Referee The “Boss”

1. Referee The “Boss” June 2010

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 Vocabulary “Shall” = No option; a 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 & Competencies • 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 the rules • Have a copy of the most recent rule book available – but not with you on deck • Recommend Acme Thunderer Whistle, not Fox (Too Shrill)

6. Know the Rules … 2 • Swimsuit Policy September 2009 • GR 5.4 The referee of a competition has the authority to exclude any competitor whose swimsuit or body symbols do not comply with this rule.

7. Para-Swimming (Swimmers with a Disability) Websites • www.swimming.ca/paraswimming • www.paralympic.org • www.swimalberta.ca/officials/swad-information-2.htm • swimsask.ca/programs_swad.htm

8. 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

9. Meet with Meet Manager … and Meet Referee if there is one • Read meet package in advance (from website) • Determine if there are any special rules … • Deck Entries, Prelims/Finals, Para-swimming, Masters? • 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 Officials Roster • Are people assigned to be: • Runners, False Start Rope Operator, Safety Marshals

10. The Referee Checklist is a great tool to use when doing the “walk about” of the pool deck. Found on the Swim Canada, Clinics, Referee pdf file.

11. Before Start of the Session • Time out the session – can obtain from MM Software • Number of heats * (slowest time + turnover time) • Should not be longer than 4½ hours • Do a facilities check • Water temperature: 25 – 28°C (77 – 82.4°F) • Chlorine level: between 1 – 5 around 3 • PH level: 7.2 – 7.6 • Air temperature: Minimum 2° warmer than water • Check lane ropes, starting blocks, backstroke flags, false start rope, 15m markers • Make sure Safety Marshals are on deck and warm-up rules are posted • Check with the Technical Advisor if there are Para-swimmers, about the adaptations of the swimming rules pertaining to individual swimmers

12. Example of Warm-up Procedures that can be laminated for posting around the pool deck and visible.

13. This form will assist when you are checking the pool deck. It can be found in the Swimming Canada Clinics Referee PDF file.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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: • Scratch Rules as per Meet Package, 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

17. 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 • Has the equipment been checked? • Discuss announcements to be made by starter

18. 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 ….

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Briefing of Officials (Referee may delegate some of this to other officials) • Decide whether to separate officials for briefings • At the 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

23. This PDF document will assist you in your Referee briefing. Found on the Swim Ontario, Officials folder main page.

25. 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 • Para-swimming – cover any differences for clarification • Masters Rules – cover any differences for clarification • Relay Takeovers – do not indicate DQ until race has ended

26. 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 a DQ – Judge should not take offence • Remind the officials of procedures for disputes • Refer swimmers to their coach • Refer coaches to the Referee

27. Briefing - Timers(May be done by Chief Timekeeper) • Verify watches and/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

28. Starting the Session • Session can begin 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

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

30. 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

31. 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 • One foot at the front of the block; 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. From the SO website in the forms folder you will find this one page Wording for DQ. Recommend that this be laminated and on all clip boards for consistency.

35. Here is an “Infraction Report” that can be used for DQ’s This one can be found in the Swimming Canada Clinics folder in the Referee PDF File

36. 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

37. This form can be used for a Protest. Found in the Swim Canada Website, Clinics in the Referee PDF folder.

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. Level I Level I • Attendance and successful completion of this clinic • 2 satisfactory deck evaluations

43. Level II Level II • Certified Level I • Completion of clinics and 2 deck evaluations in any 2 positions except Referee, one of which must be Strokes and Turns • Clerk of CourseChief TimerChief Finish Judge/ Chief Judge Electronics (1 signature must be CFJ)Stroke & Turn Judge/ Head Lane Timer (2 signatures)StarterMeet Manager

44. Level III Level III • Certified Level II • Completion of all clinics and 2 deck evaluations in any 3 remaining positions • Referee can not be used until level lll has been attained • Conduct a Level I clinic

45. Up the Ladder Level V Level IV • Levels IV and V • require … • additional clinics • intensive evaluation • National Meet experience • and much more. Level III Level II Level I

46. Useful WEB sites • www.swimontario.com • www.swimming.ca • www.fina.org • https://www.swimming.ca/Paraswimming • http://www.mastersswimmingontario.ca/ • http://mymsc.ca/

47. Referee QuestionnaireReview 30 minutes

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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