JOIN US ON DECK!
BECOME A USA SWIMMING CERTIFIED MEET OFFICIAL!

WHY SHOULD I BECOME AN OFFICIAL?
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Support the team with your time as a volunteer. Why not give something back to the team and sport that’s doing great things for your child?
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Be on deck with your kids at swim meets. There’s no better view of the pool.
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Learn more about the sport of swimming (don’t you wish you knew why your child DQ’d? What do things like “delay initiating turn”, “shoulders past vertical”, and “false start” mean anyway?)
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Because you’re a valued volunteer, be well-taken care of with:
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Free heat sheets and admission during sessions you work
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Great hospitality during sessions you work
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Awesome polos
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Since USA Swimming is a tax-exempt charitable organization, volunteer expenses such as mileage, hotel, and meals are potentially tax-deductible.
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Nice people who will mentor you in the sport (Officials really are nice once you get to know them!)
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You can make a difference! Don’t sit in the stands and get a sore back; stand up and be involved with the swimmers on deck.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
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New Officials: New officials will be required to attend a online training course, pass an open book test (with at least an 80%) and apprentice at 4 sessions with experienced officials. You will be guided by the Midwestern Swimming Officials’ committee throughout the entire process.
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To maintain your certification and currency, all officials are required to work 4 sessions throughout the 12-month calendar year. You can choose what meets/sessions you would like to work! We ask that SCSC officials officiate at our home meets.
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All USA Swimming non-athlete members must take an annual athlete protection training course.
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Initially this course will take 30-45 minutes and annually will take 15-30 minutes.
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You may see many familiar officials at every swim meet, you are not expected to work as many meets as they do! This group of officials are very dedicated to what they do!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT
As officials become more knowledgable and gain more experience with the rules and operations, they are able to advance in their officiating careers. All officials begin as a stroke & turn judge or admin official and throughout time can earn additional certifications to become a meet referee/administrative referee. Additionally, many officials in the Midwestern Swimming LSC further their education by completing tests and evaluations to earn national certification. National certification levels allow officials to officiate at USA Swimming championship series meets (Jr. Nationals, Nationals, Olympic Trials, etc).
Deck Officials 'Wet Side'
Stroke & Turn Judges, Chief Judge, Starter, Deck Referee, Meet Referee
Administrative Officials 'Dry Side'
Administrative Official, Administrative Referee
READY TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL?
Contact SCSC Team Administrator, Janet Cho, to get started.
SCSC will reimburse your non-athlete membership fee, and background check costs!
