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CONTENTS
referee
The referee
The referee must be knowledgeable of
....
Sound Swimming Leadership
Positive Swimming Attitud
e
Active Administrative Skills
Summary
Referees
checklist
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The Referee must be a leader whose natural inclination is to serve; an
inclination that may lead one to accept this
leadership role in the sport of swimming. To serve
others, means to understand and be aware of the
athletes, officials, coaches, parents and others in
the sport. The referee leads by example in showing
respect, honesty, fairness, integrity and
responsible behavior that characterize authentic
sportsmanship.
1.
The Referee provides the example to the swimming community
through his/her commitments to the sport of swimming
and is committed to:
1.1.
Ensuring the integrity of the sport and the profession of
officiating;
1.2.
Conducting him/herself with dignity and good humor, while
ensuring fair and equitable conditions for the
competition;
1.3.
Remaining impartial, while sustaining positive relationships
and building trust in the swim community;
1.4.
Maintaining a current understanding of the rules and their
application; and
1.5.
Fostering the growth in expertise of all officials through
teaching, providing workshops and working with
officials on the deck. The referee is the primary
leader and educator for both new and experienced
officials.
2.1. Shall
have full authority over all officials, approve
their assignments and instruct them regarding any
specific features or regulations related to the
competitions
2.2.
Shall enforce all rules and decisions of FINA
and shall decide all questions relating to the
actual conduct of the meet
2.3.
Can overrule any meet official on a point of
rule interpretation, or on a judgment decision
pertaining to an action which the Referee has
personally observed
2.4.
May intervene in the competition at any stage
to ensure that the FINA regulations are observed,
and shall adjudicate all protests related to the
competition in progress
2.5.
Shall disqualify a swimmer(s) for any
violations of the rules that the S/he personally
observes
2.6.
May also disqualify any swimmer for any
violation reported to him by other authorized
officials. All decisions are subject to the decision
of the referee
2.7.
Shall ensure that all necessary officials are
in their respective posts for the conduct of the
competition. S/he may appoint substitutes for any
who are absent, incapable of acting or found to be
inefficient. S/he may appoint additional officials
if considered necessary
2.8.
Shall at the commencement of each event:
2.8.1.
Signal to the swimmers by a short series of
whistles inviting them to remove all clothing except
for their swimwear
2.8.2.
This will be followed by a long whistle
indicating that they should take their positions in
the starting platform (or for backstroke swimming
and medley relays to immediately enter the water)
2.8.3.
A second long whistle shall bring the
backstroke and medley relay swimmer immediately to
the starting position
2.8.4.
When the swimmers and officials are prepared
for the start, the referee shall gesture to the
starter with a stretched out arm, indicating that
the swimmers are under the starters control
2.8.5.
The stretched out arm shall stay in position
until the start is given
2.9.
When automatic or semiautomatic officiating
equipment is used and an apparent malfunction occurs
it shall be his/her responsibility to make an
immediate investigation to determine whether the
swimmer finished in accordance with the rules and/or
if there was an actual equipment malfunction.
2.10.
He may at his/her discretion prohibit
the use of any bell, siren, horn or other artificial
noisemaker during the meet.
2.11.
The Referee may modify any rule for a
competitive swimmer who has a disability. Such
modification shall be in accordance with ASAJ
by-laws.
2.12.
Refer to the ASAJ By-Laws concerning
protests.
3.1.
Timing procedures, equipment and the specific rules that
apply to each type of equipment used.
3.2.
Across-the-board judging procedures.
3.3.
Check in and seeding procedures.
3.4.
Starting procedures, rules and application.
3.5.
Recording and balloting procedures.
3.6.
Stroke and Turn Judging, stroke rules, jurisdiction,
application and enforcement.
3.7.
The referee must have mastered the application and use of the
starting and of stroke and turn rules, their fair
enforcement and appropriate judging. S/he is
responsible for the effective functioning of the
meet and will monitor, and assist as necessary, all
officials in performing their functions to ensure
the participants are provided with a quality
competitive swimming environment.
3.8.
The referee must have learned, acquired and posses: a sound
swimming leadership, a positive swimming attitude
and active administrative skills.
4.1.
Sound swimming leadership is based on a thorough knowledge of
the rules and the reason for the rules - to ensure
fair and equitable conditions of competition and
uniformity in the sport. Swimming leadership is a
skill that can only be developed through
participation. Substituting opinion for rules, no
matter how well intentioned, invites protests and
challenges.
5.1.
The referee's confidence in understanding the swimming rules,
his respect for the other officials and his/her
understanding for those who are still gaining
knowledge of the sport contribute to a positive
swimming attitude. The attitude is manifest in the
referee’s efforts to ensure that all other
officials, swimmers and coaches are able to perform
their respective tasks to their highest potentials
within the meet and the sport of swimming.
6.1.
The referee has responsibilities before, during and after the
competition:
6.1.1.
Before
the meet - The referee should contact the meet director and coordinate
any special requirements for the meet before the day
of competition. On the day of competition the
referee should arrive in time (at least one hour)
to adequately perform pre-meet responsibilities.
S/He should confer with the meet director; obtain a
list of meet officials; inspect the facilities, with
specific attention to any safety issues in the meet
venue; review seeding and administrative procedures;
conduct a coaches' briefing (if needed), and assign
and instruct the other officials. The referee's
attitude during the pre-meet briefing can establish
a tone for the meet. S/He should assume complete
control, but do so in a pleasant, confident manner.
A sample referee's checklist is included at the end
of this chapter.
6.1.2.
During
the meet - The referee's (or a designated deck or assistant
referee’s) full attention must be given to every
start. The rules require that the referee both
observe and concur with the starter’s false start
disqualifications. Between the starts, the referee
oversees the competition and evaluates the
performance of the other meet officials. If a rule
is misunderstood, the referee must correct the
misunderstanding. If the referee personally observes
an infraction, he/she must disqualify the swimmer
and then determine why the assigned official(s) did
not. The referee clarifies rules and jurisdictions,
suggests appropriate judging techniques, assigns and
may reassign officials. He/She also answers
questions, protests and appeals, maintaining his/her
sense of humor and keeping a positive attitude. All
questions should be politely answered to the best of
his/her ability. Protests and appeals are sometimes
difficult because they tend to be emotionally
charged. The referee must always display a moderate
temperament. It is inexcusable for the referee to
become visibly angry at a distraught swimmer, coach
or parent.
6.1.3.
Communication
- The following communication guidelines for dealing
with a concern arising during the competition, are
recommended:
6.1.3.1.
The referee listens to the person who has a complaint or
concern. The referee must avoid becoming defensive.
6.1.3.2.
The referee indicates that he/she understands the person's
perspective, and that he/she wants to resolve the
conflict. He/She repeats his/her understanding of
the protest or appeal to the person who has the
complaint.
6.1.3.3.
The referee then confers with all parties involved to ensure
proper interpretation and understanding.
6.1.3.4.
The referee then communicates his/her understanding of
the problem and his/her decision to all affected
parties.
6.1.4.
After
the meet - The referee must remain at the pool long enough after the
last race to ensure that final results have been
announced in case there is a problem or a protest.
This time can be used to evaluate the meet with meet
director and to sign any referee forms pertinent to
the meet. As soon as possible after the meet, the
referee should write an evaluation of the meet
officials. This will be filed with the Official's
chairman or with the meet according to the
regulations of the local swimming committee
sanctioning the competition. A sample form follows
at the end of this chapter.
6.1.5 On the way home do your own
post meet evaluation reflecting on what you'll do
better next time.
7.1.
A referee must attend to many responsibilities during a
swimming competition. The referee's knowledge,
honesty and fairness will create a climate for an
equitable and rewarding competition. The referee’s
service is a source of building the entire swim
community for the betterment of all those who
participate Swimming. It is a challenge worth
accepting, and doing well.
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q
Review rules for meet
q
Report to pool facility one (1) hours prior to session start
time
q
Meet with Meet Director to discuss any unusual issues, rules,
seeding or programme problems etc.
q
Inspect facilities;
o
Starting
blocks installed correctly and are secure
o
Timing
system installed and tested (including speakers)
o
Backstroke
flags in place where necessary
o
False
start rope installed and tested
o
Lanes
are installed and secure (check to ensure that the 5
M and 15 M markings are in the correct position
o
If
800 and/or 1500 M events are scheduled, are bells
and lap counters available?
q
Obtain officials list and assign responsibility where
necessary
q
30 Minutes before start of session brief officials
o
Thank
officials for volunteering
o
Indicate
time that session is scheduled to end and time for
breaks
o
**
Check watch accuracy - have timekeepers start
watches at the beginning of the briefing.
o
Review
order of events and any special requirements e.g.
§
DQ Procedures
o
Remind
judges of responsibilities for each type of event
e.g.
§
Stroke and Turn Judges
·
Positioning
·
Stroke rules
§
Starter
·
Start rule being used
§
** Timekeepers
·
Need to check swimmers name
·
Procedures for timing (if new timer present)
·
Positioning
o
**
Stop watches at end of briefing – compare times
for accuracy
q
Ask
if there are any questions
q
Prepare
officials for march (if planned) in the following
order;
o
Referees
o
Starters
o
Stroke
and Turn Judges
o
Chief
Timekeeper
o
Timekeepers
NOTE: ** items may be covered by Chief Timekeeper in a
separate meeting held before the Referees meeting.
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