what would it be?

14 of 14

GRAL Officials Facebook Group

  • GRAL has a Facebook group for officials!

​

  • Intent is to promote consistency among GRAL officials

​

  • Group discussion can include:
    • Questions on rules or rule interpretations
    • Share lessons learned and observations
    • Does not constitute official guidance on rules

​

  • GRAL officials, trainees and coaches are invited and encouraged to join and participate:
    • Search Facebook for the group
    • Answer the questions to join including your position – S&T, Ref, etc.
    • Please share with other officials at your club
    • Non-officials will not be accepted (e.g. parents, club board members, etc.)