Transcript Becoming a Swim Official - Southwold Swimming Club

Becoming a Swim Official
Contents
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Why become an Official?
Pool Layout
Role Descriptions
“Official’s” Equipment
Don’t be put off
Your next Steps
Why become an Official
• Swimmers can’t compete without them
• The club cannot enter events without them …or
may get deducted league points!
• Be involved with your swimmers and learn about
swimming rules.
• Poolside offers the best viewing position
• Many perks - free gala entry, better parking, TShirts, tea and cake etc
• “Passes the time”
• Expenses can be covered – County even pay for
registration
Finish
Stroke
Turn
Timekeepers
Turn
Turn
Chief
Timekeeper
Referee
Starter
Positions at the Pool
Judging Levels
• Judge Level 1
– You train in most poolside jobs
– Timekeeping is your likely job at a Gala
– Typically about 1 swimming season to qualify
• Judge Level 2
– You’re doing jobs that look for infringements and
write out slips to report a disqualification
recommendation to the Referee
– Typically about 1 swimming season to qualify
• Judge Level 3
– You are the Referee
– You decide who should be disqualified
You have to do each level before moving on
to the next level
Judge 1: Timekeeping
At its simplest:
• Check swimmers
name
• Press stopwatch
when the “gun” goes
• You may have to
judge turns
• Press stopwatch
when swimmer
finishes
• Write down “swimmer
times”
Judge 2: Stroke Judge
• Watch swimmers
• Walk alongside
swimmers to get a
good view
• Check they are doing
the right stroke!
• Check the swimming
style is legal
• Report infringements
Judge 2: Turn Judge
• Watch swimmers turn
• Ensure the swimmer
touches the wall
• Ensure the technical
aspects of the turn
are legal
• Report infringements
• Don’t fall in
Judge 2: Finish Judge
• Write down the order
in which the
swimmers complete
the race
• This requires practice
– On long and
uncompetitive races it
is the easiest job
– On tight/fast races it’s
the toughest job
Judge 2AS: Starter
• You stand up
• Check referee happy
to start the race
• Check swimmers are
“still” on blocks
• Say “On your Marks”
• Press start button
• Sit down!
• Helen – can do this
with one leg
Judge 3: Referee
• Check for safety
• Organise officials into
a team
• Blow whistle
• Say if you are happy
• Disqualify swimmers
when you’re not
happy
• Look important
Be
Cool
Officials
Equipment
Don’t be put off
• Time Commitment
– You’re there at pool anyway
• Difficulty
– Everyone does these jobs
• Responsibility
– No worse than ensuring your swimmers kit bag
has everything!
You will be chaperoned/mentored so just
come along and give it a try ...
Your Next Steps
• Talk to a Club Official
– Helen, Tony, Lawrence, Jason, Julian, Jon etc
• Complete a Form
• Theory Lesson
– You’re walked through a series of questions and answers
– You might be shown videos
• Mentored at Galas
– You get shown what to do and what to look for
• Oral Exam
– Once confident and having had enough practice, you are
tested on the above questions and answers
• An “Official’s Lanyard” arrives in the Post
You’re more than a bag packer
when you’re an Official
You’re part of the Sport