Hi all,

Please see the info below and respond to to the appropriate person, not me!

Hi All,UVAC and New England Swimming are hosting an officials training this Saturday at UVAC from 10a-12p. Below is some info we sent out, use the link to sign up by tomorrow if you have people you want to attend, good way to get some summer officials perhaps. Here is what we put in our team newsletter if you want to use it.

READY TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL?

UVAC will be hosting an Officials Clinic on Saturday, June 4 at 10am. Please register by Noon on June 3 to reserve your spot.

For more details and to register click here.

Why It Is Important To Be an Official

Being an official is one of the most important jobs one can have during a swim meet because officials are in charge of quality control. Having qualified officials is crucial to swimming. Without them, meets cannot be sanctioned, and swimmers' times will not be officially recognized. The athletes rely on volunteer officials to qualify their swims.

Top Myths about Becoming an Official

MYTH: I could never be so mean as to DQ a little kid!

In reality, the officials are not out there to “disqualify swims”. They are there to “qualify swims”. Occasionally, officials do need to issue a DQ and, quite honestly, it is a bit difficult at times. As a parent, have you ever had a situation where you have tried to educate your child on something and it goes right on past them? Until one day, someone else tells them the exact same thing and they take it to heart? You would not believe how many times that I have had coaches (and swimmers) come up to me and thank me for confirming something via a DQ call that they have been preaching to the swimmer but fell on deaf ears. Additionally, if the swimmer is made aware of a particular weakness or rule violation and it is called, they have time to work on it and improve so that they are not called on it in a state qualifying or championship meet. I always keep it as a goal to help our swimmers be properly prepared so they do not get a DQ violation at a Championship meet. Tough love.

MYTH: I do not know enough to become an official and I do not want to embarrass myself.

When I started officiating, I knew almost nothing about competitive swimming. I was taken under the wings of some of our existing team officials plus a few from other teams and they helped and mentored me a lot.

MYTH: I really do not have time for this and cannot make the commitment. If I become an official, I will be forced to work every meet.

I assure you that this is not the case. Many officials voluntarily work much more than the minimum 4 sessions annually for New England swimming. No official is ever told they have to work a meet. It is because we want to and know that our team will likely need the reciprocal support from other team’s officials at our team-hosted meets. Remember, it is all in support of the young athlete’s participation in competitive swimming and benefit from all that swimming on a team can provide. The bottom line is, the more officials the team has the more coverage that can be provided, the more relief can be provided, and the less each one of us needs to help.

Scott Ellis Head Swim Team Coach 802-296-2850 ex. 105 Upper Valley Aquatic Center PO Box 1198 100 Arboretum Lane White River Junction, VT 05001