Officials Training May 2011 Contact: Ron Zolno, Partner Ron Zolno Referee 1

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

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 Close to the action Keeps me involved BUT, PRIMARILY FOR THE KIDS – THAT’S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

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

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 judges - Observe swims and report 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, and by working together we can help assure that we have the best, and fairest meet possible

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 Different, but legal versions of the stroke Illegal versus ugly – especially with very inventive kids

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 You are observing the swims, not evaluating them -- Measure with your eyes, not with a microscope

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 (“heads up”); 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 Some part of entire arm (from wrist to shoulder) must break water surface 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

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 (“heads up”); 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 Toward the back Swimmer may be submerged at the instant when the swim finishes, however swimmer cannot be fully submerged prior to this finish

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

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 However, 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); this kick can occur at any time after the arm pull has initiated (any outward or downward movement of the hands and arms) 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 Finish On the breast Touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously

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 (“heads up”); 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

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 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

14 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, then walk toward finishing wall to judge completion of the race 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 * Protocol can be changed by the Meet Referee.

15 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: 1.Where were you - Jurisdiction? 2.What did you see - Description? 3.What rule was broken - Infraction? DQ slip

16 Key Points To Remember 1.ONE SET OF RULES APPLIES TO ALL SWIMMERS, NO MATTER THE AGE OR ABILITY LEVEL However, rules can be modified by the Meet Referee for a swimmer with a permanent physical or cognitive disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities 2.AS STROKE AND TURN JUDGES WE DO NOT JUDGE STYLE -- WE ONLY DETERMINE IF A SWIMMER CONFORMS TO THE RULES 3.GIVE EQUAL TIME TO ALL LANES, INCLUDING EMPTY LANES, SO THAT NO SWIMMER IS WATCHED MORE THAN OTHERS 4.ALWAYS LOOK AND ACT PROFESSIONALLY 5.BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT DON’T CHEER FOR ONE SWIMMER OR ONE SIDE 6.JUST AS A FOOTBALL OFFICIAL DOES NOT COMMIT PASS INTERFERENCE, AND A BASKETBALL OFFICIAL DOES NOT FOUL THE SHOOTER, SWIMMERS DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES -- YOU ARE ONLY RECORDING IT 7.AND, DON’T ARGUE WITH COACHES OR PARENTS -- LET THE REFEREE DO IT FOR YOU

17 Next Steps For Those Interested in Becoming USA Swimming Officials ATTEND A TRAINING SESSION -- THIS IS IT FILL OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND SUBMIT IT TO SOUTH TEXAS SWIMMING WITH A CHECK South Texas Swimming Official’s Registration and USA Swimming Non-Athlete Registration Application COMPLETE USA SWIMMING BACKGROUND CHECK This can be done online at ang=en ang=en READ THE RULE BOOK AND TAKE THE OFFICIALS’ TEST This can be done online on the USA Swimming website; go to: lias=Rainbow&Lang=en lias=Rainbow&Lang=en SHADOW OFFICIALS ON DECK AS A TRAINEE Minimum of 25 hours shadowing on-deck in a 150-day period AND SOUTH TEXAS SWIMMING WILL REIMBURSE YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR FEES!