Orientation and Stroke & Turn Clinic

1. Orientation andStroke & Turn Clinic Virginia Swimming

2. WELCOME TO THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE WHAT YOU SHOULD LEARN DURING YOUR TRAININGKnow the Technical RulesComfortable with the Protocols and ProceduresUnderstand how the entire deck works togetherDevelop RelationshipsTHE GOLDEN RULEThe benefit of doubt always goes to the swimmer

3. OUTLINE FOR THE CLINIC Requirements for becoming USA-S OfficialJoining USA SwimmingBackground CheckAthlete Protection CourseOfficials CommitteeTrainingSigning up for MeetsShadowing during MeetsMaking CallsOfficials on the DeckDeck Position and JurisdictionWhere we get our rulesFair and Equitable JudgingRules of Thumb

4. STROKE AND TURN JUDGEVIRGINIA SWIMMING • Age- Must be 18 • Register as a USA Swimming Non-Athlete Member • Background Check- Level II • Athlete Protection Course • Stroke and Turn Clinic • Score 80 or better on the online Stroke & Turn Judge test on the US Swimming website • Shadow 3 Deck Training Sessions • Complete 3 sessions with an assigned mentor and make calls

5. JOINING USA SWIMMING • All information and links are on the Virginia Swimming website- www.virginiaswimming.org • Apply as a non-athlete member or Apprentice Official- valid for 60 days • Certification information, meet schedule and documents • Online to usaswimming.org and set up account: • User Name/Password • Access to tests, rulebook, • Take the background check and athlete protection course

6. BACKGROUND CHECK • Online: Virginia Swimming- New Officials Guide for Online Services- or Direct link under Registration Section • Must be completed before making calls • Level II • Initial Cost $39.00 • Renewal 2 years $19.00

7. ATHLETE PROTECTION • Online: Virginia Swimming- New Officials Guide for Online Services- or Direct link under Registration Section • Must be completed before making calls • Educate us and make us aware • Course takes about 1 hour • Cost $ 0 • Short reflective quiz at the end • Renewal every 2 years

8. VIRGINIA OFFICIALS COMMITTEE • Club Official Chair- Sets up training clinics for new officials and assists training officials with scheduled training sessions at meets. Organizes officials for both home and away meets. Teams first point of contact. • District Chair- VSI is divided into 4 districts and these same districts are used by the Officials Committee to oversee training. • VSI Officials Chair- The Officials Committee is a standing committee of VSI and is responsible for the testing, certification, evaluation and supervision of all officials. The Chairperson of this Committee is responsible for seeing that these functions are fulfilled by the Committee.

9. TRAINING Take Training Card to each session Must be signed by Trainer and Referee Once Training is completed, send a copy of the Apprentice Record to your District Chair Southeast- Tommy Lovell scoutmastertommy@gmail.com Central- Bob Rustin bob.a.rustin@usa.dupont.com North- Michael Sizemore mcsizemore@earthlink.net Southwest- John Stanley jfstanley@cox.net AND Officials Tracking System-George Fuhs hgfuhs@verizon.net

10. SIGNING UP TO TRAIN AT A MEET • All training sessions must be performed at VSI/USA sanctioned meets. Approval for non-VSI/USA meets or meets outside the LSC requires prior approval of the apprentices District Chair, or the LSC Officials Chair. • To sign up for a meet contact your team’s Official Chair. • May also contact the Official Coordinator for the meet attending and sign up. Let your team Chair know. • Training is on a first come first serve basis and may be limited due to numbersor length of session

11. SHADOWING SESSIONS Short reflective quiz at the end Renewal every year Must work 3 sessions Shadowing Don’t wear Whites and BluesSessions must have BB/B/C swimmersYounger age 14 and under best opportunity Learn from the Good and Not-So GoodAssigned to a Trainer at the pre-session briefingAsk QuestionsLearn the appropriate languageShadow until you’re comfortable making callsHaving to work additional sessions is not a penalty

12. MAKING CALLS Must have completed all of your tests/background checks/APCMentor is looking for-Promptness- Meetings, Rotations, ReliefHand goes up immediately and confidently(not excited)Knowledge of Stroke rules and ability to explain themKnow Positions and JurisdictionLook comfortable on deckDress- White Shirt, Blue Shorts/Slacks and White ShoesMay not work Finals or LSC Championships until certifiedWork 3 sessions with positive rating from the mentor Sometimes additional sessions may be required

13. OFFICIALS ON DECK

14. DECK POSITION AND JURISDICTION JURISDICTION The area of the pool you’re watching Lanes Heads Up, Half way, Wall to Wall Cannot make calls outside your jurisdiction DECK POSITION • Observe, not Inspect • Stroke or Turn or Stroke & Turn • Always Watching Assigned Lanes • When writing up a call- aware of other swimmers in your lanes • Never leave your position • Always be Professional- You are in a Fish Bowl

15. RULES Documents USA Rulebook VSI Officials Handbook VSI Swim Officials Standards of Conduct Website-(USA-S, Va) Who uses What?

16. Mental Traps Advantage vs. disadvantage The “twice theory” “We don’t disqualify 8 & unders” “Don’t ask me to judge my child” Don’t infer (Call what you see, not what you don’t see)

17. Fair and Equitable Judging should be consistent among different officials at a meet Judging should be consistent at different meets All of the rules are enforced, we don’t individually choose to enforce some rules and ignore others The rules are enforced across all age groups and levels of ability Officials should be neutral in their enforcement of the rules; don’t favor one team over another, don’t favor one swimmer over another.

18. Rules of Thumb • The benefit of the doubt ALWAYS goes to the swimmer • No loss of yardage, foul shots, penalty box • BLACK GREY WHITE • ILLEGAL LEGAL LEGAL • Ugly isn’t (necessarily) illegal • Know the rules; review the rules before meets • Experience, Experience, Experience

19. THANK YOU