FSSL Officiating

THE REFEREE

The Referee is 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 other, 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.

The Referee provides the example to the swimming community through his/her commitments to the sport of swimming.  The Referee is committed to:

Ensuring the integrity of the sport and the profession of officiating

Conduct him/herself with dignity and good humor, while ensuring fair and equitable conditions for the competition

Remain impartial, while sustaining positive relationships and building trust in the swim community

Maintain a current understanding of the rules and how they are applied.

Foster the growth and expertise of all officials through teaching, giving guidance and working with officials on the deck. 

The Referee is the primary leader and educator for both new and experienced officials.  Any person appointed to the role of Referee, must be experienced, served a minimum of two years as a Stroke and Turn judge and be willing to supervise the activities of others.

REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Has full authority over all officials and shall assign and instruct them; shall enforce all applicable rules and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet, 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.

Signals the starter that all officials are in position, timers are ready and that the pool is clear for the next competition to begin.

Must be thoroughly familiar with all applicable FSSL rules, all meet procedures, the duties of all officials and the requirements for conduct of the meet.

Prior to the onset of the meet, the Referee shall determine that the prescribed number of stroke and turn officials are available, are familiar with the requirements of their positions and are appropriately placed or located for performing their functions.

Gives a decision on any point where the opinions of the judges differ; shall have authority to intercede in a competition at any stage, to ensure that the racing conditions are observed.

Prior to the meet beginning, the Referee shall have all timers under go a check of their watches with the aid of the starter to ensure all devices are in working order.

Observes starts, strokes, turns finishes, swimming techniques and other factors relative to the conduct of each event and may disqualify any competitor for any violation of the rules she/he observes.  Both the Starter and the Referee shall confirm a starting violation.

Gives decisions, whenever necessary, on any question of compliance with the applicable prescribed rules, any question of unsportsmanlike conduct, failure to meet the required competitive conditions, interference by persons or natural causes, or other problems raised in the conduct of the meet.  Flagrant violations of rules pertaining to unsportsmanlike conduct should be reported by the Referee to the league chair of the FSSL.

May prohibit the use of any device that disrupts or interferes with the meet, such as a laser pointing device, flash cameras or artificial noisemakers.

Watches all starts and has the responsibility of providing dual confirmation with the Starter in the case of a false start.  The referee can call back swimmers after the start of the race either by using a recall pistol or with repeated loud blasts of the whistle.

During relays watches all starts and finishes and has the responsibility of providing dual confirmation with the Starter that starts and finishes are completed as outlined in stroke rules.

In summary, a referee must attend to many responsibilities during a meet.  The referee’s knowledge, honest and fairness creates a climate for an equitable and rewarding competition. 

THE STARTER

The Starter has the responsibility to ensure that all swimmers receive a fair and equitable start.  It is important that each competitor be given the opportunity to achieve the best start possible within the confines of the rules.  The starter must know the rules governing starting procedures. 

Starters are charged with a great amount of responsibility in seeing that one swimmer does not gain an advantage over the others during the start.  This responsibility requires concentration, quick reactions and fair decisions.  It takes practice to become a good starter.  With experience, the starter will be able to accurately judge when the field is ready to race.  This will help to prevent the false starts caused by the swimmers being jumpy or in a hurry because they aren’t ready. 

Starters should speak in a conversational tone, avoiding rapid instructions and sharp commands.  The voice of a good starter will lead the swimmers into their starting positions, not break their concentration with unexpected orders or remarks.  At the same time, the starter must protect all of the competitors by not allowing any one swimmer to gain an unfair advantage.

Starters are usually located within 10 feet of the starting end of the pool, closest to lane 1.  They should be free from any obstruction that might block or restrict their view of the athletes on the blocks.  This position must also be coordinated with the referee.  The referee will stand on the other side of the starting end of the pool. 

REMEMBER:  THE STARTER AND REFEREE SHOULD NOT BE FROM THE SAME TEAM.  The only time they should be from the same team is if one of the teams does not have a qualified person and both teams agree prior to the meet.

Starter Responsibilities

Review the rules and schedule of events and establish protocol procedures with the meet referee.

Make sure the starting system is set up and is functioning properly.

Starters have complete control over the swimmers from the time the Referee signals the start of the race with his or her whistle until after a fair start has been achieved. 

Prior to starting each heat, and once the referee has given his okay and that other officials are in position and prepared for the start, the Starter shall announce the next heat, the stroke being swum and distance.  The Starter must assure that the starting device is clearly visible to each Timer at the instant of starting. 

The Starter shall call the swimmers to their starting positions (except in backstroke, where the swimmers are instructed to enter the water) The starter will ask the swimmers to step up (or step in, in the case of the backstroke or start of the Medley Relay), at which point all swimmers must step up onto the block or up to the edge of the pool (or into the pool in the case of backstroke).  At this time, the starter will say “take your Mark”, at which time all swimmers must assume the starting position.  When starting backstroke, the Starter will instruct the swimmers to “Place your feet, take your mark”)  When the field is still, the starter will sound the starting signal, and the race will commence. 

In the case of a false start, the field must be recalled with repeated blasts from the starting system, dual confirmation must be made between the referee and the starter,  If a swimmer is disqualified for a false start, the Referee can let that swimmer remain in the event as an exhibition swimmer. 

Backstroke Starts require different starting conditions, since the swimmers start the race in the water.  The swimmers line up in the water facing the starting end with both hands placed on the gutter/edge or on the starting grips.  The toes shall not be curling over the lip of the gutter.  The swimmer may not stand in or on the gutter.  It is the duty of the starter to ensure that these requirements are met prior to giving the starting signal.

When a swimmer does not respond promptly to the command “take your mark” , the Starter shall immediately release all swimmers with the command “Stand Up” upon which the swimmers may stand up or step off the blocks.  The starter will then begin the start over.

If a swimmer enters the water before the starting signal, the Starter shall recall all contestants to their starting positions.  The Starter and Referee shall together determine whether a false start should be charged and to which swimmer(s), if any, and shall inform the contestants of the possible ensuing penalties.  The determination of a false start results in the disqualification of the offending swimmer.  The intent of this rule to assure a fair start for all swimmers, and not to disqualify swimmers.

False Starts

A swimmer can be charged with a false start only if the Referee has observed the violation and confirms that the violation occurred.

When a swimmer does not respond promptly to the command “take your mark” or leaves the starting area before the signal is given, the Starter shall immediately release all swimmers with the command “stand up,” upon which the swimmers may stand up and move away from the edge of the pool.  Any entry into the water after the command to stand up is NOT considered a false start. 

All swimmers leaving their marks before the starting signal are charged with a false start, except any swimmer who has false started because of the action or movement of another competitor may be relieved of responsibility for the false start and a false start may be charged only to the offender.

A swimmer shall not be disqualified for an illegal starting position at the start or charged with a false start if the race is allowed to proceed without recall.  Enforcement of the correct starting position is the responsibility of the Starter, who may impose the appropriate penalty for violation before the starting signal is given.

A swimmer losing balance and falling into the water shall NOT be charged with a false start.

In the event of a false start, swimmers must be recalled, and dual confirmation must be made between the Referee and the Starter.  The first false start is charged to the field, the second disqualifies the offending swimmer(s).

STROKE AND TURN JUDGE

  The duties of the Stroke and Turn Judges shall be to determine whether the swimmers perform their strokes, turns and finishes in accordance with the prescribed rules.  Each Stroke and Turn Judge must be thoroughly familiar with all of the applicable rules.  Disqualifications for illegal techniques should be called whenever a Stroke and Turn Judge has seen one committed, even though it may have no effect on the outcome of the race.  Conversely, a disqualification should not be called if the Stroke and Turn Judge has reasonable doubt that she/he actually has seen the presumed infraction. 

Always conduct yourself in a professional manner.  No cheering, shouting, etc.

If confronted with an irate coach or parent, please be polite but firm.  You have the training, and you know what you saw.  If matters seem to be getting out of hand, direct the coach or parent to the referee.

If a disqualification is committed, the Stroke and Turn Judge shall indicate this by Raising his or her hand immediately without waiting for the race to finish.

Disqualifications shall be reported to the Referee or the Official who is relaying the infractions to the swimmers.

The Stroke and Turn Judge should not review or discuss a potential disqualification prior to his or her decision with anyone except the Referee.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or consult the rulebook.  The Referee is there to run the meet and oversee the officials.  If you are unsure about a possible rule infraction, tell the referee what you saw and what rule you feel was broken.

If you are the Judge who has been selected to talk with the swimmers after a DQ, present the infraction as a learning experience.  Always end the discussion on a positive note. 

If you are a turn judge, NEVER JUDGE TURNS FROM THE SIDE.  Directly over the lane is the best place to see all turns.

Always judge within your assigned area ONLY.  Meaning, if you have been assigned to judge lanes 1, 2, and 3, don’t begin calling infractions from lanes 4, 5, or 6.

The swimmer always gets the benefit of the doubt.  If you “think” you saw something but not sure, do not call it.  You MUST see the swimmer make the infraction.

Enjoy yourself!  You have the best seat in the house, even though you cannot cheer.  Look on what you are doing as a chance to help the swimmers improve.  Remember, we are all human, and everyone makes mistakes.  You won’t catch every infraction, and you may make a bad call here and there.  Don’t sweat it life will still go on. 

TO ALL OFFICIALS I LEAVE THIS FINAL COMMENT FOR ALL TO REMEMBER!

            No one likes to see and 8 and under swimmer disqualified, least of all the volunteers who are officiating the meet.  Nevertheless, there are rules defining the strokes, and the young swimmers who have mastered those rules have earned the privilege of having the rules enforced.  Although the “swimmer gets the benefit of the doubt”, there will be disqualifications called during the meet.  Please understand, and help your young swimmer to understand that this is part of competitive swimming!