The Officials Database is BCSSA’s "official" record of the skills currently possessed by the many parents and others who have participated in clinics and provided assistance as officials during the meets in past seasons.  This information is updated periodically from submissions made by your regional and club directors of officials.  Having just recently updated this database, I am impressed by the large number of individuals who have skills that are essential to assure that a meet is properly conducted.

Although it is not formally identified as a "required" task of officials, I believe that all officials, from Junior up to Master officials, should take an active role in helping less experienced individuals  acquire the confidence and skills they need to function effectively on and around the pool deck.  I feel this "mentoring" activity is critical not only to adding to the pool of resources available at any meet, but also to the development of the mentors themselves as effective officials.

Anyone who has ever mentored or taught someone in any way, such as coaching, conducting clinics, teaching, or just providing assistance informally, knows that this is the best way for the mentor to really learn about a topic.  "If you want to learn about something, try explaining it to someone else" is how the adage usually goes.  Doing so often forces us to confront difficult, ambiguous, or even unconsidered real issues and to consider how to deal with them in practical ways.  More importantly, it gives us the opportunity to review our ideas with others and change our minds – a "luxury" that we don’t always have during the pace of a meet when it is important to make good decisions quickly.

Most of the activities that individuals perform in their role as officials include two components that are often referred to as "theory" and "practice".  The theory is obtained through clinics and reading, while the practice is obtained by participating at meets.  But the "practice" of officiating consists of not only doing the activity ourselves but by helping others learn the activity as well. 

A common topic of discussion at officials’ workshops is when to acknowledge that a particular individual has accumulated the experience necessary for certification as a Junior, Intermediate, Senior, or Master Official.  I feel that this is best measured not only by the duration or number of times that an official has worked the deck, but also by the number of individuals that have been "mentored".  The opportunity to be exposed to situations not previously considered is greater for a mentor than for an official during most of the time spent on deck.

This season I encourage all Meet Managers and Meet Referees to use your most experienced officials as mentors whenever possible, particularly your Master Officials.  If newer officials are going to improve their skills, they need the exposure on the deck.  Master Officials are best able to assist you and those on the deck by participating actively as advisors during the meet. 

And I encourage all officials to seek out opportunities to assist your less experienced colleagues as you too will benefit from the experience. In your capacity as a mentor, you will not only improve your own skills but you will have a chance to recruit a new official or to help others around you to provide a more successful meet.