1. 2019 USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Official Training
Clarice Wasmuth

2. Philosophy of Officiating
Everything is grounded in the rules. The rules determine what is allowed and what is not.
- “Ugly but legal”
- Officials are NOT coaches
Observers, not inspectors
Observation should be consistent for all rules and all swimmers
Do NOT infer or extrapolate
Swimmer ALWAYS gets the benefit of the doubt
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

3. What is FINA? What is USA Swimming?
USA Swimming is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur(FINA) which oversees international swimming competition, including the Olympic Games.
What is USA Swimming?
USA Swimming is the national governing body (NGB) for amateur competitive swimming in the United States. Established in 1978, USA Swimming, formally the Amateur Athletic Union(AAU), is headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO. and oversees all USA Swimming sanctioned events held in the U.S.
What is Georgia Swimming?
Within the United States, USA Swimming is divided into 59 Local Swimming Committees(LSCs), each one responsible for administering USA Swimming activities in a defined geographical area. The Georgia Swimming LSC geographical territory encompasses the State of Georgia and the Counties of Chambers and Russell, Alabama.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

4. Federation Internationale de Natation
ASUA-UANA
Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas

5. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Conduct Expectations
Officials that are working should not wear a team or Athlete hat – you are there for all swimmers, no matter the team
Maintain positive attitude at all times
No cell phone usage on deck
Do not cheer for or coach swimmers
Control emotions on deck
Do not discuss calls with anyone other than Referees or Chief Judges unless asked
Smile!
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

6. USA Swimming Stroke & Turn
GOLDEN RULE
The benefit of the doubt always goes to the swimmer!
Who are the Officials on the Deck
Clerk of Course, Administrative Officials, & Timing Operators – Dry Side Officials
S & T
Starter
Deck Referee
Meet Referee
Sometimes a Chief Judge
Sometimes an Administrative Referee

7. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Teamwork
Meet Referee is in charge, assisted by Deck Referees and Chief Judges
Cooperate and respect all at all times
Accept assignment without complaint
Answer questions from Referees and Chief Judges honestly and with as much detail as possible
Follow established relief protocols
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

8. Uniform and Self-Presentation
Uniform Requirements
- [Khaki or Navy] pants or knee-length shorts, skort, capris or skirt
- White polo shirt, tucked in
- Belt
- Primarily white tennis shoes
- White socks
- Credential and/or nametag
Look professional at all times!
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

9. USA S & T Georgia Uniform Equipment for Meet (Tax deductible)
Solid white Collared shirt (may have a small Logo ex. Speedo, Nike,)
Navy blue shorts, skort, skirt, pants, capris;
Solid White shoes (or close to white)
NO - Tshirts with writing/designs & Blue Jeans are Not appropriate!
Equipment for Meet (Tax deductible)
Radios (Dual Channel)
Head Set
heat sheet
pencil or pen

10. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Working a Meet
Contact Meet Referee in Advance (They love an RSVP!)
Stroke Briefing
Assignments and Jurisdiction
Observation Techniques
Reporting Disqualifications
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

11. USA Swimming S &T Jurisdiction
Can be different for each meet you go to. Usually are consistent through a entire meet. Are set by the Meet Referee & should always be explained clearly to you during the stroke briefing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure of your Jurisdiction!

12. Disqualifications
Can be made only by the S & T Judge within whose jurisdiction the infraction has been committed.
The Official must raise their hand after seeing the infraction. If the Official does not raise their hand the infraction/DQ will not stand.
Must be based on personal observation & Gives the swimmer the benefit of any doubt. (BE SURE THE VIOLATION OCCURRED, UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT IT IS AND BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN IT.)
The S & T Judge shall then announce over radio the DQ Call – Lane & DQ (ex. Lane 5 DQ, Shoulders past vertical during the swim of the backstroke)
The S & T judge May have to write up a DQ slip
The S & T making the call should also write the DQ next to the swimmer name on their heat sheet in case any questions arise later.
The S & T Judge on the side where the swimmer exits the pool should make an attempt to tell the swimmer that they were DQ and why. (ex. “That was a great swim. You were DQ because you did not touch with two hands during your turn.”)

13. Technical Rules- Freestyle
Start
Forward start.
Stroke/Kick
Any style may be used. Must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
Turns/Finish
Some part of swimmer must touch the wall at completion of each length or required distance.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

14. Common Infractions- Freestyle
Head did not break surface of water by 15 meter mark
Walking on/springing from bottom
No touch at turn
OK to hold on to lane – but not to pull
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

15. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Definitions
Arm––That part of the body that extends from the shoulder to the wrist
Body––The torso, including the shoulders and hips
Finish––The instant that a swimmer touches the wall at the end of the prescribed distance
Horizontal––Parallel to the surface of the water
May––Permissive, not mandatory
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

16. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Definitions
On the Back––Position of the body when the shoulders are at or past vertical towards the back
On the Breast––Position of the body when the shoulders are at or past vertical towards the breast
Propulsive––Having the power to propel
Scissor Kick––Use of the top of the instep of one foot and the bottom of the other foot in the propulsive part of the kick
Shall––Mandatory
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

17. USA Swimming National Officials Committee
Definitions
Simultaneously––Occurring at the same time
Touch––Contact with the end of the course
Turn––A point where the swimmers reverse or change direction
Vertical––Perpendicular to the water surface
Wall––Vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surfaces of the deck and overflow gutter, the front portion of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

18. Back stroke
Start: In water facing start end with both hands on gutter or starting grips.
guttered pool - feet/toes may be above the water, but may not be in, on, above lip, or bent over the gutter at any time before or after start.
flat wall pads - feet/toes may be placed above the water level.
when using backstroke ledges - the toes of both feet must be in contact with the wall
Stroke: Any style as long as swimmer remains on back. Swimmer must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
Turns: During turn swimmer may go past vertical to the breast and may utilize a continuous single or continuous simultaneous double arm pull to initiate the turn. Some part of swimmer must touch wall at completion of each length. Shoulders at or past vertical toward back when feet leave wall.
Finish: Some part of swimmer must touch the wall while on the back.

19. Common Infractions- Backstroke
Toes above lip of gutter after start
Head did not break surface of water by 15 meter mark
Shoulders past vertical towards breast
Delay initiating arm pull
Delay initiating turn
Re-submerged
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

20. Technical Rules- Butterfly
Start
Forward start
Stroke
Body kept on breast.
Multiple kicks permitted but first arm pull must bring swimmer to the surface.
Must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
Arms, shoulder to wrist, brought forward over water and pulled back simultaneously.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

21. Technical Rules- Butterfly
Kick
Simultaneous up and down movement.
No alternating, scissors, or breaststroke kicking movements.
Turns/Finish
Shoulders at or past vertical toward breast when the swimmer leaves the wall.
Touch should be made with both hands separated and simultaneous at, above, or below the water surface.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

22. Common Infractions- Butterfly
Head did not break surface of water by 15 meter mark
Alternating kick
Breaststroke kick
Scissors kick
Non-simultaneous arms
Underwater recovery
One hand touch
Non-simultaneous touch
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

23. Technical Rules- Breaststroke
Start
Forward start.
Stroke
Body kept on breast.
Stroke cycle is one arm pull and one leg kick in that order.
Simultaneous arm movement in same horizontal plane.
After start and each turn one arm stroke may be completely back to legs. Head must break surface at widest part of second pull.
Recovery by the hands from the breast-on, under, or over the water. Elbows under water except last stroke before turn or finish.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

24. Technical Rules- Breaststroke
Kick
After start and each turn, prior to the first breaststroke kick, a single butterfly kick is permitted.
Movement of the legs shall be simultaneous vertically and horizontally.
Feet turned out during propulsive part of kick.
No alternating, scissors, or butterfly kick, except as stated, is allowed.
Turns/Finish
Shoulders at or past vertical toward breast when feet leave wall.
Touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface.
At the last stroke before the turn and at the finish an arm stroke not followed by a leg kick is permitted.
Head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding the touch.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

25. Common Infractions- Breaststroke
Head did not break surface of water by widest part of second stroke (Head Not Up)
Butterfly kick
Scissors kick
Alternating kick
Arms past hipline
Arms not in same horizontal plane
One hand touch
Non-simultaneous touch
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

26. Hot of the Press - Individual Medley
101.6 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — The swimmer shall swim the prescribed distance in the follow­ing order: the first one-fourth, butterfly; the second one-fourth, backstroke; the third one-fourth, breaststroke; and the last one-fourth, freestyle. .1 Start — The forward start shall be used. .2 Stroke — The stroke for each one-fourth of the designated distance shall follow the pre­scribed rules for that stroke, except in the freestyle, the swimmer must be on the breast except when executing a turn. .3 Turns A. Intermediate turns within each stroke shall conform to the turn rules for that stroke, except that in the freestyle turn, the swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke. B. The turns when changing from one stroke to another shall conform to the finish rules for the stroke just completed, and shall be as follows: (1) Butterfly to Backstroke — The swimmer must touch as described in Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner, but the shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the back when the swimmer leaves the wall. (2) Backstroke to Breaststroke — The swimmer must touch the wall while on the back. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner but the shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall and the prescribed breaststroke form must be attained prior to the first arm stroke. (3) Breaststroke to Freestyle — The swimmer must touch as described in Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner and must return to the breast before any kick or stroke.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

27. Common Infractions- Individual Medley
An Infraction from the previous lists – for the stroke being swam
Swimming more than ¼ of the race in the style of butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

28. Technical Rules- Relays
Freestyle Relay
Freestyle rules apply.
Each swimmer must swim ¼ of distance.
Medley Relay
Rules pertaining to each stroke apply.
Each swimmer must swim ¼ of event distance as prescribed stroke, in order of Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle.
May not swim in the style of the other three strokes during the freestyle leg.
Takeoffs
Swimmer’s feet/foot must remain in contact with the starting platform until the incoming swimmer has touched the finish wall or pad.
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

29. Common Infractions- Relays
Early takeoff
Swimming more than ¼ of the race in the style of butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke (if a medley relay)
USA Swimming National Officials Committee

30. USA S & T Weird Issues that may arise
No Assistance for a swimmer during their swim.
Any swimmer who acts in an unsafe or unsportsmanlike manner observed by the Stroke/Turn Judge may be considered for disciplinary action. Consult with Meet Referee
Swimming across lanes does not disqualify a swimmer unless interference occurs at the S & T judge’s discretion; However, the swimmer must start and finish in the same lane
Standing on the pool's bottom during a freestyle race shall not disqualify a swimmer unless he leaves the pool or walks or springs from the bottom. (NOTE: other than at the turn, standing on the bottom after the start and before the finish of any other stroke shall constitute a disqualification.) If a swimmer swimming backstroke hangs on to a lane rope…are their shoulders past vertical? If so then DQ

31. TIMER OFFICIALS TRAINING 31 by Ed Saltzman VERSION 15.0
COPYRIGHT © GA SWIMMING, INC. 31

32. Resources USA Swimming Web Site: http://www.usaswimming.org
“For You” Tab then “Official” tab
Signing In
Athlete Protection
Background Check
Test & Rule Book
Georgia Swimming Web Site:
Meets to apprentice at (Always read your meet info before going to a meet)
Georgia Official Site:
Rule Book – USA Web Site Under “Official” Tab

33. Steps to Becoming USA Official
Training Class $ Gary Thesian, Finance Chair, Georgia Swimming, Inc., OR Paypal
Take On Line Open Book Test – USA Swimming Site
Back Ground Check – USA Swimming Site - $38 – every other year
Athlete Protection Training (free) yearly – USA Swimming Site – Need to take the APT within 60 days of the 1st apprentice session.
Concussion Training (free) – One and done - sports - Send your certification certificate to ed Saltzman –
USA 2020 NON – Athlete Registration Application $71.00 – yearly registRation
Apprentice Form*** Always take with you to meets
Apprentice at 5 sessions (at least 2 different Meets)
Scan and back to me & Doug Kintz
Certification Cards ( ed PDF)
I will you document with these steps after you take and pass your test. Along with your apprentice form & USA Non-Athlete Registration application.