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
How to Become an Official revised 5/1/25
Apprentice Official On-Deck Training FAQs
Officials Code of Conduct
Apprentice Officials Check Sheets and Self Evaluation Forms
Stroke and Turn Certification Check Sheet (to be brought to Meets)
Stroke and Turn Self Evaluation
Chief Judge Certification Check Sheet (to be brought to Meets)
Chief Judge Self Evaluation
Starter Certification Check Sheet (to be brought to Meets)
Starter Self Evaluation
Admin Official Certification Check Sheet (to be brought to Meets)
Admin Official Self Evaluation
Referee Certification Check Sheet (to be brought to Meets)
Referee Self Evaluation
Apprentice Official Progression Plans (for Trainers)
Stroke and Turn Progression Plan
Chief Judge Progression Plan
Starter Progression Plan
Admin Official Progression Plan
Referee Progression Plan
Documents for Knowledge of Each Position
Professional Stroke and Turn Official
Professional Chief Judge
Professional Starter
Professional Administrative Official
Professional Administrative Referee
Professional Deck 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.
NEWS
Stroke and Turn Officials' RSVP Needed: 14 & Under Winter Age Group Championships, December 12-14, 2025, hosted by San Ramon Valley Aquatics (SRVA).
We are accepting applications to officiate as a Stroke and Turn Official at the Pacific Swimming Winter Age Group Championships, December 12-14, 2025, in San Ramon, CA. "Certified Officials" interested in officiating at this meet are encouraged to complete the online application.
This meet is an LSC Trials and Finals Meet. All Officials should be certified to officiate at this meet. The Officials’ meeting each day will start 1 hour before the start of both Trials and Finals. Official’s dress for Trials is a white polo shirt/blouse, blue pants (shorts are OK), or a blue skirt/skort, and closed white athletic shoes. Finals dress is a white polo shirt/blouse blue LONG PANTS or skirt and closed white athletic shoes. Shirts must be tucked in. If it is raining, stay warm and dry.
Officials attending the meet are encouraged to RSVP to the Meet Referee Phil Grant (pgrant@pacswim.org) by filling out the RSVP Form.
2025-26 Meet Assignments (updated 11/10/25) - Pacific's major meet assignments for the 2025-26 swim year are available. Click here to view.
Free 2026 USA Swimming Rulebook - As part of your 2026 Officials membership, you may request ONE 2026 USA Swimming Rulebook. If you would like to order your free copy (regular size or mini) of the 2026 USA Swimming Rulebook, you must fill out this form by Monday, December 1, 2025. After this date, you will need to purchase one through SwimOutlet. You will need your USA Swimming ID number to complete the form.
2026 CA/NV Speedo Spring Sectionals - Officials Application for February 26th - March 1st Meets
The 2026 CA/NV Spring Sectionals are being held February 26 - March 1, 2026, in two locations - Roseville, CA, hosted by California Capital Aquatics and the Sierra Nevada LSC and Oceanside, CA, hosted by North Coast Aquatics and the San Diego Imperial LSC.
This meet is an OQM meet and the single “Application to Officiate” for both locations can be found here:
Application to Officiate 2026 CA/NV Spring Sectionals
Officials are asked to sign up for one meet only.
To be considered for specific assigned positions (Deck Referee, Starter, Chief Judge, Asst.Admin Referee) position, applications MUST be received by January 26, 2026.
Officials will be notified by February 2, 2026, of their assigned position status.
Applications for Stroke & Turn positions will be accepted at any time. However, only those applying by February 2, 2026, will be assured of receiving a meet shirt.
Applicant must be a member, in good standing, of USA Swimming and be a LSC certified official.
If you have any questions, please email either Meet Referee:
Roseville: Cheryl Pearson, cherylpearson.lv@gmail.com
Oceanside: Keith Lambert, ktlamber707@gmail.com
September 16, 2025 - USAS Revised Operational Policy Manual Section 19.0, Competition Category Policy
Read full memo from Officials' Chair, Phil Grant here
What does this mean for Pacific Swimming:
Effective at once, only athletes born as a female may compete in the female athlete competition category. The definition of a female can be found in Executive Order 14168; Click Here. USA Swimming is notifying all affected athletes of this change and reverting back their competition category. Conversely, there are some administrative changes to the male competition category, but those changes should have little to no impact on our operating procedures.
How will Pacific Swimming Officials Proceed?
If an official suspects or is notified of an athlete competing in the wrong competition category, they shall advise the Meet Referee. The Meet Referee will handle the incident in a professional and inconspicuous manner. No ACTION shall be taken or contact made with the suspected athlete. The Meet Referee will only notate the name of the meet, name of the athlete, club, and event(s). At the conclusion of the meet, the Meet Referee will notify the LSC Officials Chair, who will in-turn make the proper notifications to Pacific Swimming.
Note: These procedures will be in use until directed otherwise by the LSC or USA Swimming.
Request for Reimbursement
For requesting reimbursement from Pacific Swimiming for National Meets Travel and Lodging. Note that tax identification number and current address must be provided before any payment for services provided to Pacific will be made. (Updated 3/13/25). Click here to view.
Officials Apparel - Our inventory is fully stocked again and we are happy to be able to maintain the same prices for all items except jackets. We have also added a knit beanie cap for those cold, winter meets and, by request, a XS Ladies SS and LS polos. Please use this current form to order any items. Thank you for your patience!
Athlete Protection Training - USA Swimming's Athlete Protection Training course is available by clicking here.
Officials Background Checks - The current amount for background check renewal is $18. DO NOT let your background check expire! See your Zone Officials Chair or visit USASwimming.org to begin the background check process.
Important Links
USA Swimming Officials Information
- USA Swimming Officials Page
- USA Swimming Officials Applications & Forms
- Deck Pass Dashboard
- Education & Training
- Testing & Certification
- Officials Tracking System (OTS)
- Entering Other Meets in OTS
- OTS & Certification FAQs (rev. 4/2020)
Rule Books
- 2024 USA Swimming Rules & Regulations
- Pacific Swimming Rules & Regulations
- NCAA Rules & Interpretations
General
Safety