Officials

Official and Meet Manager Information

Training Dates

Handout for Training

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Information from USA Swimming
Articles for Officials
Vides on Officiating Strokes
DQ Codes and Slips

Responses from Questionnaire from Summer 2025

A questionnaire was sent out to those who went to the training and passed the test over the last 2 years.   Below are the general responses from the 25 people who responded.

If you have anything you would like to add to this list, please reach out to Arnie at coacharnie@yahoo.com.

Common Disqualifications
  • Breaststroke Feet
  • Butterfly Arms
  • Backstroke Turns
  • Finishing without both hands for Butterfly or Breaststroke
  • Breaststroke Kick
  • Breaststroke and Butterfly Touch
  • Multiple pulls underwater for Breaststroke
  • Pulling arms past hips in breaststroke after the first pull
  • Non Simultaneous touch on Butterfly and Breaststroke
  • Wrong kick on Butterfly or Breaststroke
  • Swimmers not remaining on back at finish for Backstroke
Weird Things that were seen while officiating
  • Swimmer just stops in the middle of the pool
  • Doing a front flip on a stroke other than freestyle
  • Pushing off after a turn on the front when swimming Backstroke
  • Swimmer dove in and ended up in a different lane
  • Pulling on the lane lines
Challenges you faces while officiating
  • Rusty at beginning
  • Not having other officials available
  • Filling out the DQ Slips
  • Just missing things
  • Crowded deck
  • Younger swimmers do some strange/unexpected things and not sure if it is a DQ
  • The pace of the meet and everything that needs to be done
  • Bathroom breaks
  • Keeping track of race numbers (heats and event numbers)
  • Hard to see the lane sin the middle of the pool
  • Difficult to monitor all the lanes assigned
  • Think I see a DQ out of the corner of my eye – do not call those – you have to be seeing it directly to call a DQ
What should be added to the training
  • Quick Reference Guide
  • Watch from the deck and observe during practice
  • Video clips
  • Wear crocks or something that has traction but can get wet
  • More info on crossover turns
  • Explain difference between scissors and flutter kick

If you would like to add to this list, please complete the questionnaire – click here