County Website

Officials

Swimming Technical officials (STOs) are a central part of every swimming event and play an important role in ensuring the events run smoothly, safely and within the sport's regulations.

Following a meeting of the British Swimming Officials Group at the end of November 2011 several changes have been agreed in relation to the requirements for training as Technical Officials. This mainly surrounds consolidation of training through experience before commencing to train at the next level.

A summary of the requirements for implementation from 1st January 2012 are;

Timekeeper - minimum age 14 years to commence training and qualification

Judge level 1 – minimum age for training 15 years, final assessment minimum age 16 years.

Judge level 2 – Proven post qualification experience as Judge Level 1 and a minimum age for training 16 years.

Judge level 2S – a minimum of 20 hours post qualification experience as Judge Level 2 before training commences.

Referee – minimum age for training 19 years providing the candidate will be 20 years as at the 30^th November in year of the examination. The candidate must be qualified as Judge Level 2S for a minimum of 1 year and have a minimum of 10 hours experience as a Judge level 2S.

There is an expectation that before you progress to the next level of Technical Official that you will gain at least 6 months of poolside experience, that is evidenced in your logbook, in your new qualification.

So you meet the age requirements; please read on.

The next steps.

Make sure that you are registered with the ASA; your club will arrange this for you.

Complete the British Swimming Officials training application form.

http://www.swimming.org/assets/uploads/library/BSOfficialsTrainingapplicationform-Issue22-14_February2012_1.pdf

Send your completed form with payment to the County Co-ordinator [Chris Hobbs], by cheque made payable to the ASA.

Once the application form and payment have been processed a course leader will be allocated by the County Co-ordinator.

Candidates will be invited to an “Initial Group Session” with their course leader and other candidates. The course leader will supply the course specific workbook and the “Extracts of ASA Laws and Regulations and ASA Technical Rules” and DVD of the FINA J1 Rules.

Candidates will then be asked to gain practical experience by the mentoring process at a variety of galas, not just level 1. 2 and 3 licenced galas. There are inter-club galas, National swimming league, Sussex League and club championships and many more.

Planning is essential in gaining mentored poolside experience to evidence the required competencies. Always ask in advance, it may not always be possible. Always have your workbook with you to be signed by the mentor and the Referee at the end of the session.

A debrief of the session with the candidate and mentor is advised and this can be either at the end of the session, if time permits telephone or by email.

A new aide memoir is to be completed for each mentored session, with the following information at the top of each page. These must be retained as they form a part of your training record.

Date, location and level of gala
Mentors name and ASA number

Mentored poolside experience can be gained outside Sussex; however, there is an expectation that the majority of your mentored poolside experience will be within Sussex.

There is no rush to “sign off” all the competencies as soon as possible; a wide range of experience makes a better official.

As all candidates will have different levels of experience as trainee officials and being mentored the “Intermediate Group Session” and “Workbook Completion Session” will take place by mutual agreement between the Course Leader and the candidate[s], this may be as a small group, on an individual basis when they are officiating or if not seen then perhaps by telephone contact / email.

To be eligible for a practical assessment the candidate MUST have completed;

Initial Group session with their course leader
Intermediate Group session with their course leader
Workbook completion Group session with their course leader
All the competencies evidenced and signed off by a mentor and referee
The workbook questions completed and discussed with Course Tutor.

Prior to the practical assessment the candidate MUST present their workbook to the assessor for examination and if not completed then the assessment will need to be rearranged.

Only candidates that can show that they have successfully evidenced all the required competencies that have been signed off by a mentor and a referee; and all the workbook questions have been completed will be allowed to proceed with the practical assessment.

When you and your course leader believe you are ready for a practical assessment you will be able to select a gala that you would like to be assessed at, make sure you apply to the Referee or Promoter in advance.

It is desired that all Sussex candidates have their practical assessment in Sussex. But if practical assessment is arranged out of County then the candidate must be informed that they will also be required to complete again in Sussex; the candidate to be informed by their Course Tutor in advance of starting the Course.

After their practical assessment the candidate will be notified of the outcome by County Co-ordinator of the result. The County Co-ordinator will then inform the ASA of this achievement as well as the Swimming Hon. Secretary so that the candidate’s details can then be placed into the Sussex County Handbook.

Successful candidates will need to licence with the Institute of Swimming, as only licenced officials are able to act as officials at level 1, 2 and 3 licenced galas. The necessary forms will be given to the successful candidates by the County Co-ordinator for completion.

Once you have qualified, there is no need to rush to the next level; gain experience and enjoy officiating.

Below is a list of helpful information

Judge Level 1 Syllabus 2012

Record of Mentoring Judge 1

Judge Level 2 Syllabus 2012

Record of Mentoring Judge 2

Judge Level 2S Syllabus 2012

Record of Mentoring Judge 2S

Record of Mentoring Timekeeping

Record of Mentoring

Mentoring Action Plans

Swimming Officials Log Book