Please email Karl Hall with any questions or if you would like to learn more.
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Riptide has always had a tradition of parents volunteering to officiate at swim meets. Officials are volunteers who work on deck to implement the YMCA swimming rules for dual meets so that each swimmer is given the fairest swim possible. In order to run our dual meets efficiently, officials are required for each of the swim meets our team participates in.
When Riptide children reach college age or leave the program, there is a turnover in officials. Therefore, your participation is needed and valued by your children, other swimmers, and the coaches. There are many officiating positions on the YMCA Riptide swim team. Riptide officials exemplify the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in every aspect of their officiating.
Being an official is an important and rewarding job that enables you to learn stroke technique and the rules governing swim meets. No prior swimming experience is needed, only a desire to learn and be an integral part of meets. All officials must be at least 18 years of age.
Officials hold positions such as Meet Referee, Starter, Stroke Judge, Turn Judge, Stroke and Turn Judge, Finish Judge (also called Across the Board), and Relay Take-off Judge. In addition, the referee may assign a Chief Judge or Chief Timer/Scorer. Typically, a chief judge is assigned at championship meets and USA Swimming meets. In addition to officiating at dual meets, officials are also requested to volunteer their time at YMCA Championship meets. Officials who have obtained their US Swimming certification are also able to officiate at USA Swimming meets, such as Winterfest and Holiday Classic.
YMCA Officials become certified through either a Level I course or a Level II clinic, taken at an available location. Volunteers interested in becoming an official take on workshop course and then an online open-book test, which may be taken at home. At the beginning of the season, a list of upcoming course locations will be made available on the website. The course focuses on events, procedures, and the duties and responsibilities of the officials prior to, during, and after the meet. A score of 80 percent or higher must be achieved on a take-home test in order to achieve certification.
Do officials receive mentoring throughout the season?
Riptide encourages new officials to apprentice with an experienced official to get a feel for judging strokes and turns, the responsibilities of the Finish Judge, Starter, and Referee. You are welcome to do this at any meet, including away meets. Let the meet referee know before the beginning of the meet that you would like to gain more experience in a particular position.
New officials, as well as current officials whose certification has expired, are asked to attend one of the scheduled clinics listed.
Only one class is required to become certified as a Level I official. This will allow you to perform Stroke & Turn, Finish, Relay Takeoff, Timer, and Scorer duties. After you have completed one year of officiating as a Level I Official and have worked at least eight swim meets, you will be eligible to enroll in a Level II class. The Level II class will provide you with the certification to officiate as a Referee, Starter, and Chief Judge.
Click here for the current list of Officials clinics.
To register for the clinic that you want to attend, please CLICK HERE. Find your preferred clinic and email the clinic instructor. Please email Karl Hall (email at the top of the page) with any questions.
Please click here to be taken to the Riptide Officials Record Sheet.
