LEVEL 1 OFFICIALS CLINIC

1. LEVEL 1 OFFICIALS CLINIC

2. Officials Expectations • We are all volunteers who work the swim meet. • As a timekeeper your job and attention to details is important and requires your full attention to the assignment. • The meet is held for the swimmer and our role is to ensure no swimmer gains an unfair advantage over another

3. Expectations – cont. • That the actions of one swimmer does not interfere with the performance of another. • Accept an assignment to officiate only if you intend to honor the commitment, • Accept the assignment you have been given, • Don’t leave your post, unless you let your supervisor know, • Be in the correct position to do your job,

4. Expectations – cont. • Complete the session, • Be unobtrusive and as inconspicuous as possible, • A referee’s decision is final (please don’t take offence), • Keep seated as much as possible, • Be friendly but don’t distract the swimmers as they may be mentally preparing for the race,

5. Dress Code • In Alberta/NWT, navy shirts are to be worn with white pants/shorts/skirt and shoes.In the rest of Canada, officials wear white shirts with white pants/shorts/skirt and shoes. • Comfortable, rubber soled shoes, or sandals • Meet Manager may provide further direction. • Expect to get wet!

6. Arrival Time • Be in the Officials lounge or area, • 45 minutes prior to the start of the meet, • Or the time as requested by the Meet Manager, • Sign in and stay in the area.

7. Safety Marshal • The safety marshal is responsible to the referee for all aspects of safety related to the warm-up from the start of the warm-up to when the pool is cleared in anticipation of the start of the race. • Arrive early and receive a briefing from the referee. Also receive: • A copy of the warm-up procedures, • The time for dive and sprint lane and their designation,

8. Be familiar with the warm-up procedures. Ensure that they are posted. Warm-up Procedures are located at https://www.swimming.ca/WarmupProcedures • Ensure that all warm-up procedures are followed • Your authority includes: • To inform a swimmer of any breach of the safety rules, • If necessary remove the swimmer from the warm-up and escort them to the coach, • Inform the referee of safety violations (it is only under the authority of the referee that a swimmer may be expelled from the meet), • Debrief the referee at the conclusion of warm-ups.

9. Timekeeper:Your job includes • Each lane will be given a sheet of paper specifically only for that lane. • The lane sheet will indicate, the name of the swimmer that is racing for each heats of the event. • You may not have a swimmer in every heat. In this case you will note a blank where the name normally appears. • It is important for you to take note of these empty lanes and ensure that a swimmer does not erroneously swim in the wrong heat.

10. Your job includes • Two examples of lane sheets on the right, Lane 4 and 8. • In event 26 there are seven heats. • Lane 4 has a swimmer in each of the seven heats. • Lane 8 has no swimmer in heat 1. • If a swimmer steps forward (in Lane 8) for this heat it is important that you ask the swimmer to wait for his assigned heat and signal the chief timekeeper, there is a problem in your lane.

11. Your job includes • Ensuring swimmer’s name, lane number and heat are accurate. • If any of the above is incorrect you should inform the chief timekeeper and/or referee. • Observing the flash of the starting device clearly (start signal). • Obtaining an accurate finish time.

12. Your job includes • Ensure your times are recorded accurately. • Ring bells for distance events (800/1500). • Ring the bell over the right hand lane rope, from the time the swimmer is at the backstroke flags to wall and back out to the backstroke flags.

13. Para and Aged Swimmers • Some meets may include swimmers with a disability. • As a timekeeper you should be aware swimmers with a disability may start in locations other than the starting platforms – in the water, beside the platforms, or on the platforms. • Do not attempt to assist the swimmers unless asked, you could hurt the swimmer!!.

14. Timekeeper Equipment Manual Watches • Manual watches may be provided • Secure the lanyard around your neck. • Ensure the stopwatch is working. • Make certain you are familiar with the operations of the watch. • Test it! – start it, stop it, take splits, and clear it.

15. Use of Electronic Timing System • Familiarize yourself with the plunger that you will be using as a semi automatic timing device. • Once on deck organize the plungers prior to the start so they are easily accessible at the platforms. Do not pull the plunger back to your seat as it is a safety hazard for others who are walking the start end of the pool. Each timekeeper should select one plunger and use it for the duration of the session.

16. Select one timekeeper who will be responsible for taking splits with the plunger. • The starter’s signal will activate the electronic starting system - there is no need to press the plunger at the start. • To activate the plunger for a split or on the final touch hold the plunger securely in your hand and press down firmly on the top button using the index finger. • Replace the plunger at the side of the starting platform. Prepare for the start of the next race. • If pads are used, DO NOT step on black strip at top of pad.

17. If electronics are in use each lane will be assigned two timekeepers, if no electronics three timekeepers should be used. • Record the time on the sheet and put the timekeepers initial after their time. • Times are to be recorded in the correct spot. • The Chief Timekeepers time can be recorded if there are fewer than three good times. • Once your time is recorded you may clear your watch in preparation for the next race, • either when the referee blows the whistle signaling the swimmers to the platforms for the start of the next race • or when instructed to by the Chief Timekeeper.

18. The start of the race will begin with the start signal or a strobe light. • All timekeepers are to start their watch when they observe the signal. • You should start your watch regardless of whether you have a swimmer in your lane or not. • For each start ensure that you are in a position so that you can clearly see the starting flash. • Make certain your watch is cleared at the short series of whistle of the Referee announcing the next race. • Hold the watch firmly and motionless and consistently use the index finger to start the watch.

19. If a swimmer appears after the Starter has taken control (you will observe that the referee will have an out stretched arm) ask the swimmer to wait and then inform the Chief Timekeeper who in turn will inform the Referee. • If your watch fails to start, raise your hand to report to the Chief Timekeeper. • If your watch fails to stop at the end of the race record your time as a NT (No Time).

20. Events that exceed 50 metres require the timekeepers to record split times. • A split time is the time that is recorded every 50 metres of a swim in a 25 metre pool or every 100 metres in a 50 metre pool. • The time is taken by one timekeeper and recorded by a designate. • The split times are recorded on the lane sheets • You may be asked to record an official time for a split in an event or relay. • The time may be used as a qualifying time for a future meet. • You will receive instructions from the chief timekeeper and it will require only three timekeepers to record a time with the plunger or watch.

21. At the end of the race the timekeeper must lean over the finish end of the pool and look straight down over your lane. • Stop your watch when any part of the swimmers body, touches the end wall, or the touch pad, or crosses the vertical finish plane. • The person who starts the watch should always stop the watch. • There should never be an exchange of watches between timekeepers as we all have slightly different reaction times.

22. Notify the Chief Timekeeper if your watch is consistently slower or faster than the other lane timekeepers, or if you are having difficulty starting or stopping the watch. • Do not concern yourself with stroke rules and regulations. • If a swimmer fails to complete the race, write DNF (did not finish) on the time sheet. • If you see that a swimmer is going to be disqualified, record your time anyway.

23. Relays and Judging Relay Takeovers • Timekeepers will be asked to verify the name of the swimmers and their order on a relay team. • A swimmer is to be asked their name once they have completed their swim, prior to leaving the water. • If the relay team swims out of order they will be disqualified. • In a relay the time of the lead off swimmer is an ‘Official Time’ – ALL timers are to plunge or take a split time with the watch and record ALL times at the final touch for the first swimmer.

24. Timekeepers are often asked to help judge relay takeovers: • You will be asked to observe the touch and the take-off of the relay team in your lane, • Your duties include identifying an unfair touch or take-off. • The team will be disqualified only after consultation with the Referee.

25. The swimmer on the platform may be in motion beginning the dive, but must remain in contact with the platform until the approaching swimmer has touched the wall. • When judging the takeover, observe the departing swimmer. When their toes leave the platform immediately drop your eyes to the incoming swimmer to ensure they have touched.

26. If the incoming swimmer has not touched yet this would be an early takeover and thus a disqualification. • If you determine the team has committed an infraction, wait until the completion of the race and confirmation from the referee prior to informing the team of the disqualification.

27. Head Lane Timekeeper You may be appointed Head Lane Timekeeper. Your duties will include: • Making certain the correct swimmer is in your lane • Making certain times including splits are recorded correctly • If using electronics, identifying light touches to the Chief Finish Judge by making a notation on the time sheet

28. Ensuring the swimmer completes the race • If appointed, act as a relay takeover judge • Ringing the bell for distance events A bell is rung in distance events (800, 1500) to indicate the last turn at the timekeeper’s end of the pool. • Ring the bell over the right side of the lane rope from the back stroke flags to the touch (FINA rule). In Canada, the referee may request bell ringers to ring the bell from the back stroke flags into the wall and continue until the swimmer has returned to the back stroke flags.

29. Thank you. We would like to acknowledge the initial work on the power point presentation done by Swim Ontario and Swim Alberta Swim Alberta would like to thank the Government of Alberta for their financial support.