Become an Official

AN INTRODUCTION TO OFFICIATING
Below presents just a few of the options open to anyone who has the time, desire and willingness to give a little of themselves to help the many swimmers that are working to fulfill their dreams.

As a parent of a competitive swimmer you have the opportunity to become involved with your child and their sport in various ways.

One very instrumental way of contributing to the success of any sport is by volunteering your time and effort. All Swimming New Zealand and Swimming Hawke’s Bay Poverty Bay Officials are volunteers and contribute greatly to the development of the sport at all levels.

There are many levels of officiating that require different degrees of involvement and time.

The first step is to determine your area of interest. The following brief descriptions of the volunteers needed at every swim meet may help you make that determination. Officials attend clinics, receive training and are certified by HBPB and SNZ. They are present at all competitions, to implement the technical rules of swimming and ensure that the competition is fair and equitable to everyone.

SWIM MEET ORGANISATION
Referee

Administrative Responsibilities

Deck Responsibilities

Announcer Starter (Where possible)

Control Room Supervisor (Recorder)

Judges of Stroke

Inspectors of Turns

Chief Timekeeper

Electronic Timing

Timekeepers

Computer

Marshalls

ANNOUNCER (USED AT SOME MEETS)
What a way to see the meet and be actively involved.The Announcer has the important role of maintaining interest throughout the swim meet. The Announcer is in close coordination with the Referee, Meet Director and Starter. Some of the Announcer duties are to announce who is swimming, team affiliations, results of preliminary heats, scratching deadlines and any other information or facts that may provide for smooth operation of the swim meet.

CONTROL ROOM SUPERVISOR/RECORDER
The CRS/Recorder is responsible for all of the paperwork (Scratchings, Re-seeding, Results, and Records) at the meet and oversees the operation of the Control Room.

ELECTRONIC TIMING and COMPUTER OPERATOR
If you like working with electronic equipment this may be your niche.

The AOD (Automatic Officiating Device) Operator – or Electronic Timing Equipment Operator - is responsible for the set-up and operation of the timing equipment, touch pads, starting system and score boards (when used). If the swim meet is seeded and the results recorded by electronic means there may be a link to a computer to process the input (entry and seeding of swimmers into the meet) and the output (final results of times swum) for meet results. The Computer Operator is responsible for electronic data entry, seeding of swimmers, and meet results.

During the swim meet the AOD Operator – or Electronic Timing Equipment Operator -and Computer Operator work with the Referee and other officials to maintain the smooth operation of the meet. This may include reporting equipment malfunctions of other problems and providing swimmers with the times that are achieved during the meet.

TIMEKEEPERS and CHIEF TIMEKEEPER
Timekeeping is where most parents start as volunteers. The most important single statistic at a swim meet is the time a swimmer achieves during the race. As a Timekeeper you operate various timing devices such as stopwatches or buttons that are attached to the automatic timing equipment. Timekeepers are responsible for starting their watches on the starting signal and stopping their watches or activating the push buttons when any part of the swimmer’s body touches the wall at the completion of the race. The times recorded are used to determine the race results. Timekeepers write their times on the lane timesheets. The Chief Timekeeper assures that all lanes have Timekeepers and Button Pushers. The Chief Timekeeper briefs the timekeepers prior to the meet start, starts a stopwatch on every race to take the winners time or to act as a backup if a timekeeper’s watch fails.

MARSHALLS
The Clerk of Course is a position where you have an opportunity to meet the swimmers. The swimmers report to the Clerk of Course that they are present and swimming the event being marshalled. Swimmers event, heat and lane assignments are checked against the programme.

INSPECTORS OF TURNS
The Turn Judges observe the swimmers from the end of the lane(s) to ensure that the turns and finishes comply with the rules applicable to each stroke.

JUDGES OF STROKE
The Stroke Judges walk abreast of the swimmers, observing from the side of the pool the swimmers in their jurisdiction. Swimmers are observed from the time they enter the water to the completion of their race. The Stroke Judges are there to ensure compliance with the rules relating to each stroke.

STARTER
The Starter ensures that all swimmers receive a fair and equitable start. The Starter works closely with the Referee, assuming responsibility for the race start at the Referee’s signal. At that time the Starter invites the swimmers to 'take their marks' ensuring that no swimmer is in motion prior to the starting signal. Starters are also responsible for ensuring that the starting equipment is in proper working order prior to the start of the meet.

REFEREE
The Referee has overall authority and responsibility for the competition and ensures compliance with all the rules. The Referee resolves all questions relating to the conductof the swim meet and reviews any infractions and decides on disqualifications. The Referee ensures that all officials are in place, timekeepers are ready, and that all swimmers are present and ready for the start of the race. When you become knowledgeable in all aspects of running a swim meet, such as Starter, Stroke Judge, Turn Judge (IOT), Clerk of Course, Timekeeping and Computer Operation, Scoring and all rules that pertain to providing fair and equitable competition for all swimmers, you can qualify to assume the duties of a Referee.

Now is the time to get involved.

If you have further questions or wish to take the first step to becoming involved contact your club’s Officials Contact or a member of the HBPB Technical Committee, or the Regional Administrator – Sue Hewitt – 06 855 4947 or [email protected]​​​​​​​


USEFUL RESOURCES

Technical officals resources & information: https://www.swimmingnz.org/technical-officials

Technical Offical Guide: https://www.swimmingnz.org/_files/ugd/6f2a10_387d15ef5348423f858c0bc79a284f2b.pdf

Police Vetting process: Swimming Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay - Police Vetting (hbpbswimming.org.nz)


HBPB Technical Committee

Keith Bone - 021 242 6535

Paul Evans - 027 445 9404

Donna Blair - 027 247 5270

Scott Richfield - 027 777 1896

Blair Benson - 021 191 3341

Sonia Keepa - 021 928 301