Newer Officials ClinicApril 9, 2011

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Philosophy of Officiating

3. Officiating Team

4. Rules Covering the Four Strokes1. Rules Covering IM and Relays

5. National Officiating Program

6. Next Steps

Philosophy of Officiating“All competitive swimming events held under USA Swimming shall be conducted in accordance with the following rules which are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and promote uniformity in the sport so that no swimmer shall obtain unfair advantage over another.”

Philosophy of Officiating

• Look, Act, and Be Professional– White shirt, polo-style– Khaki shorts, slacks, or skirt– Rubber soled shoes or sandals (all white

preferred)– Display current USA-S registration

• Give Benefit of Any Doubt to the Swimmer

• Honesty and ImpartialityImpartiality

Fairness and Consistency

• Officials do not disqualify swimmers—they disqualify THEMSELVES—you are only recording the dq

• Learning to do it right– 1+1=2, regardless of age

• If not, the ones working hard and doing it right get punished!

Swimming Officials

• Are Part of a “Team”– Coaches, Swimmers, Parents & Officials

• Conduct competition so all swimmers have a fair chance of winning– DQ is NOT a penalty but a PROTECTION of

others– Give swimmer benefit of any doubt

• Keep it FUN, fair, and safe

Disqualifications

• Remember– Swimmers disqualify themselvesthemselves– the judge only records the infraction.

Call Only What You See

• Only call what you actually saw happen, not what you think may have happened, or what you didn’t see!

• The benefit of any doubt goes to the swimmer!

–Illegal versus ugly

Swimming Governance

Officiating Team

• Wet Deck– Referee, Stroke & Turn Judges, Take-off

Judge, Timers

• Dry Deck– Administrative referee, clerk of course,

equipment & computer operators

Stroke and Turn Judges

• Ensures rules relating to style of swimming, turns, and finishes designed for each event are followed

• Works under jurisdiction of the Referee

Disqualifications

• All Strokes– Artificial Assistance

• Pulling on lane lines• Springing from or walking on bottom• Aids to buoyancy and speed

– Failure to complete required distance– Finishing in different lane

When Observing DQ

• Must raise hand (palm facing outward), immediately upon observing infraction

• Notify referee/chief judge by radio

• Reply to “The Three The Three QuestionsQuestions””

• When confirmed, notify swimmer on start end

The Three Questions?

• The Referee or Chief Judge asks them

• Where were you?– Are you making a call in your jurisdiction?– Were you able to see clearly?

• What did you see?– Describe for the Referee who did not see

• What rule was violated?– Know the Rule Book.

Disqualification

• Made only by official within whose jurisdiction the infraction was committed

• Must be based on personal observation & knowledge – Don’t listen to others

• Give swimmer benefit of any doubt

• Be ready for the Three Questions

Other DQ’s

• A swimmer who acts in an unsafe or unsporting manner may be considered for disciplinary action.

• Entering the pool, when not entered in the ongoing race

• Interference with swimmer in pool

• Early takeoff in relay

• 15 meter violation (except breaststroke)

Unfair Advantage?

• DQ’s do NOT depend on “advantage being gained”– “Unfair advantage” may be one reason why

an action is an infraction

• Competitor is disqualified whether or not advantage is gained

Competitive Events

• Backstroke

• Breaststroke

• Butterfly

• Freestyle

• Combination– Individual Medley– Medley Relay

Freestyle

• Forward start

• Use of any stroke– Except IM or Medley Relay when freestyle leg

MUST NOT be one of the other, legal strokes

• Must touch wall at turns and finish with some part of body

Common Freestyle Violations

• Failure to touch at turn

• Walking or springing from pool bottom

• Artificial assistance– Pulling on lane lines– Pushing off side walls

Backstroke

• Back start– Toes generally* under water at start

• Push off on back and continue swimming on back

• During turn, shoulders MAY turn past vertical after which a continuous arm pull (single or double) may be used to initiate turn

• Finish on back

Common Violations

• Failure to initiate turn after the arm pull Failure to initiate turn after the arm pull (or once on the breast)(or once on the breast)

• Failure to return to “past vertical toward the back” when leaving the wall at turn

• Finishing “past vertical toward breast”

• Miss wall at turn– May NOT scull back to wall

Breaststroke

• Forward start

• Body on breast and shoulders in line with water surface

• Arms and legs move simultaneously and in same horizontal plane

• Hands pushed forward together from breast and brought back under or on surface

Breaststroke (Continued)

• Elbows kept under water on recovery (forward arm action)

• Feet MUST turn out during propulsive phase of kick

• Hands not brought past hipline except first arm stroke at start and turn

• Head must break surface before hands turn inward at widest point of second arm stroke at start and turn

More Breaststroke !

• Head must break surface at least once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that order, except at start and turn.

• At turns and finish, both hands must touch wall simultaneously

• Must be on breast when leaving wall at turns and when finishing

Even More Breaststroke

• At start and after each turn, swimmer MAY take one downward “butterfly” kick during or after the first arm pull.– At any other point would be DQ

• The butterfly kick must be followed by a breaststroke kick

Common Violations

• Touch not simultaneous or only one-handed

• Scissors or flutter kick

• Not on breast when leaving wall

• Breaking stroke cycle– One arm pull followed by one leg kick

• Elbows out of water on recovery

Butterfly

• Forward start

• On breast

• One or more leg kicks but only ONE arm pull underwater at start and turns

• Arms brought forward over water and pulled back simultaneously

• All up and down movement of feet and legs must be simultaneous

More Butterfly

• Legs and feet need not be on same level but must NOT alternate in relation to each other– No flutter kick or breaststroke kick

• Two-hand simultaneous touch at turn and finish

Common Violations

• Hand touch– One-hand– Non-simultaneous

• Underwater recovery– At finish or during stroke

• Flutter kick

Individual Medley

• Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle

• Stroke rules apply to relevant portion of IM

• Transitions from one stroke to another are “finishes” NOT “turns”

• Freestyle in IM means anything other than back, breast, or fly

Relays

• Freestyle• Medley

– Back, breast, butter, free• Free means something other than back, breast, or

butter

• Stroke rules apply to relevant portions of relay

• Transitions are “finishes”• Takeoff when preceding swimmer finishes

Common Violations

• Early takeoff

• Stroke violation

• Improper order of stroke

• Entering water without permission

• Failure to complete required distance

National Officiating Program

• National Certification Program– N1 – Local (what you are now)– N2 – Sectional, Zone, Grand Prix– N3 – National Championship

• Certification Requirements– Evaluation, local participation, continuing

education, training and mentoring of other officials

National Officials Certification

• Evaluations– Done at Officials Qualifying Meets (OQM’s)

• OQM’s are designated as N2 or N3 qualifying• By approved national evaluators

– Work up “in order”• N2 stroke & turn → N3 stroke & turn• N2 starter → N3 starter

• Positions– ST, CJ, SR, AR, DR

Officials Tracking System

• History is kept of OQM participation and evaluations

• Submit application for National Officials Certification

• View/Print current certification cards

Go to www.usaswimming.orgYou also need to register on the site if you haven’t already

Click on Officials

Seven Ways to Become An Excellent Official

Look Professional

Uniform and even the way you stand

Act Professional

Never react to a coach’s emotion in an emotional manner

Be in Position

Be Consistent

Seven Ways to Become An Excellent Official

Know the rules (backwards and forwards)

Communicate Effectively

With coaches, swimmers, parents, and fellow officials

Be Humble

There is a difference between being in control of a meet and being in charge of a meet

Have Fun!!!

• Officiating is rewarding

• But, it takes effort to do it well– Re-read rule book, often!– Try to work out-of-town meets

• The kids deserve our best performance

Questions?

• Call Jim Holcomb at (915) 581-9594 or email at jholcomb@utep.edu

• Call Joe Brown at (915) 833-0212 or email at swim_dad1995@yahoo.com