Welcome to the BSB officials

This is the B&SB Officials' page. Our contact for all things related to officiating is Sue Green - suegreen@hotmail.com

Officiating at Events Including Swimmers with Disabilities

This popular course will be run again on Saturday 18th February 2012 at The Quays, Southampton, combined with the DSE SER Competition.

The Course will start at 9.00 for 9.15, with lunch, coffee, car park passes etc provided and is due to finish at 14:45. It will be followed by the practical session during the DSE competition, starting with a briefing at 15:00 for swimming 15:30 - 19:30 (so bring your whites).

This Course attracts CPD points for British Swimming Licencing.

If anybody is interested in taking this Course please email Sue Barker - gosportsue@hotmail.com or Sue Green for more information.

This Course is principally aimed at Judge Level 2 and above but we welcome any Judge Level 1 who is working towards their Level 2 qualification.

There are always opportunities to officiate at County events - if you're working through the qualifications to become an official, Sue is also the Officials development contact for the county and can often help and advice.

NOTICES

OFFICIAL'S TRAINING COURSES

Judge Level 1:

If you are able to assemble 6-12 people for a course, Contact Sue to arrange for a Course Leader and agree dates for the course.

Judge Level 2:

Judge 2 course at Chesham Leisure Centre (HP5 1BB) on Sunday 4th December 2011 commencing 4:30-6:30pm. Please contact Brenda Prescott (brenda.m.prescott@googlemail.com) for details.

I am thinking of starting immediately after half term - probably on a Sunday at Chesham Leisure Centre at 4.00pm - 6.00pm.

Judge Level 2S (Starter):

Roger Prior has confirmed the Starters course at Maidenhead in the morning of 26th November prior to the Masters competition. If you have any J2 officials looking for a starter please contact Sue as soon as possible.

Referee:

If you're interested in training to be a referee, please contact Sue to discuss.

OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFICIATE / OFFICIALS WANTED

If you're registered as an official in Berks & South Bucks county, you'll receive e-mails inviting you to these and other county events. If you're new ... please contact Sue to be added

There is a pressing need for Officials at swim meets. As a parent it's a way in which you can help the sport and be there for your children! Don't make the mistake of waiting until they are off to University before getting involved though! If you can drive a car, you can do this, and we'll help you to be confident in doing so.

Take the lead in your own club - Judge Level 1 is the main introduction to officiating. We encourage clubs to run course at their own venues - usually while the children are swimming! The course is usually 2 sessions of about an hour duration. given by a qualified swimming Referee. There will be ample opportunity for questions and answers.

There is then a set of practical sessions on poolside - when you are attending meets which your child(ren) are swimming at. You'll have the rules explained, and what to look at, until you are comfortable with the rules, and are ready for a poolside assessment.

Key tips for new officials ....go for it! always have your book, contact the ref before hand - they will give priority to pre-booked mentoring over walk-ins, If you're waiting for a course, or assessment, keep in touch regularly with your course leader.

Once you have gained the Judge Level 1 qualification, Judge Level 2 is very straightforward, adding the skills of Finish Judge (which you'll have practised whilst learning Judge Level 1) and Judge of Stroke. SO as soon as you are qualified, get your name down for progressing to Judge Level 2!

With the tendency to require times from licensed meets to enter Championships and the like, the minimum qualification for running (ie refereeing) a meet is that of Starter.

The person in charge of meets is the Referee (and the only person who can actually disqualify swimmers). As the requirement to be an authority on the rules and regulations, alone in the Officials' qualifications there is a written examination as well as a thorough mentoring and preparation process. However, when you're qualified, it's a lot of fun.

We'll bring the projector, and equipment we need. We'll point you to the paperwork, which downloadable from the British Swimming web site. You'll need ensure that the people on the course have applied for ASA membership (Category 3 membership) to ensure that they are covered by the Sport's governing body insurance when working on poolside.