Wisconsin SwimmingOfficials Committee

Rev. June 2013

Welcome/Introductions/Purpose Review Chief Judge Starter Meet Referee Administrative Official Administrative Referee Deck Referee Timing Judge What’s Next

Introductions Name Club Experience

Paperwork Registrations Release of Contact Info Officiating forms

Stroke Briefing Major Meets

Review: Not a teaching instrument Don’t discuss examples/highlight rules Use USA Swimming mini-briefing

Other meets May be used as a training method

Swimmers with Disabilities Notification is the responsibility of the

athlete/coach Hand signals Ask about accommodations: Don’t assume

Changing swimmer’s lane Use of an on-deck assistant Swimming a 100 event in a 200 event

Timing Procedures Three types of systems

Automatic Semi-automatic Manual

Designations Primary Secondary Tertiary

Requirements for an Official Time Procedures for making a timing adjustment Determination of “Official Time”

Discuss with Meet Referee Protocols

Sit/Stand during freestyle Lead/lag

Position assignments

Supervises Stroke Judges Turn Judges Relay Take-off Judges

Responsible for ensuring correct call has been made Questions assigned judges appropriately

Liaison for Referee and Judges Mentors assigned Judges Gives Officials’ Stroke Briefing (as assigned)

Philosophy of Starting Calm and consistent Have a command of the field Be in the present Ensure a fair and equitable start Be patient Swimmers must be “stationary”; not be

“motionless” Act as part of the team Memorize the start procedure; only practice

perfects Know the hand signals

Preparation Communicate with the announcer if assigned

Don’t want announcements while starting May need to announce Event and Heat

“Now swimming: Heat 1 of the Men’s 400m Freestyle” “Now swimming: The Men’s 400m Freestyle; Heat 1” “Now swimming: Heat 2”

Examine starting platforms (safety) Familiarize self with and test starting/timing

equipment Review interactions with Referee

Other equipment (bell, lap counters) Forms

Timers’ Meeting

Timer’s Briefing No cheering No electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, etc.) Use USA Swimming briefing

Procedure Stand ~10 ft. from pool, next to Referee Use well-modulated voice (“Close the door.”) Activate signal when swimmers are stationary

Forward start Back start

Use “Stand up/down, please” as appropriate Mic doesn’t work Mic cuts out No horn Distraction Loud noise Unresponsive swimmer(s)

Procedure “Toes” commands

Prior to Take Your Mark (TYM) “Toes, please” to all swimmers

After first TYM “Toes, please, Lane X”

After second TYM “Toes, please, Lane X” May call Delay of Meet

Starter is responsible for toes before the start; stroke after

“Blocks” commands Similar to “Toes” commands

Procedure False Start

Starter initiates “I have a potential False Start.” NOT “Did you see anything?”

Must be dual confirmed with Referee or designate If the swimmer enters the water prior to the start,

“stand” the heat and restart the race without the violating swimmer

Notify at the end of the race Must be a “swimmer mistake”; not a flinch, fall,

slip, involuntary movement

Procedure Heat Recall

Not all swimmers react Double start sound

One system System in second pool

External stimulus (camera flash, airhorn) If a swimmer does not respond: “Stand” the heat Any inadvertent recalls eliminate DQs Use hand signals ONLY if requested by hearing-

impaired swimmer No “Optional” commands (Wisconsin Swimming) Use common sense Swimmer’s best start is first start

General Information Oversees the Meet, the staff, the facility Ensures safe, fair, and equitable competition “Wet” Side: Deck Referee

May have 1-2 per session Oversees Starter, Timers, STJ, Relay Take-off Judges

“Dry” Side: Administrative Official Assistant to and delegate of Meet Referee Involved with all “dry” side details of a meet Works closely with the Meet Director Administrative Official and Administrative Referee

are NOT the same.

General Information - Continued “Dry” Side: Administrative Referee

Admin Referee is generally used for higher level meets, and must be certified at a Referee level

A Meet Referee may also perform the duties of an Admin Official if no other duties are assigned

One per pool if possible Oversees Clerk of Course, Timing officials,

Announcer, Marshals

Prior to the Meet Contact Meet Director

Reviews Meet Information Check-in; Seeding; Heat Sheets Distribution of DQ and “No Show”slips Timing system; start procedures (fly-overs, etc.) Timing procedures if system malfunctions Reseeding procedures Results posting; Awards Announcer duties Marshal duties Schedule meetings Scratches; Finalists/Alternates (if Prelim-Finals)

Prior to the Meet Obtain Officials List

Names Club affiliations Certification Levels Available sessions Provide list to Deck Referee and Chief Judge

Prior to the Meet Obtain Reports for Admin Referee

Entries reports Gender Age group Last name Club Event

Exceptions reports Unregistered Swimmers Proof of Time

Swimmers with Disabilities Unattached Swimmers (to assign coaches) Warm-up Lane Assignments Meet Timeline

Prior to the Meet Determine Officials’ assignments

Based on availability and ability Radio usage

Who gets them What channels used

Establish a Meet Committee For Appeals At least five people

Athlete Coaches (2) Meet Director Meet Referee

Can be more if geography and meet size warrant

Pre-Meet Arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior to Warm-up Ensure Administrative Official, Administrative

Referee, Deck Referee, Starter, and Chief Judge can handle responsibilities

Inspect the Venue Meet with Meet staff

Coaches Officials Non-judging officials

Meet with Chief Marshal Emphasize that Marshals are responsible for entire

venue; not just pool area

Pre-Meet Meet with Announcer

May delegate to Starter Review Heat announcement protocol

“Now swimming: Heat 1 of the Men’s 400m Freestyle”

“Now swimming: The Men’s 400m Freestyle; Heat 1”

“Now swimming: Heat 2” Review awards announcement protocol No announcements after long whistle

Inspects credentials (may delegate function)

During the Meet Start Meet on Time (Note the Time) Observe the Meet

Walk the Deck Talk to people

Anticipate problems Handle protests Review disqualifications Have USA-S rulebook available (not on person) Treat everyone with respect

After the Meet Thank all Meet staff

Coaches Officials Non-judging officials

Remains until all questions resolved and final results posted

Self-critique Complete and submit Meet Report to LSC

Chair or designee

Works directly with the Meet Referee and supervises/directs the following positions on the “dry” side of the meet: Entry and Registration Personnel Clerk of Course Timing System Operator Scoring Personnel Timing Judge Hy-tek (Meet Management Software) Operator

May serve in one (or more) of the above positions or may simply act in a supervisory capacity of those positions.

Serves as Deputy Meet Referee Oversees

Meet entries USA-S Registrations of swimmers Clerk of Course Timing Judges

Reviews timing information Reviews DQs Ensures appropriate paperwork for Relay Early

Take-offs and False Starts “Deck Personnel”

Maintains Logs DQs “No-shows” Scratches Computer changes

Administers Prelim-Finals provisions Swim-offs Scratches

Organizes Time Trials

Has authority over deck Officials Briefs officials and assigns/reassigns

jurisdictions Signals the Starter when all Officials are in

position, the course is clear, and competition may begin

May overrule a DQ and/or decide any point of rule interpretation

May disqualify any swimmer for any infraction May confirm a False Start May Declare False Start and/or Delay of Meet

Timing Systems Manual (Watches) Semi-Automatic

(Back-up buttons: Require manual back-up)

Automatic (Pads: Require manual back-up)

System Designations Primary

Automatic Semi-Automatic Manual (Minimum two

watches per lane) Secondary

Semi-automatic Manual

Tertiary Manual (One watch)

Position Start

Anywhere the starting strobe can be observed Need not be behind the lane

Finish Head over the water in assigned lane

Record all manual times Record to hundedths of a second with NO

ROUNDING Automatic and semi-automatic are in system

Referee may assign three ADDITIONAL timers to a lane for qualifying times of beginning fraction of race Must see blank watches before race Must see times after race Must legally complete full race distance

Determining “Official” Time Any time from an automatic system if all are

functional Any matching button/watch time The intermediate time from three

buttons/watches or the mean time of two buttons/watches (recorded to hundredths with NO ROUNDING)

Any one available button/watch

Determining “Official” Time Lane malfunction

If 0.3 second difference between pad/button times Lane adjustment procedure

Average the pad/button difference in accurate lanes Add/subtract accuracy average from malfunctioning

button time Heat malfunction

Automatic (and semi-automatic) system starts late Same adjustment procedure as for lane

malfunction, except that watch (not button) time is secondary system and adjustment is applied to all lanes

Number of Officials Minimum of four

1 Administrative Official 2 S/R 1 STJ

Facilities Standards Counters Competition Records Rule Interpretations Swimmer with Disability Interpretations

Interpretations Racing Starts

Not Officials’ responsibility to monitor DO NOT accept a list of uncertified swimmers

(coach and parent responsibility) Uncertified swimmers must start IN THE WATER

(even for forward starts) Breast stroke pullout

“Start of pull” New DQ slip item: “Breast stroke kick prior to the

arm pull” “Observable separation of the hands”

Interpretations Backstroke

“Submerged at the Finish” “The touch is the finish, the finish is the touch.” Can be submerged at the finish touch, not prior Call: “Submerged during the swim, prior to the

finish touch” Uniform

Jewelry, such as a “friendship bracelet”, is not considered a uniform violation

Continue USA-S Membership Take all outstanding tests

Referee Starter Clerk of Course Administrative Timing Judge Stroke/Turn Recert

Apprentice Starter: 5 sessions, 2 mentors, 3 meets Referee: 6 sessions, 2 mentors, 3 meets

Establish relationships with other Officials Especially “Lead” officials

Volunteer often everywhere