Big Sky! Big Dreams! Big Success!

Resources to help officials and coaches better serve swimmers with a disability.

Best Practices for Safe Sport with Athletes with Disabilities from USA Swimming

Pamphlet: Guidelines for Officiating Swimmers with a Disability: A Pocket Guide A concise 2 page reference for USA Swimming Officials. Designed to be printed on the front and back of the same paper and used as a tri-fold pamphlet.

Course: Officiating Swimmers with a Disability: Course used to teach officials about officiating swimmers with a disability. (Thank you Colorado Swimming for sharing!)  Click for PDF file of course.

• Target Groups for Course and Some Key Responsibilities
  • Meet and Deck Referees
    • Athletes or athlete representative are required to inform referee of impaired swimmer and request accommodations.
    • Meet Referee is the final decision on Disqualifications
    • Meet Referee will determine if accommodations can be met and will instruct officials as to the accommodations/modifications.
  • Stroke and Turn Officials
    • ​Officials observe swims based on rules.  Officials are instructed to become familiar with Article 105.5 (this is encouraged during training of new officials).
    • An impaired athlete does not have to inform the referee because they do not want to be officiated under Article 105.  This is their choice. 
  • Coaches 
    • ​Senior Coach – Swimmers who are at the High School Level and swim with HS can be a member of club swimming, and impaired swimmers are not always aware of this opportunity.
    • Age Group Coach – athletes as this level are wanting to be involved in club sports, are competitive, and are involved with friends.
    • Both set of coaches can help athlete be competitive, grow both athletically and socially.
    • Can help athletes move to Para if warranted
• Rationale for Course
  • Face to face conversation, instruction and discussion is always better. It helps with comprehension and development of programs.  It also provides the means to offer support to all affected groups.
  • Explanation of what impairments are and different impairments in each group. Provide specific examples.
  • Instruct officials on what they should be aware of when observing swims. (Article 105 of USA Swimming Rulebook)
  • Show what support staff is and how it looks
  • What starting devices are and examples of types
  • How modifications look for an impaired swimmer and what happens during observing swims
  • How rules are observed and implemented
  • How integrating impaired swimmers into clubs affects swimmers