Officials Update #4
In this issue:
Officials Cheat Sheet
Officiating Protocol
Processing DQ Slips
Questions
Officials Cheat Sheet
Due to popular request, an Officials cheat sheet has been created to help you when you are trying to document an observed infraction. Please note the disclaimer at the top – this is not to be used as a checklist when officiating, and should be referred to sparingly during the course of a meet. Ideally, it’d be reviewed a couple of times throughout the season and perhaps a few minutes before you take your position on the deck. It’s posted on the Midlakes website (http://www.midlakesswimleague.org/Documents/2008/OpPlan%20Supplements/MidlakesOfficialsCheatsheet2008%20(2).pdf) – let me know if you have any questions about it.
Officiating Protocol
First, in case I forgot, thanks again for all you contribute to this important work! As we get later into the season, it’s sometimes easy to forget the appropriate protocol when officiating. As discussed at the Midlakes Training sessions the goal is to ensure that all heats at all meets are judged the same – and we don’t want to give anyone a reason to suspect that you’re not paying attention. This means a couple of things – be in position, mirroring the other official; raise your hand for every DQ; walking the length of the pool (as able based on the pool configuration) not just standing in one spot. Coaches, swimmers, parents and spectators expect this procedure for every race – and they are counting on you for a job well done.
There have been a couple of questions regarding relay take-off judging. As indicated on the stroke briefing, there are 2 relay take-off judges required (the starter can serve as one), and 2 additional take-off judges for the 100-yard relays (positioned at the turn end of the pool). While stroke and turn officials could probably serve as take-off judges for the freestyle relays, they need to be officiating as Stroke & Turn during the Medley relays. So it’s best if there are additional parents recruited for the take-off judging as early take-off DQs require a dual confirmation. If there is no one willing to serve, the starter/referee would be in a position to call the gross violations – but this should be an exception, and not a reason for parents to decline to help out.
As a reminder, questions about disqualifications should be routed from the coach to the referee/starter, letting the process take place where the Stroke & Turn official writes up the DQ and sends them over to the starting area. Sometimes, the slip may not completely describe the infraction, so consultation with the official is required for clarification. As I indicated in an earlier Update, we’re not looking for perfection, we’re looking for the best description of the infraction – so if the official is better able to describe the infraction, and if adding additional notes to the DQ slip helps explain it, then add those descriptive phrases to the slip so the coach and swimmer can fully understand what was called. This is an opportunity for a teachable moment – not only for the coaches and swimmers, but also for the officials for how to better document the observed disqualification.
Processing DQ Slips
A number of questions have come up regarding DQ slips and what to do with them (and the timer sheets) after the meet. The two part DQ slips are expected to be given to the computer operators as quickly as possible following the heat. Most clubs have a runner pick up timer sheets – so the Stroke & Turn official would be another “stop along the way” as the runner makes their rounds. It’s advised that these be routed through the starter/referee for a quick review (in case there are any questions about calls that are made) and then hand them over to the computer folks. The top (white) sheet is then separated for documentation purposes of the meet results, the second (yellow) sheet should then be passed along to the coaches in a fairly timely manner. In fact, the runner might be able to deliver them as they get ready for the next round of timer sheet/DQ slip pick-up. The USA Swimming Rules indicate a 30 minute timeframe within which a written protest must be made – so coaches need to know about the DQ as soon as reasonably possible after the race concludes.
All of these sheets should be kept until the results are verified, and both teams have “accepted” the results. So the short answer is that you only “need” to keep them as until the results are posted and times verified – but the best answer is to keep them until the end of the season (after “A” Champs). Many clubs compile a season notebook that has all of their seeded heat sheets and meet documentation all in one place – and it certainly makes it easier when they go to work on Prelim/Champ entries.
More Questions
Q1: A backstroke swimmer brushed up against (and probably got entangled with) the lane lines. How is the best way to tell if a backstroke swimmer is truly pulling along the lane line versus bumping into it?
A1: The best indication is looking to see if the lane line buoys actually move. Keeping in mind “benefit of the doubt”, a DQ would likely be determined to be valid if it was clear that the swimmer grabbed onto the lane line or buoy and then pulled – resulting in the lane line buoy moving as well, usually seen as creating a gap where the swimmer grabbed on.
Q2: As a starter, I feel guilty for standing swimmers when they’re not ready at the start – do you have any advice?
A2: Patience. Keep in mind you’re looking for that moment when all swimmers are “stationary” not necessarily “motionless”. If they are ready, give them the starting signal. If they are not, you are correct to wait until they all respond promptly to the command and they hold their position. You may have to do this a couple of times – and this is a good reminder to encourage your coaches to work with the swimmers on the starting protocol. Don’t worry about those parents who wonder about what you’re doing – in fact, if they want to know more, you are welcome to refer them to me and maybe we can make an official out of them!
A quick reminder – the new limit for the number of swimmers allowed in either an A or B meet from each Midlakes team is 120 - teams must not bring more than this number. As usual, let me know if you need any clarification (or have more questions!).
Scott
Allen
Midlakes Swim League
Officials Chair
