Referee The “Boss”

1. Referee The “Boss” June, 2006

2. Today’s Topics • Overall Job Description • Skills & Knowledge • On Arrival at the Pool • Meet with Meet Manager • Before the Start of Session • Meet with Senior Officials • Briefing of Officials • During the Session • End of Session • Up the Ladder • Questionnaire Review “Shall” = No option = command “Should” = Preferred course of action “May” = Optional

3. Overall Job Description • The most Senior official on deck for the session • Not in badgelevel but in authority • Must be at least level 3 and have taken referee clinic • Mentor and supporter for all officials on deck • There to ensure the competition is run fairly and smoothly • Don’t be afraid to ask for help – but ultimately all decisions are yours

4. Skills • Positive attitude • Listening and Observation • Decision making • Communication • Organization • Experience • Ability to Keep Discipline • With dignity, authority but without arrogance • Flexibility • Don’t assume all meets run the same • Common Sense

5. Know the Rules • Keep up-to-date with changes to rules • Have a copy of the rule book available – but not on you • Recommend Acme Thunderer Whistle, not Fox (Too Shrill)

6. On Arrival at the Pool • Arrive 1½ hours prior to start – or when requested by Meet Management • Dressed according to SNC rules (or meet rules if different) • Ensure you have whistle, rule book, pencil • Ensure your name is checked off the officials roster • Find Referee’s heat sheet • Find Meet Manager/Meet Referee

7. Meet with Meet Manager … and Meet Referee if exists • Request (& read) copy of meet package in advance • Determine if there are any special rules … • Deck Entries, Prelims/Finals, SWAD? • Warm-up procedures/Life Guards? • Double ended? • Any single-length events requiring change of start or timer end? • Problems from previous sessions? • Preferences for running session and any timing considerations? • Review and approve official’s roster • Are people assigned to be: • Runners, False Start Rope Operator,Safety Marshals

8. Before Start of the Session • Time out the session • Should not be longer than 4½ hours • Slowest time * (number of heats + turnover time) • Do facilities check • Water temperature: 25 – 28°C (77 – 82.4°F) • Chlorine: between 1 – 5 around 3 • PH: 7.2 – 7.6 • Air temperature: Minimum 2° warmer than water • Check lane ropes, starting blocks, false start rope, 15m markers • Make sure Safety Marshals are on deck and warm-up rules are posted

9. Meet the Officials Chief Finish Judge Marshalling Area Referee Assistant Chief Timer { Timers False Start Rope { Timers Turn Judges { Timers { Timers Backstroke Flags Backstroke Flags { Timers Clerk of Course { Timers Chief Timekeeper Judge of Stroke Starter Recorder/Scorer Electronics

10. Meet with Senior Officials • Clerk of Course … Do first • Starter • Chief Finish Judge • Chief Timekeeper • Electronics • Office (Recorder/Scorer) • Objective of the discussions: • Are they able to do the job ? • Agreement on their responsibilities – specific to this session

11. Meet with Clerk of Course • Agree on the time to marshal the first event • Do they have enough help – marshals? • Number of heats behind blocks • Marshalling announcements • Procedures for: • Scratches, Deck entries (Spare Cards), Relay Cards, … • Combining/Re-seeding heats and events • Events with 1 heat (6-8 swimmers) go straight to Finals? • Special Procedures for Finals • What and Who to inform of changes to program • # swimmers/heat, # heats/event, combined events • Referee, Electronics, Chief Timekeeper, Chief Finish Judge and Starter

12. Meet with Starter • Starting over top? • Discuss watch check • Discuss signals • Discuss false-start DQs • Any other functions you want from starter • Relay takeovers, turn judge, sweeps • Equipment checked? • Discuss announcements to be made by starter

13. Meet with Chief Finish Judge • Re-confirm method of calculating official times • Manual vs. electronic • Confirm process flow for: • Cards and/or tape to table • Official times to recorder/scorer • Make sure they communicate with the office • Verification of Posted Results • Notify Referee of swim-offs for Finals • Communicate with Chief Timekeeper if problems with times • Inform Referee of any other problems • Lost times, getting behind ….

14. Meet with Chief Timekeeper • Checkout watches to Timers • Review experience level & matching of Timers • Identify Head Lane Timers • Recruit Timers if necessary • Arrange a watch check • Take each heat winners time • Do briefing for Timers if asked by Referee • Single-length/Distance Events, Official Splits • Monitor recorded times to catch glaring errors

15. Meet with Electronics • Do they have any concerns or problems? • Equipment, people etc. • Have they arranged for a pad check? • How much “change” can they handle? • Do you need to wait until the board goes to zero? • Signals

16. Meet with Office • Do they have any concerns or problems? • Equipment, people etc. • Have they talked to Chief Finish Judge? • Have they talked to Electronics? • Procedure for Posting Results

17. Briefing of Officials (Referee may delegate some of this to other Officials) • Decide whether to separate officials for briefings • At Briefing: • Welcome Officials and thank them for volunteering • Introduce key officials including yourself • Give officials an estimated completion time • Tell officials what time they should be on deck • Identify all Strokes & Turns officials • Enough? Qualified? In the room? • Conduct briefings for Timers, Strokes and Turns

18. Briefing - Strokes & Turns • Review areas of jurisdiction for Strokes vs. Turns • Identify number of lanes per judge • Pair novices with experienced officials • Judges can rotate during session • Reinforce guidelines for observing a turn • It’s OK to seek a second opinion • Review all strokes for session • Not a clinic – cover the salient points • SWAD • Relay Takeovers – do not indicate DQ until race has ended

19. Briefing - Strokes & Turns … 2 • Inform the officials of the DQ procedures • Only call it if you’re sure • Wait till last lap, ensure station covered, try to inform swimmer,fill out DQ slip/card,bring card to Referee • Referee can overturn DQ – Judge should not take offence • Remind the officials of procedures for disputes • Refer swimmers to their coach • Refer coaches to the Referee

20. Briefing - Timers(May be done by Chief Timekeeper) • Verify watches or plungers • Check that everyone has timed before • If not, ask Chief Timekeeper to conduct 101 after briefing • Ask Head Lane Timers to identify themselves • Decide roles for each timer in a lane • Cover procedures for: • Swimmer verification, • Go by the Flash not the Sound • Where to stand to take times, official splits • Place to record times on cards, light touches • When to clear watches • Bell or single length events • Place to record time on cards/lane sheet, light touches

21. Starting the Session • This can happen when: • The pool has been cleared • Clerk of Course followed instructions – swimmers are ready to swim • Officials are in place • Watch check has been completed

22. During the Session • Be visible to officials and swimmers • Observe that officials are performing their duties • Mentor if necessary • Replace incompetent officials • Keep the session moving at a steady pace • Use a “Gopher” if necessary • Watch for the “unexpected”

23. During the Session … 2 • When making a decision • Deal with the facts • Use all available evidence –time cards, sweeps • Hear all sides of the story • Feel free to consult fellow officials • Mark time on your heat sheet at end of each event • Do a sweep at finish of each heat • Not mandatory but comes highly recommended • Communicate, Communicate, Communicate • Officials, Coaches, Swimmers

24. During the Session - Starts • Request quiet for each Start • Visually check pool and officials • Mark heat sheet with missing lanes & number of swimmers • Do long whistle for swimmers to get on blocks or in water • Whistle with authority • Use 2nd whistle for backstroke • Swimmer position • Feet anywhere on blocks; Backstroke in water at wall • When swimmers are settled, hand over to Starter by raising arm down the pool • Maintain raised arm until start is complete • You can stop the start at any time • After the Start, watch that all swimmers have re-surfaced

25. During the Session … DQs • Ensure all details are completed – discuss with official • Ensure the following are notified of a DQ: • Swimmer or Coach • Chief Finish Judge • Note all DQs on your heat sheet • Remember the Referee may disqualify any swimmer from their own observations

26. During the Session – DQs …cont’d “DECISION OF FACT” • The following needs to be present to have a “Decision of Fact” • The Official responsible has been assigned to that position • The Official is in the correct position and is qualified • The DQ is filled in and recorded correctly • The Referee is satisfied that all of the above are correct

27. During the Session - Protests • STAY CALM • Verbal • Within 15 minutes of the end of the event • Try to settle verbally or advise protestor to submit a written protest • Written • Within 30 minutes of end of the Event • Record time of receipt and give to Meet Manager • Wait for Jury of Appeal decision • Arranged by Meet Manager • Odd number of people 3 or 5

28. During the Session - “Swim-Offs” • Referee arranges for “Swim-Offs” • 1 hour or more after all involved swimmers have completed their heat • Coaches may agree on a different time that is less than one hour after all involved swimmers have completed their heat. • Use meet management to assist

29. During the Session - Official Splits • Coach requests it by completing time card and giving to Clerk of Course • Clerk of Course notifies Referee and Chief Timekeeper • Referee/Chief Timekeeper ensures 3 Timers for swim • Completed card goes to office

30. End of Session • Walk around the pool (during the last few heats) and thank all officials • Check with the office for any problems • Be available for de-briefing session • Leave your heat sheet with meet management • Proof all DQ’s • Check results

31. Level V Level IV Level III Level II Level I Up the Ladder • Get experience • Get a copy of the official DQ terminology • Create your own “cheat sheet” • Get Peer reviews

32. Useful WEB sites • www.swim.bc.ca • www.swimming.ca • www.fina.org • www.bcsoa.ca

33. Referee QuestionnaireReview 30 minutes.

34. Referee - Questionnaire 1. After you arrive at the pool to work as a referee, you should: • Meet with the Meet Manager to discuss details of the session • Check with the Electronics operator to ensure the automatic placing and timing system is working properly • Check pool equipment (lane markers, starting blocks, etc.) • Ensure that the pool temperature is within limits • Ensure that pool chemistry is within limits • Ensure teams are in assigned areas on the deck • Check officials’ assignments • Meet with the major officials as well as the meet manager to discuss pertinent information

35. Referee - Questionnaire 2. Final authority to approve the assignments of all officials and to ensure that they are adequately briefed prior to a session lies with the: • Chief Timekeeper • Chief Finish Judge • Meet Manager • Referee

36. Referee - Questionnaire 3. The following officials shall be responsible for assigning duties to officials within their jurisdiction: • Chief Timekeeper • Chief Finish Judge • Meet Manager • Referee • Judge of Strokes, Inspector of Turns • Clerk of Course

37. Referee - Questionnaire 4. The SNC Rule book prescribes the minimum number of qualified officials that are necessary for the proper running of a sanctioned meet. When there are insufficient volunteer officials available, the Referee may: • Double-up the duties of some officials, when such duties are not in conflict • Direct the Meet Manager to fill all vacancies with unqualified people • Request the Meet Manager to fill junior vacancies (Timekeeper, Marshall) with unqualified but capable people • Delay the start of the meet until sufficient officials are available

38. Referee - Questionnaire 5. The type of start to be used at a sanctioned meet shall be decided by: • The organizing committee and to be advised in the meet invitation • By the Referee • By the Meet Manager • Only one-start is permitted by SNC

39. Referee - Questionnaire 6. Which type of start may be used at sanctioned meets: • One start • Two starts • Three starts

40. Referee - Questionnaire 7. Disputes arising from the format and timing of the meet, the eligibility of swimmers, etc. shall be settled by the: • Referee • Meet Manager • Head Coach of the host club

41. Referee - Questionnaire 8. Responsibility to ensure that the session starts on time lies with the: • Starter • Referee • Meet Manager • Announcer

42. Referee - Questionnaire 9. On the Referee’s whistle for a dive start, the swimmers shall: • Step on to the surface of the starting platform • Step on to the starting platform with both feet the same distance from the front

43. Referee - Questionnaire 10. When the Referee has determined that the swimmers are ready on the starting platform, he/she shall: • Blow a short whistle and stretch an arm horizontally down the pool until a fair start has been completed • Blow a short whistle and stretch an arm horizontally across the pool until a fair start has been completed • Stretch an arm horizontally down the pool and drop that arm after the command “Take your marks” • Stretch an arm horizontally down the pool and maintain that position until a fair start has been completed

44. Referee - Questionnaire 11. On the Starter’s command, swimmers shall: • Take a starting position with at least 1 foot at the front of the starting platform • Take at least 1 step forward • Assume their starting position and remain stationary until the starting signal is given.

45. Referee - Questionnaire 12. On the Referee’s whistle for a backstroke start, the swimmers are required to: • Enter the pool in the acceptable manner • Return to the wall immediately and assume a starting position after the 2nd whistle • Enter the pool feet first

46. Referee - Questionnaire 13. In backstroke, the Referee shall blow a second long whistle when: • All swimmers have surfaced • All swimmers have reached the wall • All swimmers are 5 metres from the wall

47. Referee - Questionnaire 14. On the Referee’s second whistle in a backstroke start, the swimmers: • Will assume their starting position after a trial touch and turn • Shall return to the wall without delay and assume their starting position

48. Referee - Questionnaire 15. After he/she has turned the race over to the Starter and before a legal start has been achieved, the Referee: • May interfere with the Start and re-assume control of the race • Must leave control with the Starter until the race has begun

49. Referee - Questionnaire 16. A disqualification for “delay of meet” must be determined by: • Referee • Starter • Meet Manager

50. Referee - Questionnaire 17. The following officials are authorized to call a “False Start”: • Chief Timekeeper • Chief Finish Judge • Starter • Referee