Become a USA Swimming Official

 

Join thousands of parents around the country who support their children

in competitive swimming by becoming a certified Stroke & Turn Judge.

 

What are some of the benefits of being a Stroke & Turn Judge?

  1. You are helping support a good sport for your children.
  2. You are closer to the action.
  3. It is frequently much cooler on deck than in the stands.
  4. You get free meals and refreshments.
  5. Fulfill club volunteer obligations at meets you would attend anyway.
  6. Gain a fuller understanding of swimming and sports in general.

 

What is required to become a Stroke & Turn Judge?

  1. Sign up with the MSI’s Officials Chair, Rick Biggs.  You may contact him either through your club or by calling the MSI office at 952 988-4184 ext. #1 or 1-800-204-8598.
  2. Become an Adult non-athlete member of MSI/USA Swimming.  You will receive a rulebook and other materials related to training.
  3. Attend a officials training clinic.
  4. Take and pass an open-book test.
  5. Work as a shadow with experienced Judges on deck at 5 sessions of sanctioned competition.

 

 

What is required once you are certified?

1.      To maintain your certification, you must work a minimum of 10 sessions at MSI-sanctioned swim meets every 12 months, maintain your MSI membership, & take an open-book test every 2 years.

2.      The dress code is a white shirt, navy slacks, shorts etc. and white or mostly-white shoes.

3.      Regularly review the rules just before a meet to maintain your knowledge.

 

Common Questions:

  1. When will you work?  When you choose to.  Clubs hosting swim meets are required to ensure there are at least 2 Stroke & Turn Judges on deck at each session of a meet.  When your club hosts a meet, you may be expected to fulfill your share of the work by working the meet as an Official.  All MSI Officials are encouraged to work any session of any meet that they might normally be attending anyway.
  2. Do you need to know how to swim?   No.
  3. How do you start?  Contact your club coach or the MSI office at 952 988-4184 or 1-800-204-8598.

 

As the swimmers grow and develop, you can too, by choosing to train to become a Starter & then a Referee.  You must be an official for 1 year before you can certify at the next level. 

 

 

Interested?  Call the MSI’s Officials Chair: Rick Biggs at 763-536-8150 or E-Mail him at rick@rickbiggs.com