Technical Officials (STO’s) are a central part of every swimming event and play an important role in ensuring the events run smoothly, safely and within the sport’s regulations. A number of roles exist within officiating including Timekeeper, Judge 1, Judge 2, Judge 2S, Referee, Recorder and Automatic Officiating Equipment (AOE) Operator.
In order for swimmers’ times to be official, all swimming events must run with a minimum number of STOs with the appropriate qualifications, otherwise the event will not be ‘accredited’ by Scottish Swimming. It is especially important that the Club have sufficient STOs for its own Club Champs as officials from other clubs will not be provided. Another important reason to become an official is that at North District events, each club MUST provide a certain number of officials, based on the total number of swimmers entered into the meet. Failure to provide the requisite number of STOs will result in the Club being fined. This may sound harsh, but if the event does not have the requisite number of officials, the swimmers’ times will not count as accredited times. If you are aged 14 years or over, with an interest in swimming – or the enthusiasm to learn, then you have taken the first step in becoming a Swimming Technical Official.
Firstly, you must be a member of Scottish Swimming so you are insured for your activity on poolside. The Club will organise and pay for you to become a member.
TIMEKEEPER
The first step on the ladder of officiating is to become a Timekeeper. The Club generally runs two Timekeeper Assessments a year. This consists of a lecture by a course leader, followed by practical experience/assessment of timekeeping on the poolside. Once the assessment is successfully completed you can officiate on the poolside at any event.
JUDGE 1
Once you have reached the age of 16 then you are eligible to become a Judge 1 (turn judge). This again involves you applying to North District STO Convenor through the Club STO Co-ordinator who will advise you of a course start date and workshops. Material for the course is in the form of a workbook and your course leader will advise you how this is obtained. The course is in the form of workshops and practical training on poolside, with a mentor only and with no examination at the end of the course, just a final assessment.
JUDGE 2 & JUDGE 2S
After completing Judge 1, you are then eligible to continue to Judge 2, which is completed in the same manner. Judge 2 qualifies you to judge stroke and finish. Once you have completed this and have done 20 hours post qualification as a Judge 2, you are then eligible to progress to Judge 2S (starter), which is completed in the same manner. Judge 2S qualifies you to start.
RECORDER
Training is also available to become a Recorder. A Recorder records the results of races at an event on a computerised system. To become a Recorder, you must already be a Timekeeper having completed 4 Timekeeping duties and 1 Chief timekeeping duty. To qualify for a Recorders certificate you are required to sit a written examination. This is conducted in May and November each year. You then need to undertake a period of ‘Probationary Service’. Having successfully passed the written examination applicants will receive a Record of Pond-side Duties Form, which specifies the probationary service to be undertaken.
AUTOMATIC OFFICIATING EQUIPMENT (AOE)
Training is available to become an AOE. This qualification can be used where there is automatic timing. This involves learning how to operate the scoring for electronic timing. Currently the nearby pools that enable us to use this qualification are Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) and Inverness Leisure.