Thinking About Becoming an Official?

Head on over to the How to Certify & Recertify as an Official webpage to learn more or get started. This page will walk you through the basic requirements and also point you to your LSC officials chair who is instrumental in guiding your training. You’ll also want to check out the Guide to the Officials Tracking System that will explain the system used to track the completion of your membership requirements, educational requirements, and on-deck training sessions.

You will start off as either an administrative official or as a stroke and turn official. Administrative officials oversee the timing system and the meet management software and ensure that each swimmer gets the time they earned. Stroke and turn officials observe the swimmers during competition and ensure that they adhere to the technical rules of swimming. Certification as a stroke and turn official is required before you can train as a chief judge, starter, or referee.

Not wild about working in a pool environment? Prefer to be outdoors and on a river, lake, bay, or ocean? Open water officiating may be for you.

Looking to Expand Your Knowledge as an Official?

As an official, there is always something new for you to learn. The Rules, Interpretations, and Policies webpage is your gateway to the current and past rulebooks, interpretations of the rules, proposed changes to the rules, and policies of USA Swimming. The “Officials Training” section of the Officials Documents webpage provides a wealth of educational information including the very useful “Stroke and Turn Situations & Resolutions,” Starter and Deck Referee Situations & Resolutions,” and “False Start Scenarios.”

Participation in the National Certification and Evaluation program is required if you desire to officiate at national-level meets, but many officials who have no desire to work at that level have found the program invaluable for enhancing their knowledge of officiating.

Do You Want to Officiate at National-Level Meets?

Visit the National Meet Applications webpage if you are interested in officiating at a national-level meet. Depending on the level of the meet, you must be certified in position at the N2 or N3 level to work at these meets. Applications are generally available 180 days before the meet, but often close quickly when a sufficient number are received.

And So Much More!

Are you looking for a form? We’ve probably got you covered on the “Forms for Officials” section of the Officials Documents webpage. Do know an official who deserves to be recognized for their contributions to officiating? Then check out the Recognition and Incentives Programs webpage. Are you interested in officiating at the collegiate level? The NCAA Officials Education and Registration Program webpage has you covered.