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Haney Neptunes
Officials
Want to know what it takes to get those fancy
pins you see on our badges? Please check out the BCSSA Officials' certification
pages, located at
http://www.bcssa.bc.ca/Officials/OffVarPages/PinCertif.htm
|
Name |
Level |
Contact |
| Craig Todd |
Senior |
|
| Cindy Kopp |
Senior |
|
| Heather Stein |
Senior |
|
| Al Yeo |
Intermediate |
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| David Rosec |
Intermediate |
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| Yvette Tan |
Junior |
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| Ava Lee-Chin |
Junior |
|
| Kevin Davies |
Specialist |
|
| David Siverstsen-Neale |
Junior |
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Officials Training and Certification Program
BCSSA is one of the largest short course summer
swimming organizations in North America. Over the years it has
developed a comprehensive training program for the officials who are
needed to staff the various positions on the pool deck in order to run a
meet. Some of these officiating positions are obvious to the casual
spectator - the referee and starter and the officials judging strokes
and turns at the sides and ends of the pool. Many others are less
obvious but just as critical. The list below constitutes the official
functions necessary to staff and run a typical meet:
|
Position |
Responsibilities |
Number needed |
|
Meet Referee |
Selects and monitors the officials on the
working pool deck |
1 |
| Meet Manager |
Organizes the preparation, communications,
personnel and equipment to conduct the meet and ensure its
continuous operation |
1 |
|
Chief Meet Recorder (CMR) |
Collects and tabulates the meet results,
adjudicates results as needed and posts results |
1 |
| CMR assistants |
Prepare and seed events, collect and check
results, do computer entry and validation, post intermediate and
final results |
4-6 |
|
Clerk of the Course |
Organizes events and individual time cards
for swimmers, handles scratches and calls swimmers or alternate
for events, distributes cards to swimmers |
1-2 |
| Session Referee |
Oversees the entire pool deck and the
conduct of the meet for duration of assigned session. Has final
authority for all decisions governing the meet. |
1 |
|
Back-up Referee |
As needed, handles issues or
responsibilities delegated by Session Referee |
1 |
| Starter |
Controls and ensures a fair start once the
race is passed to Starter's command by Referee |
1 |
|
Stroke/turn officials |
Observe proper execution of the various
strokes and turns to ensure a fair and correct race in each
stroke |
5-8 |
| Place Judge |
Tabulates order of finish of swimmers in
race (overrides manual times) |
4-6 |
|
Lane Recorder |
Receives and checks time card for swimmers
in assigned lane; enters manual times on card |
6-8 |
| Lane Timers |
Start and stop watches at start and finish
of race to obtain manual times for swimmer in assigned lane |
12-16 |
|
Marshall |
Organizes swimmers into their heats or
finals and ensures an orderly delivery of swimmers to the blocks
for events |
2-3 |
| Chief Timer |
Instructs lane timers and provides backup
manual times as needed |
1 |
|
Chief Judge Electronics |
Manages electronic timing system to provide
accurate electronic time records for each race |
1-2 |
| Runner |
Collects place judge slips, time cards and
electronic time record for each race for delivery to CMR |
1-2 |
|
Announcer |
Calls swimmers to clerk of course,
announces meet event information and any other public
announcements required by Meet Manager or Session Referee |
1 |
| Total |
Depends on meet and pool size and
configuration |
44-61 |
In addition to the above, every successful meet has
a large number of ancillary positions which contribute to the
efficiency, ambiance and fun of the meet. These positions include the
pool equipment set-up and tear-down crews, raffle and swim gear
organizers and sales people, concession cooks and staff, deck food
volunteers for provision of refreshments to pool deck officials and (for
very large meets), security staff.
A large well-run meet can easily require 70-80
people working at any one time to keep the meet running smoothly and
on-time. All of these people require breaks and replacements in order
to keep the meet going and allow everyone a chance to enjoy the
performances of their own kids.
BCSSA Officials Certification
Training for many of the positions above are
obtained directly through on-the-job training at meets and through
informal sessions at each club. BCSSA provides formal clinics and
instruction for certain official positions which require more technical
training, have higher levels of responsibility or official discretion
and/or have the capacity to pronounce disqualifications or judgments on
appeals. These clinics include those for the positions of stroke/turn
judge, starter, referee and chief meet recorder.
BCSSA recognizes an official's progression in
theoretical and practical proficiency and experience through a certified
level system with different coloured pins awarded for attainment of each
certification level:
|
Level |
Pin Colour |
Experience or
Proficiency Required |
|
1 - Junior |
Green |
Lane Timer/recorder, chief timer, place
judge, marshal |
| 2 - Intermediate |
Red |
Level 1 + Stroke/turn judge, assistant CMR
(crash desk), understanding of Chief Judge Electronics position
and Clerk of the Course |
|
Specialist |
Gold |
Practical and theoretical mastery of any
one of : Clerk of the Course, Computer Entry, Chief Meet
Recorder, Electronics or Meet Manager and experience at Regional
Championships in that position |
| 3 - Senior |
Light Blue |
ALL Level 2 + at least three (3) of
Starter, Referee, Meet Manager or Chief Meet Recorder.
Experience in one of these positions at Regional Championships.
Completion of an official BCSSA Harassment policy Clinic. |
|
4 - Master |
Navy |
Demonstrated proficiency and competence
with all lower level positions, experience at Provincial
Championships in a level 3 position, experience in conducting
officials' clinics, successful pass of Masters' examination |
Competency Assessment and Certification Authority
Level 1 competency assessment and certification is
by individual club Director of Officials
Level 2, Specialist and Level 3 assessment and certification conducted
by Regional Director of Officials
Level 4 evaluation and certification conducted by BCSSA VP Officials or
designate.
This certification program provides recognition for
volunteers and officials' proficiency at all levels of experience and a
clear path for progression and skills improvement. Next time you are at
a meet take a note of the badges and pins worn by officials on deck and
you'll have a better understanding of the amount of time and effort they
have invested in contributions to this sport and the quality of
competition for all of our young athletes.
If you are interested in learning more about the
BCSSA officials' training and certification program contact your club's
Director of Officials
Special thanks to the Port Moody Aquarians for
the majority of the content on this page! |
