Officials Training September 2007

1. Officials Training September 2007 Contact: Ron Zolno, Partner Ron Zolno Referee rzolno@brsgroup.com

2. Agenda • Introduction • Importance of officiating • Different types of officials • Calling only what you see • Rules covering the 4 strokes • Across all strokes • Butterfly • Backstroke • Breaststroke • Freestyle • Rules covering IMs and relays • Key points to remember • Logistics • Next steps • Questions and answers September 2007 Officials Training

3. Introduction • INTRODUCTION • I’m Ron, The Drowner • Started officiating in ’96 when son, David, swam summer league as a 7-year old • Year later I was the starter for the summer league • As an 8-year old David started swimming year-round, so I trained to be a USA Swimming official • Now an N3 Meet Referee, Starter, Chief Judge and Stroke/Turn Official • WHY I DO IT • It can get really boring at meets • Keeps me involved • BUT, PRIMARILY FOR THE KIDS – THAT’S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT September 2007 Officials Training

4. Importance of Officiating • Fairness and consistency • If not, the ones working hard and doing it right get punished • Learning to do it right • 1+1 = 2, regardless of age • If someone ALMOST makes a shot you wouldn’t give them the 2 points • REMEMBER -- SWIMMERS DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES. YOU ARE ONLY RECORDING IT. September 2007 Officials Training

5. Different Types of Officials • There are a variety of officials that are needed to run a swim meet: • Marshals -Enforce warm-up procedures and maintain order in the swimming venue • Lane timer - As necessary, start and stop timing devices • Head timer - Assign lane timers, start back-up watches, as necessary • Clerk of course - Handles logistics of deck entries, scratches, etc. during meet • Meet director - In charge of “dry side” of the swim meet, including meet layout and sanction, pool and equipment set-up, entries, issuing results, filing LSC report • Stroke and turn judge - Observe swims and report any violations they see • Chief judge - Assigns and supervises judges; reports disqualifications to Referee • Starter - Responsible for providing a fair, and equitable start for all swimmers • Deck referee - In charge of what happens in the pool for specific events/heats; works with Starter to ensure a fair start • Meet referee - In charge of what happens in the pool for the entire meet, from warm-ups through approval of final results; full authority over all officials and decisions; enforces all applicable rules • All are REAL officials - their decisions and actions can directly impact the swim meet and the swimmers September 2007 Officials Training

6. Calling Only What You See • Only call what you are positive you saw, not what you think you may have seen or what you did not see • For example, on breaststroke or butterfly turns, it is not that you did not see two hands touching, it is that you saw one hand not touch or you saw that the hands did not touch simultaneously • Therefore, the benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer • Illegal versus ugly – especially with very inventive kids September 2007 Officials Training

7. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Across All Strokes-- • You CANNOT stand on the bottom or stop and hold onto the lane line • Exception -- you can in the freestyle, as long as other rules are not broken -- you can stand on the bottom or hold onto the lane line, however, swimmer can not push off bottom or lane line • Definition of vertical – look at the two shoulders relative to each other • Water movement versus body movement • Measure with your eyes, not with a microscope September 2007 Officials Training

8. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Butterfly-- • Start • Forward • Stroke • Body on breast • After start and each turn, swimmer’s shoulders must be at or past vertical toward the breast • Swimmer permitted 1 or more leg kicks, but only one arm pull under water • After start and each turn, swimmer can be submerged for up to 15 meters; swimmer must be on the surface for remainder of race • From beginning of first arm pull, swimmer’s shoulders must be in line with water surface • Arms must break the surface of the water each arm stroke • Arm stroke must be simultaneous • Kick • All up and down leg and foot movements must be simultaneous • Relative position of legs cannot change (but you must see the change) -- alternating, scissors and breaststroke kicks are not permitted • Propulsion must come from top of feet • Turns • Body shall be on breast at turns • Touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously • After hand touch is made, swimmer may turn in any manner desired • Finish • On the breast • Touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously September 2007 Officials Training

9. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Backstroke-- • Start • Backward • Toes can be under or over the water, but toes cannot be over the lip of the wall or curled over the top of the wall • Stroke • After start and each turn, swimmer’s shoulders must be at or past vertical toward the back • After start and each turn, swimmer can be submerged for up to 15 meters; swimmer must be on the surface for remainder of race • Kick • Any kick is legal • Turns • Upon completion of each length, some part of swimmer must touch the wall • Turning motion must be continuous • During the turn the shoulders MAY BE turned past the vertical toward the breast after which ONE continuous single or double arm pull may be used to execute the turn • It is ONE PULL NOT A CERTAIN DISTANCE • Once body has left position on the back, there shall be no kick or arm pull that is independent of the continuous turning action • Shoulders must be at or past vertical toward back when leaving the wall • Finish • On the back September 2007 Officials Training

10. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Breaststroke-- • Start • Forward • Stroke • Body on breast • Arms move simultaneously • Hands push forward from breast • Hands brought back on or under the water • Hands cannot go beyond the hipline, EXCEPT during the first stroke after the start and after each turn (Pullout) • Some part of the head must break water surface at least once during each complete arm stroke-leg stroke combination • EXCEPT after the start and after each turn swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while wholly submerged • Head must break water surface before hands turn inward at widest part of second stroke September 2007 Officials Training

11. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Breaststroke (continued)-- • Kick • All vertical and lateral leg movements must be simultaneous • Feet must be turned outward during propulsive part of kick movement • Scissors, flutter and butterfly kick are not permitted during the swim portion of the race • Turns • Body shall be on breast at turns • Touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously • After touch is made, swimmer may turn in any manner desired • Shoulders must be at or past vertical toward breast when leaving the wall • After the start and after each turn, while wholly submerged, the swimmer MAY take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick • Head must break water surface before hands turn inward at widest part of second stroke • After the start and after each turn swimmer MAY take a single downward butterfly kick followed by a breaststroke kick (only while the body is wholly submerged) • Finish • On the breast • Touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously September 2007 Officials Training

12. Rules Covering The Four Strokes--Freestyle-- • Start • Forward • Stroke • In any event designated “freestyle,” swimmer may swim any style • EXCEPT in a medley relay or individual medley event; then freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke • After start and each turn, swimmer can be submerged for up to 15 meters; swimmer must be on the surface for remainder of race • Kick • Any kick is legal • Turns • Upon completion of each length the swimmer must touch the wall • Swimmer can turn in any fashion • Finish • Race is completed when any part of the swimmer touches the wall September 2007 Officials Training

13. Rules Covering IMs and Relays • INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY • Stroke order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle • Rules governing each particular stroke are applied to that part of the race • The key is that it is four finishes, not four turns • RELAYS • Order for medley relay is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle • Any stroke, other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly, may be used in the freestyle relay • Rules governing each particular stroke are applied to that part of the race • It is four finishes, not four turns • RELAY TAKE-OFFS • The team of a swimmer whose feet have lost touch with the starting platform (ground or deck) before his/her preceding teammate touches the wall shall be disqualified • In other words, watch the next swimmer’s feet leave the starting block • Once you see the feet leave the block, look down and make sure a touch has been made September 2007 Officials Training

14. Key Points To Remember • ONE SET OF RULES APPLIES TO ALL SWIMMERS, NO MATTER THE AGE OR ABILITY LEVEL • AS STROKE AND TURN JUDGES WE DO NOT JUDGE STYLE -- WE ONLY DETERMINE IF A SWIMMER CONFORMS TO THE RULES • GIVE EQUAL TIME TO ALL LANES, INCLUDING EMPTY LANES, SO THAT NO SWIMMER IS WATCHED MORE THAN OTHERS • ALWAYS LOOK AND ACT PROFESSIONALLY • BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT DON’T CHEER FOR ONE SWIMMER OR ONE SIDE • SWIMMERS DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES -- YOU ARE ONLY RECORDING IT • AND, DON’T ARGUE WITH COACHES OR PARENTS -- LET THE REFEREE DO IT FOR YOU September 2007 Officials Training

15. Logistics • POSITION -- STROKE JUDGE • Freestyle • Position yourself at 15 meter mark to judge heads up • Backstroke • Position yourself at 15 meter mark to judge heads up • Butterfly • Walk with swimmers • Walk just behind the last swimmer • For more advanced swimmers, start at 15 meter mark to judge heads up • Breaststroke • Walk with swimmers • Walk just behind the last swimmer September 2007 Officials Training

16. Logistics (Continued) • POSITION -- TURN/FINISH JUDGE • Between assigned lanes • Step forward when swimmers approach your jurisdiction • Step back after swimmers have left your jurisdiction • Stand with one foot forward and one foot back at the edge of the pool • Jurisdiction will be defined by your Meet Referee • Freestyle MAY be judged from the side -- it will be up to the Meet Referee • MAKING A CALL • Hand up, palm out, immediately • Stay in position • Be ready to answer the 3 questions: • Where were you - Jurisdiction? • What did you see - Description? • What rule was broken - Infraction? • DQ slip September 2007 Officials Training

17. Next Steps • ATTEND A TRAINING SESSION -- THIS IS IT • READ THE RULE BOOK AND TAKE THE OFFICIALS’ TEST • This can be done online on the USA Swimming website; go to: http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=690&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en • FILL OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND SUBMIT IT WITH A CHECK • Many teams cover this expense for officials associated with their team • SHADOW OFFICIALS ON DECK September 2007 Officials Training