Finding Officials for Your Meet
&
Official's Contact List

1) How to Find Meet Officials for Your Meet

2) Approved List of Meet Refereees and Admins for Timed Final & Prelim/Final Meets updated 5.21.2021

NEW: Officials Contact List updated 6.1.2021
(Note: This list includes officials that returned the
annual release of information sheet for 2020-2021)
Key: MR=Meet Ref, DR=Deck Ref, AR=Admin Ref, AO=Admin Official, SR=Starter, ST=Stroke & Turn Official

Referees and Meet Directors may request a contact list for officials
for MN Swimming competitions through the Officials Committee Chair, Jack Swanson.
Please send a request by email.

Virtual Clinic Schedule

Virtual Clinic Resources

Apprentice Forms

NEW OFFICIALS: MN Swimming Stroke & Turn Apprentice Form (upd. 5/25/21)

NEW OFFICIALS: Steps to Becoming a MN Swimming Stroke & Turn Official (upd. 5/25/21)
One-Page How to Become an Official (upd. 10/20)

MN Swimming Starter Apprentice Form (upd. 5/28/21)

MN Swimming Referee Apprentice Form (upd. 5/24/21)

MN Swimming Admin Official Apprentice Form (upd. 5/28/21)

Becoming an Official: USA Swimming Membership
&
Official Certification Requirements

All officials start out as a Stroke & Turn Judge or Administrative Official. If you are at a meet and would like on-deck orientation training just come over to the meet administration table and ask to speak to the Meet Referee. 

All officials must hold a USA Swimming Non-Athlete membership. Please note, you can start your training before receiving a membership. Most people start their training and while that is underway complete the membership requirements. Here are the steps to receive a non-athlete membership:

1. Submit a Non-Athlete Membership Application and complete USA Swimming's Athlete Protection Training (APT) 
(both are linked under Documents/Coaches_Athletes_non-Athlete)

NEW: 2020-2021 Annual Release of Information Form

2. Pass a background check.

3. Complete Athlete Protection Training.

4. Complete Concussion Awareness Training
NFHS or CDC
(required by MN State law to be completed once every 3 years).
Certificate of completion MUST be emailed to Becky ([email protected]) or Tracy ([email protected]).

5. Participate in on-deck training at five meet sessions.
This involves training with a certified official during a swimming meet.

6. Pass USA Swimming Officials test (80%).

Reminder: Official’s Membership Cards are no longer printed/mailed.

Officials may print their cards from the Official’s Tracking System (OTS). This card will be acceptable to use as their membership card at all swim meets. Officials may also show their “membership card” from their Deck Pass Pluss app on their mobile devices as proof of membership, as well as their current Background Check and APT. If you want a printed card, you can print one from Deck Pass on the USA Swimming website.

Not sure if your USA membership or certifications are current?

Log in to your Deck Pass (free from USA Swimming) and click on your Member Card to see your expiration dates. 

Concussion Awareness Training Information

Concussion Awareness Training for Coaches and Officials
State law requires that any nonprofit organization that organizes a youth athletic activity for which a fee is charged, must require all participating coaches and officials to receive initial online training at least once every three calendar years consistent with the Concussion in Youth Sports online training program available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site. See more information (including the statute) here.

Training Resources:

Concussion Training (CDC)

Concussion Training (NFHS)

Certificate of completion MUST be emailed to Becky ([email protected]) or Tracy ([email protected]).

Applications to Officiate Zone/National Meets

2021 Open Water Champs Application
June 18, 2021 (Clinic for swimmers on June 17)
Pleasant Prairie, WI

2021 Central Zone Speedo Sectionals NORTH Application
July 7-10, 2021
Minneapolis, MN

2021 Futures Championships Application
July 28-31, 2021
Fargo, ND/Santa Clarita, CA/Huntsville, AL
July 29-August 1, 2021
Richmond, VA

Central Zone 14 & Under Zone Meet Application
August 5-8, 2021
Westmont, IL
 
(**MUST be logged into your USA Swimming Account first to see the Futures Application.**)
 

National Certification Evaluations

The National Officials Certification Program provides expanded education of officials through mentoring, participation and evaluation as well recognizing those officials who have demonstrated their knowledge of swim officiating at each level and position. One step in becoming nationally certified at a position is to complete an evaluation at a designated meet.

More information can be found at the National Certification and Evaluation page on the USA Swimming website.

The following meets will offer evaluations: TBD

Reference Materials

2021 USA Swimming Rule Book

MN Officials Certification Standards v11_2013

Referee's Guide (PDF)

Pre-Meet Guide (PDF)

Running Meets with Meet Manager  (May 2009) (PDF)

National Weather Service Lightning Safety

Rule differences between sanctioning bodies of swimming
FINA/USA Swimming, NFHS, NCAA, US Masters (PDF) (9.18.18)

Stroke & Turn On-Deck Training Guide (PDF)

FINA New Rules for Timing Resolutions Effective 5/1/16

USA Swimming Observers Briefing Video
(For USA Swimming Officials Observing High School Section Meets)

Entering Official Splits in Meet Manager

Using Footers in Meet Manager
(To print sponsor logos or important messages on the bottom of Psych Sheets and Meet Programs)

Badges & Shirts

Officials Apparel

Name Badges/Bell/Whistle Information