Officials
Officials Recruiting
As a club we aim to recruit and train a number of officials who can then be available to help at the galas we run and attend as a club. Having qualified officials is crucial to swimming. Without them, meets cannot be licensed and swimmers' times will not be officially recognised. Additionally, it will often be a condition of the meets we enter as a club that we provide a certain number of officials. So by becoming qualified, you can directly help our swimmers. The training is a combination of theory and practical experience where you will be mentored by fully qualified officials. If you would like to join our existing team of officials, please email the club [email protected]. It really does help the swimmers and is a rewarding way to spend a gala.
As a club we aim to recruit and train a number of officials who can then be available to help at the galas we run and attend as a club. Having qualified officials is crucial to swimming. Without them, meets cannot be licensed and swimmers' times will not be officially recognised. Additionally, it will often be a condition of the meets we enter as a club that we provide a certain number of officials. So by becoming qualified, you can directly help our swimmers. The training is a combination of theory and practical experience where you will be mentored by fully qualified officials. If you would like to join our existing team of officials, please email the club [email protected]. It really does help the swimmers and is a rewarding way to spend a gala.
Officials Roles
The ASA laws and rules dictate the number and type of officials that should be officiating at a gala. All these officials ensure that galas are run smoothly and fairly. The following list describes briefly the role of the various officials. If more than one is required the number is shown in brackets.
The ASA laws and rules dictate the number and type of officials that should be officiating at a gala. All these officials ensure that galas are run smoothly and fairly. The following list describes briefly the role of the various officials. If more than one is required the number is shown in brackets.
- Referee. Has complete control of the competition, the venue and the other officials in all matters of the swimming laws, moral conduct and security.
- Starter. Starts each event, has certain powers of disqualification.
- Stroke Judge (2). Patrol the side of the pool to observe the swimmers conform to the Laws of strokes.
- Place Judge (2). Stand at the finish of each event to decide the official places, may also act as Turn Judge.
- Turn Judge (2). Observe the swimmers conform to A.S.A. Law regarding turns and relay take- overs.
- Chief Timekeeper. Records official time from each Timekeeper, if necessary adjusts them to suit the places with the supervision of the Referee.
- Timekeeper. Take and record the time of the swimmer in the lane allotted. This is the official time, which may be adjusted in accordance with A.S.A. Law to suit the official places, which take precedence over times.
- Recorder. Record the places and times on a master sheet, arrange the Finalists, or in the case of an Inter-Club Gala allocate the points gained by each swimmer on behalf of their club.
- Announcer. Announce results after they have been recorded, provides security awareness and any other relevant information.
- Chief Whip. Arranges the swimmers in each event into appropriate heats.
- Stewards/Whips. Organise swimmers for the events and supervise the conduct of competitors. At club galas, whips are expected to arrange their allocated swimmers into the order on the programme, hand them over to the chief whips, and inform the chief whips of any swimmers who are missing.
