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Bored
between events at your child’s swim meet? Become an official!
What
are the advantages of officiating at a meet?
- It makes the meet
go by much faster since you are doing something instead of just sitting
in the stands.
- You ensure quality
officiating by becoming a part of the system.
- You get to know
other parents, volunteers, and coaches and may make new friends as a
result.
- It’s much less
crowded on deck and a whole lot cooler.
- There’s no
admission charge and you get a free heat sheet.
USA
Swimming recognizes three (3) levels of officials certification:
- Local
- National
- National
Championship
As a new official, you will start at the
local level to learn about officiating and getting involved.
In
general, there are three (3) levels of officials:
- Stroke and Turn
Judge
- Starter
- Referee
Officials who are
entering the sport are certified by their Local Swimming Committee (LSC), in
our case, Middle Atlantic Swimming (MAS). To get started:
- Attend a MAS
Stroke and Turn Clinic (listed on our web site).
- Take the Stroke
and Turn Officials test.
- Join USA Swimming
as a Non-Athlete.
- Work six (6)
sessions at USA Swimming sanctioned meets two (2) may be mini-meets).
As you gain knowledge
and experience, you may wish to move up to Starter or to Referee. MA
Swimming has our complete Officials Certification Program posted on our web
site.
Some officials enjoy
the local experiences so much that they want to officiate at “bigger”
meets. By doing so, these officials earn the designation of National
Official or National Championship Official.
National Official is a
title granted to a USA Swimming member official after working three (3) or
more sessions at a designated National Meet (i.e. Sectionals or Nationals)
or at a National Certification Meet (i.e. Zones or sometimes J.O.s).
Need more information
on “getting involved”? Talk to one of the Officials Committee Members at
your next meet or send us an e-mail
The
Officials Committee is a standing committee of Middle Atlantic Swimming (MAS)
appointed by the General Chair. The Committee shall provide and insure a
fair and equitable competitive environment at swim meets conducted in the Middle
Atlantic (MA) LSC under the Rules and Regulations of USA
Swimming. The current committee members
here:
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