CONGRATULATIONS!
By clicking our Official’s tab you have just completed the most difficult requirement of becoming an OFFICIAL!!
To become an Official, no previous experience is required. In fact, you don’t even have to have a swimming background yourself. Enjoyment from watching our kids swim competitively is the only prerequisite…
Here are a few great reasons to become a WSY Swimming Official:
- Being on deck at swim meets gives you the best “seat” at the meet
- Learn and understand the subtleties of the sport: stroke technique, meet preparations & procedures
- Free Heat Sheet
- Fun way to volunteer at swim meets
- Training is self-paced; materials provided with reimbursement of any certification fees
- Rewarding way to get involved
- Opportunity to officiate at away meets
- Our “apprentice” approach will give you ample opportunity to partner-on-deck with an experienced official. You decide when you’re ready to officiate “solo”.
Ready to move forward?
It’s EASY:
Step 1)
Create an account with YMCA here. [Quick help guide here]
Step 2)
Registering for a YMCA Officials Training (Level I will be at West Shore YMCA on TBA). Level 1 sign up is here.
Those of you that have been Level I for a period of one (1) year, and have worked a minimum of eight sessions can then register for Level II which will be taught at West Shore YMCA on TBA Level 2 Sign up is here.
Step 3)
Download the USA Swimming Rulebook
Step 4)
Create an account with USA Swimming here. In order to be a swimming official, you will need to be a member of USA Swimming along with passing the following clearances: (WSY will reimburse you for all expenses paid)
- Background Check
- Athlete Protection Training (Can only be done after you are a member, once registered in the system)
- Concussion Training print and email certificate to mike@wsyswim.org
Step 5)
After you take the YMCA Officials training, you are ready to take the test.
The on-line Official’s Certification Test – If you are a new official, you must take Level I. After you are a Level 1 Officials for a period of one year, you may then advance to Level II. A candidate for a Level II official “must have been a fully Certified YMCA Level I Official for at least one year, have worked a minimum of eight sessions as a YMCA Certified Official and present a completed Record of Meet Experience form evidencing such sessions worked. In addition, as with Level I officials, the candidate must be at least 21 years old and be associated with a local YMCA sponsored swim team.”
Recertification – In order to qualify to re-certify, an official must have worked at least twelve (12) sessions over the three-year certification period. (A session is defined as a either dual meet or a session at an invitational or championship meet.) This form can be used to document the sessions worked. It should be completed for each session and signed by the Referee. It must then be presented to the instructor at the re-certification clinic
Want more information, or have some specific questions about officiating? Email Toni Chase, YMCA Officials Trainer tonitalks14@gmail.com