Introduction To Officiating Iowa Swimming Officials Training Class

Introduction To Officiating Iowa Swimming Officials Training Class PART 1: INTRODUCTION Based on Training Materials from Virginia Swimming and Illinois Swimming

Part 1 Agenda • Introductions and Administration • Overview of Local, National and International Swimming • Swim Meet Structure and Staffing • Certification and Re-Certification Requirements • Working Meets Page 1 -2

Introductions and administration • The first portion of this class is an introduction to USA Swimming and Officiating (in general) • The following handouts are included: 1. This presentation 2. Certification Requirements 3. Apprentice Application 4. Iowa Non-Athlete Registration 5. Pool Deck Radio Etiquette 6. Admin Official Apprentice Form 7. Admin Referee Apprentice Form 8. Stroke and Turn Apprentice Form 9. Responsibilities of Admin (Officials & Referees) 10. Responsibilities of Stroke and Turn Officials 11. Requirements for Evaluation (N 2 and N 3) 12. 2019 USA Swimming Rulebook Files are numbered 002 for Certification Requirements, 003 for Apprentice Application, etc. Page 1 -3

Swim Organizations • Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) International body governing swimming www. fina. org • USA Swimming National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States www. usaswimming. org • 4 Zones - Eastern, Western, Southern, & Central Zones • Section 1 (WI, IL, IA, MN, ND, SD) • Section 3 (IN, LE, MI, OH) • Region 8 (AR, MV, MW, OK, OZ) • Local Swim Committees (LSCs) – 59 incorporated Iowa Swimming Incorporate (ISI) – Iowa LSC • Other national, state and local swim organizations • NCAA – Collegiate Swimming (different rule book but same technical rules) • YMCA – same rule book at USA Swimming Page 1 -4

USA Swimming rules • USA Swimming Rules & Regulations (updated at least annually) • Governing Regulations • Interpretations from the National Officials Committee • ISI Policies and Procedures • Meet Invitation • Referees’ Decisions • Officials’ Interpretations The basis for the rules of swimming are found in the rules used by FINA which govern international competitions. In most instances the rules specified by USA Swimming in the Rules and Regulations conform directly to the FINA rules. In fact, the USA Swimming rule book requires USA Swimming to conform to FINA rules as they change. The USA Swimming rules form the basis upon which all decisions are made. One of the most frequently asked questions is, "Why aren’t the rules written so clearly that we don’t need Page 1 -5 interpretations? " The answer is that when it comes to rule interpretation, there are sometimes

USA Swimming Sanctioned Swim Meets (Sanctioned, Approved, Observed) • • • Intra-squad, duals Club invitational/open, Q+/Q-, IMX LSC championships Zone Championships (AAA+) – Age Group, Senior (some Zones) Speedo Championship Series (Sectionals) – National Meet ★ Futures – National Meet ★★ Junior National Championships – National Championship Meet ★★★ Pro Series Swim Meets – National Championship Meet ★★★★ National or Open Championships – National Championship Meet ★★★★★ World Trials / Olympic Trials – National Championship Meet ★★★★★ Others • World / Olympic Games • NCAA (typically approved) • YMCA (can be approved) • High School meets (can be observed) Page 1 -6

Swim Meet - pool structure Backstroke Flags 15 m marks Backstroke Flags Starting Area • Deck Referee • Starter • The Pool: Turn End Start End 5 M – LCM, SCM 5 Y - SCY LCM –Jurisdiction Long Course Meters (50 M) That. Course area of the pool (25 M) for which the official has responsibility and can make SCM – Short Meters calls when observing an infraction SCY – Short Course Yards (25 Y) Placement of Officials Determined by Referee and dependent on number of officials available, pool environment and stroke Page 1 -7

Organization of officials (template) Team Lead Chief Judge Meet Referee Meet Director Head Starter Deck Referee(s) Starter Marshall(s) Announcer “Dry Side” Admin Referee(s)/ Officials Clerk of Course Chief Judge(s) Stroke & Turn Judges Timing Equip. Operator(s) Chief Timer Timing Judge “Wet Side” Minimum of: 3 officials for an intra-squad 4 officials for an invitational or open meet Timers Recorder 8

Meet organization Meet Director • Pre-Meet Planning Meet Referee • Running the meet • Meet Invitation • In charge of Officials • Organizing Volunteers • Setting the tone and cadence of the meet • Running the non-technical aspects of the meet • Post-Meet Reports • Protocols Used • General positions and organization of the Officials • Post-Meet Officials Report Page 1 -9

Referees Responsible for running of the meet and consistent interpretation of rules and regulations • Meet Referee • Top Official at the Meet, Team Leader • Overall responsibility for the conduct of the meet • May be a Deck Referee or Admin Referee within a session but not both • Administrative Referee • Supervises and directs the ‘dry-deck’ • Takes care of the administrative details such as verify entry time, seeding, scratch, validating results • Can be an Administrative Official under the direction of the Referee • Deck Referee • Supervises and directs the ‘wet-deck’ • Runs the session Ensure fair and equitable competition for all swimmers! Page 1 -10

“Dry Deck” Official Positions • Clerk of Course • Seeding, Reseeding, Relay Cards, timer sheets, scratch sheet • Timing System Operator • Runs electronic Timing System • Timing Judge • Under supervision of the Referee, determines official time for each legal swim • Recorder • Records and publishes the results of the meet Page 1 -11

“Wet deck” officials • Starter • Ensures all swimmers receive a fair start • Stroke and Turn Judge • Ensures all swimmers comply with the technical rules of swimming • Stroke Judge – Stroke and kick • Turn Judge – Turns and Finishes • Chief Judge • Assigns and supervises Stroke and Turn Judges • Reports DQs from Stroke and Turn Judges to the Deck Referee Page 1 -12

LSC Certification requirements • N 1 -- LSC Certification 1. Attend Clinic 2. If not currently an official 1. Register as an apprentice non-athlete member 2. Within 60 days of first apprentice session, register with US Swimming as a Non-Athletic Member a. Complete Background Check (USA Swimming website) b. Complete Online Athlete Protection Course (USA Swimming website) 2. Pass Online tests within 12 months • S&T/TJ for Stroke and Turn • AO and Co. C for Admin Official • AR for Admin Referee 3. Complete 4 Apprenticeships sessions at Sanctioned Meets per apprentice form • AR requirements are slightly different 4. Apply to Iowa Officials Chair for certification For Details refer the Officials Page on the ISI Website Certification/Recertification Requirements Page 1 -13

National Certification Levels • N 2 – 1 st National Level Certification • Administered by the USA Swimming National Officials’ Committee • N 2 officials meet standards required to officiate at Zone and similar level meets as well as Sectionals, Zones and Futures • Standards to gain and maintain N 2 leve l certification are published by the USA Swimming National Officials’ Committee • Must have and maintain N 1 certifications • N 3 – 2 nd National Level Certification • Administered by the USA Swimming National Officials’ Committee • N 3 officials meet standards required to officiate at National level meets including Juniors, Pro Series, Nationals, US Open, World Trials and Olympic Trials • Standards to gain and maintain N 3 leve l certification are published by the USA Swimming National Officials’ Committee • Must have and maintain N 1 certifications Page 1 -14

Working/training at a meet • • • Officials Chair in conjunction with host club will (typically) establish a Meet Referee Host club will contact invited clubs to solicit officials Meet Referee or Meet Director will also solicit officials Sign-up and work assigned sessions (typically requested) Your Responsibilities: • • • Work the sessions that are agreed to Arrive on time for any and all pre-session officials briefings Understand your jurisdiction Understand protocols for standing/sitting/relief/lead-lag etc. Work entire session unless previous arrangements have been agreed with the Meet Ref If in doubt – ask! • Ensure you sign-in to be credited for the sessions and positions worked in the Officials Tracking System • Maintain current technical and philosophical understanding of the rules • Attend Meets • Read rules&regs, newsletters, bulletins • Attend conferences Call what you see – Not what you think you saw Page 1 -15

Dress code • Unless otherwise notified in the Meet Invitation or an Officials Communications before the meet, Standard Iowa Swimming Dress Code is: • White Shirt/Blouse with Collar • No team logos • No advertising other than apparel maker • Navy Blue Shorts/Pants/Skirt • Footwear preferably white socks and white shoes • No flip-flops or bare feet • Badges – certification card or meet credentials Page 1 -16

Philosophy of officiating All competitive swimming events held under USA Swimming sanction shall be in accordance with the following rules which are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and promote uniformity in the sport so no swimmer shall obtain unfair advantage over another. Preamble to the USA-S Technical Rules • Judging should be consistent among officials at a meet • Call what you see, not intent • Judging should be consistent between meets • All the rules are enforced – there’s no picking and choosing • The rules are enforced across all age groups and levels of ability • Officials shall be neutral in their enforcement of the rules The benefit of the doubt always goes to the swimmer Page 1 -17