WHO are the swim officials? The officials are parents of the swimmers, and a smattering of people who no longer have active swimmers with the club.
WHY do parents work as officials? There are several reasons:
- If there are no officials, there are no swim meets, as it takes approximately 35 officials to run a
swim meet. - It is a club obligation to supply officials for out of town meets. In fact, some meet packages make it a condition to supply a designated number of officials for the meet.
- It gives you the best seat in the house to watch the swimming.
Most people enjoy officiating.
HOW do you get to officiate? You just sign your name to the officiating sheets that are posted on the Club bulletin board two weeks before a meet. You assume you will work as an official at the meet unless the Officials Director lets you know otherwise.
You do not need any experience or training to sign up as an official. Before the meet, you are given basic information to enable you to work as a timer. It is highly recommended that anyone who plans to work as an official, take the Level 1 (Junior) Officiating Clinic when it is offered. This clinic gives general information on officiating levels, meet operation, and specific instruction on working as a Timer, Marshal and 15-meter Judge/False-start Rope Operator. Once you take the Level 1 Clinic, you are classed as a Level 1 Official, and receive the red maple leaf badge. The Level 1 Clinic is a prerequisite to take other officiating clinics that are offered during the season.
Swim officials who sign up for away meets are eligible to receive the club officiating subsidy. The officials ride the team bus free of charge and have one third of their hotel rooms’ costs paid by the club. If there is not enough space on the bus, and officials are still required, their gas cost will be paid for by the club. To receive the subsidy, the parent must officiate a set number of sessions, which will be indicated on the sign-up sheet and submit receipts to the Officials Director.
The officials sign-up sheet is posted once the chaperones have been selected.
Most of the time, all people who sign up are accepted to work as officials at the meet, however the club has a policy that dictates the number of officials who can be subsidized at an away meet. If there are more officials signed up than can be subsidized, the Officials Director will determine who will be subsidized, per the criteria in the club policy.
WHERE do you obtain additional information on officiating? The club has an Officials Director as part of the TMSC Executive. Contact the Director at the phone number or email address in the TMSC Parents’ Handbook or web page. Or better yet, talk to the Director of Officials at the pool during afternoon practice.
The following gives you an idea of the wide variety of talents needed to make a meet happen for our children. It is presented courtesy of Swim Ontario (the governing body for competitive swimming in Ontario);
“Officials”
Officials are present at all competitions to implement the technical rules of swimming and to ensure that the competition is fair and equitable. Officials attend clinics, pass written tests, and work meets before being certified. All parents are encouraged to get involved with some form of officiating. If you are interested, contact your club’s officials’ chairperson. Swim Clubs are expected to have a minimum number of officials at each level.
Timekeepers – operate timing devices (stopwatches or automatic timing equipment) and record the official time for each swimmer in their lane.
Turn Inspectors – observe from each end of the pool and ensure that the turns and finishes comply with the rules applicable to each stroke.
Stroke Judges – observe from both sides of the pool, walking abreast of the swimmers, to ensure that the rules relating to each stroke are being followed.
Relay Take-off Judges – stand beside the starting blocks to observe the relay exchanges, ensuring that the feet of the departing swimmer have not lost contact with the block before the incoming swimmer touches the end of the pool.
The Clerk of Course – arranges the swimmers into their proper heats and lanes.
The Starter – assumes control of the swimmers from the Referee, directs them to take their mark, and sees that no swimmer is in motion prior to giving the start signal.
The Referee – has overall authority and control of the competition, ensuring that all the rules are followed; assigns and instructs all official; and decides all questions relating to the conduct of the meet.
Violations of the rules are reported to the Referee, and the rules require that every reasonable effort be made to notify the swimmers or their coaches of the reasons for any disqualifications.
If your child is disqualified (DQ’d), in an event, be supportive rather than critical. For newer swimmers, a disqualification should be treated as a learning experience, not as punishment. A disqualification alerts the swimmer and coach to what portions of the swimmer’s stroke need to be corrected. It should be considered in the same light as an incorrect answer in schoolwork: it points out areas that need further practice.
The disqualification is necessary to keep the competition fair and equitable for all other competitors. A supportive attitude on the part of the official, the coach, and the parent, can also keep it a positive experience for the disqualified swimmer.
