1. Neil Higgins – EFSL / NTS Head Official / Referee 2 October 2013
European Forces Swim League (EFSL) Official’s Clinic “EFSL COMPETITIVE SWIMMING”
Neil Higgins – EFSL / NTS Head Official / Referee
2 October 2013

2. Bottomline - why do we have rules?
To provide fair and equitable conditions of competition

3. Generalities
Well run meets and good results are directly related to good officiating
Dress accordingly – black or blue shorts & white collar shirt
Remember that swimmers have worked hard to achieve their success and deserve fair and equitable conditions of competition
Rules have to be applied intelligently at all times, using common sense and good judgment
Fairness to all competitors giving the ‘Benefit of the Doubt’, in every instance, to the swimmer
We are not here to disqualify, but to ensure fair, consistent and equitable decisions
Jewelry & Tattoos Issues & Concerns
Do not be afraid to ask questions
Counters are only permitted to be used in events long distance events (800, 1500m events)

4. Agenda Basic Concepts – Part 1 Strokes - Part 2
- DQ procedures
- Starter
- Referee 4

5. Basic Concepts Part 1 Take officiating seriously
Work regularly at the job
Be professional
Know Disabilities

6. Take officiating seriously and work hard at it
Officials owe the swimmers correctness, fairness, equality and courtesy!
Study the rule book
Uniformly interpret and apply rules
Call violations as you see them
Be fair, equal and consistent
Disregard team affiliation
Exercise good judgment

7. Work regularly at the job
Attend training sessions (Annual Refresher)
Officials need practice
Working regularly builds confidence
Keep up with rule changes and new interpretations
There is no substitute for experience

8. Be professional in your duties
Fairness and equality to all competitors shall dictate actions
You will get wet….don’t be surprised!
Make decisions quickly and decisively
Avoid coaching swimmers
Refrain from cheering
Admit mistakes if wrong

9. Disabilities Judge in accordance with rules - Art 105
Do not judge a part of the body that is absent or cannot be used
Base your judgment on actual rules, not the swimmers technique

10. STROKES Part 2 Freestyle Backstroke Breaststroke Butterfly
Individual Medley
Medley Relay

11. FREESTYLE Start - Forward Start
Body Position - No restriction upon body position, except… if submerged at start, turns, head must break the water surface by the 15m mark
Stroke - Any stroke style may be used
Kick - Any kick style may be used
Turn / Finish:
If a swimmer does not touch the wall during a turn, they may return to touch the wall in any manner as long as the length is not completed--sculling back is not mandatory
Any part of the body may touch at each end

12. BACKSTROKE (1 of 2) Start Start in the water with back to the course
Feet or toes may NOT be in or bent over the edge of the gutter
Hands placed on gutter or on the starting grips!!
Body Position
Must swim “on the back”, except for turns
Head must break the water surface by the 15m mark at the start and after every turn
Stroke - Any stroke style may be used
Kick - Any kick style may be used
Stroke:

13. BACKSTROKE (2 of 2) Turns:
Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall
During the turn, the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the breast after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn…..GLIDING IS PROHIBITED!!!!
The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall.
Finish:
Upon the finish of the race, the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back
Swimmer may be completely submerged when finishing!!
Turns :
1 - touch on back - turn in any manner to leave the wall on the back
2 - turn to breast - immediately touch wall and leave the wall on the back
3 - turn to breast - immediately commence the flip turn and leave the wall on the back
4 - turn to breast - the single/double arm pull - flip turn and leave the wall on the back
5 - the back flip turn from the back - touch at any point during the turn to leave wall on back - exception if conducting this turn during IM transition to Breast they must touch while on the back

14. BREASTSTROKE (1 of 2) Start – Forward start Body Position:
Must swim “on the breast”
Head must break the water surface before hands turn inward at widest part of second stroke
Stroke:
Arms shall move simultaneously and in same horizontal plane, not alternating
The hands shall not be brought back beyond the hip line, except during the first stroke after the start and each turn
The stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order
After the start and after each turn, the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs
Head must break surface during each “stroke cycle”

15. BREASTSTROKE (2 of 2) Kick: Feet turned out
Scissors, flutter or downward butterfly kick NOT permitted with exception
Turn:
Touch both hands simultaneously at, above or below water surface
Head may be submerged at turn or finish
Turn any manner however, must be on breast off wall
Submerged: 1st stroke below hipline - OK
2nd stroke - head breaks surface before hands inward
On Start or at turns the first arm pull must be started prior to commencement of the dolphin kick
A single dolphin kick followed by a Breaststroke kick is permitted while fully submerged
Last stroke - elbows may go above water surface
Finish:
Touch wall with both hands simultaneously at, above or below the water surface
Elbows may go above water surface

16. BUTTERFLY (1 of 2) Start: Forward start
On breast - Side-kicking allowed under water
<15m submerged before breaking the surface of the water
Stroke:
On breast
One or more leg kicks, but only one arm pull under water which must bring swimmer to the surface
Both arms” must be brought forward “over the water" and pulled back simultaneously
Arms may scrape the top of the water as they come forward (may hit waves and create splashes)
Turn:
Touch w/both hands simultaneously at, above, or below water surface
Turn in any manner
Head must break the water surface by the 15m mark

17. BUTTERFLY (2 of 2)
Kick:
Legs & feet simultaneously (vertically) - no scissors or breaststroke kick
Finish: Touch wall with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface

18. INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY Start: Forward start
<15m submerged for Butterfly, Back, & Free
Stroke:
Butterfly, Back, Breast, Free order
Same rules apply to stroke being swum
Freestyle cannot be fly, breast, or backstroke
Turn:
Wall must be touched in manner prescribed for finish
by stroke being swum
Backstroke must finish on back
Finish:
Touch wall any manner, any part of the body

19. MEDLEY RELAY Back, Breast, Butterfly, Free order
Must surface at 15m mark for strokes
Same rules apply to stroke being swum
Freestyle cannot be fly, breast, or backstroke
No swimmer shall swim more than 1-leg in race
Swimmer other than 1st swimmer shall not start until teammate has concluded his leg (HO/Starter)

20. EFSL DQ Codes Official’s DQ Codes 2013-2014 Breaststroke
3A Alternating Kick
3B Non-simultaneous kick
3C Downward butterfly kick
3D Scissors kick / Feet not turned out
3E Hands brought beyond the hipline
during stroke
3F Non-simultaneous arms
3G Arms two strokes underwater at start
or after turn
3H Arms not in same horizontal plane
3I Elbows recovered “over” water
3J One hand touch
3K No touch
3L Non-simultaneous touch
3M Shoulders not at or past vertical towards
breast off the wall
3P Head under for 2 or more strokes
3Q Incomplete stroke cycle other than one pull
followed by one kick
Relay (BK / BRST / FLY / FR)
61 Stroke Infraction swimmer #1
62 Stroke Infraction swimmer #2
63 Stroke Infraction swimmer #3
64 Stroke Infraction swimmer #4
66 Early take-off swimmer #2
67 Early take-off swimmer #3
68 Early take-off swimmer #4
6P Changed order of swimmers
6Q Not enough swimmers IM
5P Strokes out of sequence – (Fly / Back / Breast / Free)
5Q Freestyle swum as backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly
Miscellaneous
7N Swimmer made use of aids
7O False start
7P Declared false start
7Q Did not finish
7R Delay of meet
7S Entered water without permission
7T Interfered with another swimmer
7U Walking on or springing from bottom
7V Standing on bottom
7W Pulling on lane line
7X Finish in wrong lane
7Y Unsportsmanlike conduct
Official’s DQ Codes
Butterfly
1A Alternating Kick
1B Kick breaststroke type
1C Scissors kick
1E Non-simultaneous arms
1F Arms underwater recovery
1G Did not bring arms forward “over” water
1J One hand touch
1K No touch
1L Non-simultaneous touch
1M Shoulders not at or past vertical towards
breast off the wall
1N Head did not break the surface by 15 meters
1O More than one arm pull under water after start or turn
Backstroke
2I No touch at turn
2J Non-continuous turning action
2K Not on back off wall
2L Shoulders past vertical toward breast
2N Head did not break the surface by 15 meters
2P Toes curled over gutter after the start
2Q - Did not finish on back
Freestyle
4K No touch on turn
4N Head did not break the surface by 15 meters

21. Basic Concepts Part 3 Mental Traps Disqualifications DQ Procedure
Starter Miscellaneous
False Starts
Referee
During the Meet
After the Meet

22. Lead to poor or sloppy judgments!
Mental Traps
Lead to poor or sloppy judgments!
Twice theory: “I must see it twice.” - No!
We do not disqualify 8&U..…WRONG!
Do not infer or extrapolate
Ugly or unusual is NOT inevitably illegal

23. Disqualification (1 of 2)
Can be made only by the official in whose Jurisdiction the infraction has been made – See Pool Layout Slide
Disregard the opinion of others and team affiliation
Be sure violation occurred and be prepared to explain it!
If in doubt, give the swimmer the benefit of any doubt!
Unsafe/unsportsmanlike conduct must be reported to the Referee (disciplinary action)
Report swimming across lanes (swimmer must start and finish in the same lane)

24. SOUTHERN DIVISIONALS 2013 Marshalling Timers Spectators
Window - Airfield
Window - Airfield
Marshalling
Starter
Timers HO
Spectators

25. Disqualification (2 of 2)
Standing on the pool’s bottom, except freestyle (cannot step, walk or spring)
A swimmer not entered in a race who enters the pool or course before all swimmers have completed the race shall be barred from the next individual event on that day (Referee’s discretion)
Not permissible to wear or use any device or substance to help speed or buoyancy during race (e.g., excessive use of oil or grease)

26. Disqualification: Relays
No swimmer shall swim more than one leg in any relay
Proper sequence of strokes - Medley relay order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle
A swimmer other than the first swimmer shall not start until his teammate has concluded his leg (Dual jurisdiction)
Any relay team member and his/her relay team shall be disqualified from a race if a team member other than the swimmer designated to swim that leg enters the pool in
the area where the race is being conducted before all swimmers of all teams have finished the race

27. Deliberate Delay or Misconduct
Any swimmer may be disqualified from an event:
Who delays the start by entering the water
Willfully or deliberately disobeying a command to step on the blocks or to take a starting position
For any other misconduct taking place at the start
The Referee shall disqualify a swimmer who fails to appear at the starting platform ready to swim in time for the initial start of his|her heat.
Such disqualification shall not be charged as a false start.

28. DQ Procedure 
Call the violation – raise the arm or the DQ is not valid!!! (apply simple test, doubt, mental traps, you can also change your mind after you raise your hand)
Other S&T Official covers down on vacant position
Proceed behind timer (Mark card front in RED with /, DQ. Back: DQ Code, Explanation (if required), Time, Distance when the infraction occurred and initials of the official)
Tell the swimmer (“Good job but you are DQ’ed in this race because..., Go and tell your coach”)
Submit card (to Referee for review / initials) (Some pools use “runners” to submit cards, therefore return card to timers)
Get back to your position immediately

29. DQ DQ Procedure (Cards) Swimmer: Doug Vaughn ID #: SMIT123456
Boys 100m Breaststroke
Event: Heat: Lane: 3
Time Time Time 3 DQ
1:28.84
1:29.18
1:27.56

30. DQ Procedure -Back of card-
3E - Hands below waistline Hipline
NAH - Ref
MPP – S&T
m at the turn

31. Starter
One of the most important roles on deck: Ensure all swimmers get a fair start!
Preparation:
Review and be familiar with rules and schedule of events.
Familiarize yourself with guidelines and rules for officiating swimmers with disabilities.
Check & be familiar with equipment: whistle, pistol, electronic-starter, false start rope, etc. Electronic strobe signal visible to all manual timers
Find best position for you, and relay take-off judge (if being used)
Warning Signals (Bell Lap) - With the exception of relays, in events 800 Meters or longer (for lead swimmer, not individuals)

32. False Starts (1 of 3) Procedures:
Any swimmer starting before the starting signal is given shall be disqualified if the Referee independently observes and confirms Starter´s observation that a violation occurred
Swimmers remaining on the starting blocks shall be relieved from their starting positions with the “Stand up” command and may step off the blocks
Should a swimmer fall in and the stand-up command is given, the swimmer may be permitted to swim the event w/the understanding the DQ will be written up
If the starting signal has been given before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue without recall if the violation occurred, the swimmer or swimmers who have false started shall be disqualified upon completion of the race
Dual confirmation from Starter and Referee – no hand signal given!

33. False Starts (2 of 3) Procedures:
If the recall signal is activated inadvertently, no swimmer shall be charged with a false start
A swimmer who would otherwise be charged with a false start may be relieved of the charge if the false start was caused by the swimmer´s reaction to the “stand up” command.
Enforcement of the correct starting position is the responsibility of the Starter
Swimmers will be disqualified for “rocking or any slight movement” on the starting blocks after the command – “Take your Mark”
Both the Starter and Referree will confer that a violation has occured before disqualifying a swimmer
Recall procedures must be made prior to the start of the swim meet!
Relay Exchange – both the Starter and Referre (or exchange officials) must watch carefully – See pic

34. False Starts (3 of 3)
(Sigonella
Sep 2010)
Referee / Starter – DQ or No DQ? Are photos / videos permitted to identify
possible violation? NO – Photo appears to be legal exhange however, on deck decision by Ref/Starter will have the final ruling!!
End state - both the Referee & Starter will confer that a violation has occured!!

35. Know the rules - Use “Common Sense.”
Referee
RUNS THE MEET!
Know the rules - Use “Common Sense.”
Before the meet - See the meet manager, the administrative referee, the statistician …
Controls pool, configuration, safety, security, equipment, etc…
Brief the Coaches, Meet Director, Timers, Stroke & Turn Judges & Shadows and Starter
Start and STAY on SCHEDULE – families are traveling!!
Referee Solve protests immediately (if possible)

36. Meet Procedures (1 of 2) Procedures:
Referee shall signal to the swimmers by a short series of whistles
Followed by a long whistle indicating that they should take and maintain their positions on the starting platform, the deck, or in the water
In backstroke and medley relay events:
at the Referee’s first long whistle, the swimmers shall immediately enter the water
Second long whistle shall return without undue delay to the starting position
Referee shall signal with an outstretched arm to the Starter that the swimmers are under the Starter’s control
On the Starter’s command “Take Your Mark”, the swimmers shall immediately assume their starting position, in the forward start, with at least one foot at the front of the starting platform or the deck

37. Meet Procedures (2 of 2) Procedures:
Swimmers starting in the water must have at least
one hand in contact with the wall or starting platform
When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signal
One start rule - Do not recall unless it is the Starter’s technical error or outside influence (e.g., air horn in the stands)
Decide on “over the top” starts or not
Dual jurisdiction - (Referee / Starter)
Watch and note false starts (Confer with Head Referee if noted…..Do not raise hand)

38. During the meet
Attempt to always start ON TIME – teams are travelling!
Always use the same procedure and sequence
If ”over the top start”, at least three heats ready ahead before starting the meet
Swimmers who have finished are to hold the lane dividers away from touch pad. They clear the pool on command by sides
Use heat sheets with names
Recommended notes on heat sheets..…
Time (frequently)
Rotation of Officials
Changes (e.g., combined heats, etc.)
Breaks / Lunch
Empty lanes
Keep an eye on your judges and swimmers

39. After the meet….. Thank everyone AAR / De-brief (if necessary)
If you have shadows, answer their questions
Sign log books
Solve protests if not yet done
See meet manager and statistician
Sign the Official Swim-meet paper work

40. S&T Official Wayahead Training annotated in Log Book; maintain your
log-book even after qualified to illustrate how current they are when it comes to working at away meets and CHAMPS
3 x shadows at a sanctioned EFSL Swim Meet
– get log-book signed
Pass S&T, Starter & Head Official Exams on web-site (open book)
Qualified Head Official grades and submits Team Spreadsheet to Division (s) Head Official & EFSL Referee

41. - Video / Swimmer Demonstrations
QUESTIONS ?
- Video / Swimmer Demonstrations
NEIL HIGGINS
DSN BB