Disability clinic to be offered at Far Westerns
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 A clinic on disability swimming will be offered for officials at Far Westerns Friday afternoon, July 31, between trials and finals. The clinic will be led by Kelly Crowley, who is affiliated with Peninsula Covenant Aquatics and was a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and 17-time national champion in her disability classification. Follow this link for an informational flier.
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Want to be evaluated at JOs or Far Westerns?
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Follow these links for the national certification Request for Evaluation form for Junior Olympics (July 16-19 in Concord) or Far Westerns (July 29-Aug. 2 in San Jose).
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Approved swimwear
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USA Swimming has amended Rule 102.9 of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations, which describes swimwear approved for use in competition. Follow this link for the June 1 letter from the chairman of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Committee which spells out the changes to Rule 102.9 and indicates which swimwear is approved for competition.
As an update to the above, and based on FINA’s June 22 ruling, USA Swimming will adopt as legal in general competition all suits included on the revised FINA-approved list of swimwear which was published June 22, as included in this memo from USA Swimming. The revised list includes 198 suits which have been added to the original list of 202 suits that were approved.
Additional requirements regarding availability of swimsuits will still apply for the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships. More information on this topic is forthcoming from USA Swimming.
Follow this link for a related letter to officials from USA Swimming Officials Chair Jim Sheehan.
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Want to work Sectionals?
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We now have the application forms you can use to apply to work Sectionals in Fresno on July 22-26 and to request national evaluation at that meet. Follow these links for the application to officiate Sectionals and this link for the request to be evaluated for national certification.
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Want to learn stroke and turn?
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Interested in a fun way to learn the basics of stroke and turn officiating? Try visiting www.strokeandturn.com.
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Applications to officiate for 2009 Western Zones
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Follow this link for a Zip file which includes applications to officiate and requests for evaluation forms for the Western Zones age group and senior championship meets taking place in Hawaii in August.
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Article 105 case studies
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Article 105 of the USA Swimming rulebook, which provides guidelines for officiating swimmers with a disability, has been revised and will take effect on May 15.
An Article 105 case study document, which is linked to below, provides detailed guidelines for referees, coaches, and swimmers with respect to appropriate rule modifications and other accommodations for swimmers with a disability.
Follow this link for the Article 105 case studies.
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No-show forms and procedures
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Pacific's rules regarding penalties for no-shows changed on January 1. Follow this link for a file containing information on new procedures to be followed and recommended forms to be used for managing no-shows.
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Rule interpretation re two swimsuits
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The USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Committee has announced a rule interpretation which, effective immediately, prohibits the use of
more than one swimsuit at a time during any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved
competition. Follow this link to a copy of the rule interpretation letter and this link to a subsequent clarification.
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Applications to officiate for 2009 national championship meets
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Interested in applying to officiate at one of this year's national championship meets? Follow this link for a selection of applications to officiate.
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Major meet assignments for 2009
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Follow this link for the 2009 major meet officials assignments. Officials wishing to be considered for assignment to any unfilled positions at any of the 2009 major meets should submit an application with the appropriate information to Officials Chairman Kim Jew.
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Interpretation issued on pending swimsuit rule
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The USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Committee has issued an interpretation on the rule taking effect May 15 which requires that swimsuits worn for all 12 & under age group defined competition shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the knee. Follow this link for a copy of the interpretation.
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New breaststroke rule interpretation announced
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USA Swimming has announced a new interpretation of Rule 101.2.3, which has to do with the breaststroke kick. Follow this link for the interpretation, which is effective immediately.
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National certification meets for 2009
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Officials Chairman Kim Jew has announced the 2009 meets in Pacific at which officials may be evaluated for national certification. They are:
Date |
Host |
Meet |
Feb. 14-16 |
CAB |
Junior T&F |
Mar. 20-22 |
SRVL |
Spring Junior Olympics |
April 2-5 |
ALMA |
Short Course Far Westerns |
June 11-14 |
SCSC |
Santa Clara International |
July 16-19 |
TERA |
Summer Junior Olympics |
July 29- Aug. 2 |
WEST |
Long Course Far Westerns |
Nov. 6-8 |
TERA |
Senior T&F |
Dec. 5-6 |
PLS |
Winter Junior Olympics |
Dec. 11-13 |
WCAB |
Short Course Senior Championships |
Officials wishing to be evaluated for national certification or recertification at a meet should submit a completed Request for Evaluation Form (PDF version | Word version) to the meet referee listed for the meet, preferably prior to the meet so that there will be adequate evaluators available to conduct the evaluations. In any case, officials wishing to be evaluated must apply to the meet referee when they first arrive at the meet and must attend pre-session meetings. Briefings will occur one hour before the start of trials and finals.
National rules requires that for an N3 evaluation to be valid, it must be done over four sessions in the position. An N2 evaluation must be done over three sessions in the position. Recertification evaluations must each be done over two sessions; however, the official must work at least four sessions at the meet for any evaluation(s) to be valid.
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Meet referees: how to enter data into OTS
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Follow this link for a document provided by officials chairman Kim Jew for meet referees explaining how to enter data on the officials who worked your meet to OTS after the meet.
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New officials forms
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Here are links to two new Meet Officials Report Forms which were introduced and discussed at the Pacific Officials Clinic: Meet Officials Report 1 and Meet Officials Report Form 2. Note that Adobe Reader 8 (get it here) is required to use this form.
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Breaststroke rule change interpretation
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Follow this link for the official interpretation of the fall 2005 breaststroke rule change.
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"On the Same Page" section created on USA Swimming web site -- A section titled "On the Same Page" has been added to the USA Swimming web site. Its focus will be on news items and issues of interest to the officiating community. Its goal is to provide all officials with the information, resources, forms, etc. to help all officials be "on the same page" when it comes to swim officiating. Follow this link to the "On the Same Page" page, and if you have suggestions, comments, or questions in relation to the section, send them to onthesamepage@optonline.net. If you have a specific situation you'd like to propose for discussion on the page, send it to situations@optonline.net.
A great resource for officials -- If you haven't seen it, the
USA Swimming Officials
page is a tremendous resource for officials and others interested
in rules, rule interpretations, and the craft of officiating.
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Key Officials Contacts
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Here's a list of Pacific Swimming and zone officials chairmen.
They are your contacts for zone officials lists, information on becoming an official, dates of
scheduled clinics in your area, and other questions.
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| Area |
Contact |
| Pacific Swimming |
Kim Jew, (510) 657-8925
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| Zone 1 North (Peninsula) |
Lucille Glassman, (650) 947-4976
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| Zone 1 South (South Bay/Central Coast) |
Jim Nachtigal, (408) 229-9945
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| Zone 2 (East Bay, Stockton/Modesto area) |
Gwenn Chong, (925) 462-5696
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| Zone 3 (San Francisco, North Bay, North Coast): |
Lynn Graham, (707) 528-8710;
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| Zone 4 (Reno/Lake Tahoe/Mountains) |
Gale Maynor, (775) 265-5599;
Valerie Rudd, (530) 577-7547
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We're always looking -- Pacific Swimming is always looking for volunteers who are interested in becoming
deck officials. While there are officials clinics in each of our five zones at various times during the year much of the training is on the job.
Novice officials generally start as stroke and turn officials, and learn the ropes by attending clinics, using self-study materials, and working on deck under the supervision of an experienced official. Those who are interested move up the ladder
to serving as a chief judge, then to refereeing and starting -- again, learning through a combination of clinics, self-study materials, and on-the-job training. Sound interesting? Contact the officials chairman for your zone for more information on getting started as an official in your area.
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