Support Our Athletes

 Administrative Official Guidelines

Why become an official?

• Support an excellent sport for children and promote a healthy lifestyle for children.
• You will gain a more thorough understanding of competitive swimming.
• Fulfill your volunteer obligations. 
• Get closer to the action; know what’s happening on deck with the “best seat” at the pool.
• Get mentally and physically engaged during the meet rather than merely “spectating.”
• Receive free admission and great hospitality during sessions officiated.

STEP 1: USA Swimming Registration

• Using the link provided by your club, you can register yourself as an official through the USA Swimming site.
• Chances are, you created an account when registering your athletes. Go ahead and login with the same user and password so your registration will be linked with your athletes.
• Cost is $80.00 – Ask your Club if they will reimburse you.  Many do!

STEP 2:  USA Swimming Athlete Protection Policy

All Non-Athlete USA Swimming members, including Officials, must complete the following:

• USA Swimming Criminal Background Check (regardless of any previous criminal background check you may have completed). There is a $39 fee for first-time officials.
• Take the Athlete Protection course.  It takes about 20 minutes.
• Take a Concussion Protocol Training course. You can take either the CDC or NFHS versions. Submit your certificate to Missouri Valley upon completion. 
   
• NOTE:  Prior to getting taking your APT training you will need to set up an account on the USA Swimming Site.  Simply click Sign-In in the upper right hand part of the page.  You will also need to have completed your registration as a non-athlete member.  Please use the exact same name for registration, background check and APT.

STEP 3:  Start Your Training

Take your USA Swimming Test:  Complete USA Swimming’s on-line, open book test, “Stroke and Turn Certification Test”.  A stroke and Turn official will need to take both the Timer and S&T Judge test. 
 

Attend a Training Clinic     

• Attend a Stroke & Turn Training Clinic.  These are conducted in various locations throughout the LSC.  Check the Event page on the Missouri Valley website.
• You can filter the calendar by choosing ‘Officials’ in the event category.
• Alternatively, stroke and turn officials can choose to take an online stroke and turn clinic. You can purchase your key through this form ($30). Please submit your completed certificate to Curtis Myers in order to have your clinic posted to your member record

Apprentice On-Deck

The Stroke & Turn is required to work with a full status official for a minimum of six meet sessions (not including Time Trials).  In order to provide the trainee with the opportunity to work with a number of experienced officials, these six or more meet sessions must be worked at a minimum of TWO DIFFERENT MEETS.  These work sessions shall be recorded in the Official’s Tracking System database via the USA Swimming official’s website by the meet referee.

Certification

USA Swimming Card – You can access your USA non-athlete card once you have achieved after you have registered AND successfully completed the Criminal Background Check and USA Swimming online Athlete Protection Training module.

• Log in you your USA Swimming account
• Click "My Deck Pass" in the upper right hand corner
• Scroll down and click "My Membership Card"
• You can click "Print Volunteer Card" if you wish to have a hard copy
  
  
  Official Card – Once you have completed the training Clinic, USA Swimming on-line test, and the apprentice sessions, you will be able to print your Certification card on the USA Swimming website.

Questions about your certification should be sent to:  [email protected]