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Dear Dolphin-Laser Parents,
Becoming an official is a great
opportunity to get involved in your child’s sport. Not only
does it help you understand swimming to a higher level, but it also
helps the State continue to be able to offer swim meets.
In order for a swim meet to be
held to United States Swimming standards, we must have a certain
number of officials on deck. The official are volunteer parents
just like you. The do not all come from the host team but they are
made up from all the teams attending.
Officials fall into different
categories. The entry level for officials is the stroke and turn
position. As a stroke judge you will walk the sides of the pool and
are in charge of watching the 4 lanes closest to you for any stroke
infractions. The turn judge stands at the end of the pool and
watches to make sure the turns are done correctly. These positions
often rotate and it takes up to 12 - 16 people to run a three-day
meet.
The steps required to become an
official are to attend an official’s clinic and then work as
an apprentice a certain number of sessions. You will receive more
information on requirements at the clinic that will be held at the
Paul Blair Memorial Thanksgiving Invitation.
If you are interested in becoming
an official we will be holding a clinic at UALR on Saturday, Nov.
21 starting at noon. The information is below.
Hope you can help Arkansas
Swimming by becoming an official
Tay
STROKE & TURN OFFICIALS
CLINIC
November 21, 2009
SANCTIONED BY: USA Swimming (USS) through
Arkansas Swimming, Inc. (ASI).
SANCTION #: # 09AR1121o
SPONSORED BY: Arkansas Swimming Official’s
Committee
LOCATION: University of Arkansas at Little
Rock
Donaghey Student Center
2801
South University
Little Rock, AR 72204
TIME: Saturday, November 21, 2009. Clinic begins
at the beginning of the afternoon warm-up period of the Paul
Blair Memorial Thanksgiving Invitational. Approximately
12:00PM. Meet at the start stand/announcer table. On deck
training will occur during the morning session.
INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Bish
ELIGIBILITY: All interested individuals are
invited to attend.
Attendance at a Stroke & Turn Clinic is the
first of three required steps to become a certified official.
Individuals are not required to be USS non-athlete members to
attend the clinic. However, non-athlete membership is required to
apprentice on deck (the second step). Non-athlete membership forms
can be obtained from your club's registration chairman or from the
ASI web site (www.arswim.org). Extra forms will be available at the
clinic.
COST: There is no cost to attend the clinic. USS
non-athlete membership for 2010 (not required to attend the clinic)
is $49 per individual and $95 per family and begins September 1,
2009. The Dolphin-Laser Booster Association will pick up this
expense for all our officials.
ENTRY
DEADLINE: There is no entry deadline. However,
clubs or individuals are requested to contact Jeff Bish before
November 19 with the names of individuals attending so that a
sufficient number of copies of materials will be
available.
SMOKING: Smoking and use of other tobacco
products is prohibited in all areas within the Donaghey Student
Center and surrounding grounds.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION: Contact Jeff Bish on mobile
(501-425-8966) or by e-mail at bishjeff@aol.com.
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