Welcome to Officials

As a parent of a swimmer you have the opportunity to be involved with your child and their sport in various ways. One very instrumental way is by being trained, certified, and working as an Official. Officials are present at all competitions to implement the technical rules of swimming and to ensure that the competition is fair and equitable to everyone. Click below to read more about:

Officials Certification Standards revised 2/8/24
How to Become an Official revised 4/19/24

Apprentice Official Check Sheets to be Brought to Meets

Stroke and Turn Certification Check Sheet revised 3/8/24
Chief Judge Certification Check Sheet revised 3/8/24
Starter Certification Check Sheet revised 3/8/24
Admin Official Certification Check Sheet revised 3/8/24
Referee Certification Check Sheet revised 3/8/24

Documents for Knowledge of Each Position

Professional Stroke and Turn Official
Professional Chief Judge
Professional Starter
Professional Administrative Official
Professional Referee

Officials attend clinics, receive training and are certified by USA Swimming. Apprentice officials generally start as Stroke and Turn Officials whose job it is to observe the swimmers in their assigned lanes from the time they take their first arm pull after entering the water or beginning a race through the completion of their race. Stroke and Turn Officials ensure that the strokes, turns and finishes comply with the rules applicable to each stroke. If strokes, turns or finishes are executed in a manner which is out of compliance with the rules, in the spirit of fairness they document information to disqualify a swimmer from a race.

There are many levels of officiating that require different degrees of involvement and time. Stroke and Turn Officials learn the ropes by attending clinics, using self-study materials, and working on deck under the supervision of a trainer. Those who are interested move up the ladder to serving as a chief judge, starter, admin official, and referee, learning through a combination of clinics, self-study materials, and on-the-job training.