Valley Cabana Stroke and Turn Judge Certification Clinic

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Valley CabanaStroke and Turn Judge Certification
Clinic

• Soren Soe
• soren.soe_at_gonsoe.com
• 21 May 2005

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Stroke and Turn Officials Certification Clinic

• Certification Requirements
• Philosophy of Officiating
• The Rules
• Video
• Common Infractions
• Rules Specific to our Cabana League
• Assignment and Jurisdiction of Officials
• Stroke Turn Procedures
• In Water Demonstration

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Handouts and Forms

• A CD with
• index.html with links to all material
• This presentation
• Valley Cabana Stroke and Turn Bylaws
• USA Swimming Rules and Regulations
• Test and answer sheet
• Forms (DQ slip, relay take-off slip)
• Recommended stroke briefing
• Material is also available at
• http//www.oaktreesharks.us/officials

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ST Certification Requirements

• New Judges
• Attend training clinic
• View video
• Complete written test
• Complete one training session with certified ST
  judge
• Satisfactorily work an additional session (with
  with an assigned ST judge) and make calls

• Returning Judges
• Attend training clinic
• View video
• or
• Complete written test
• View video

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Philosophy of Officiating

• All competitive swimming events held under USA
  Swimming sanction shall be conducted in
  accordance with the following rules which are
  designed to provide fair and equitable conditions
  of competition and promote uniformity in the
  sport so that no swimmer shall obtain unfair
  advantage over another.
• Preamble to the USA-S Technical Rules

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Fair and Equitable

• Judging should be consistent among different
  officials at a meet
• Judging should be consistent at different meets
• All of the rules are enforced, we dont
  individually choose to enforce some rules and
  ignore others

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Fair and Equitable Cont.d

• The rules are enforced across all age groups and
  levels of ability
• Note, we have 6/U and 7/8 rules that differ from
  USA swimming rules and are specific to our league
• Officials should be neutral in their enforcement
  of the rules dont favor one team over another,
  dont favor one swimmer over another

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Mental Traps

• Advantage vs. disadvantage
• The twice theory
• We dont disqualify 8 unders
• Dont ask me to judge my child

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Rules of Thumb Contd

• The benefit of the doubt ALWAYS goes to the
  swimmer
• Ugly isn't (necessarily) illegal
• Know the rules review the rules before meets
• Call violations as seen dont guess or
  anticipate
• Judge each lane equally
• Experience, experience, experience

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Officiating Swimming Video

• Clear and consistent knowledge of the rules
• Clarify proper interpretation of the rules as
  they pertain to the most common disqualification
  calls made
• Following slides give representative, but not
  comprehensive examples of rules violations

Each team has two copies see head ST judge on
your team to borrow a copy for review
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Butterfly Infractions

• Not at or past vertical towards the breast after
  the start and after each turn
• Head not up at 15 meters
• Non-simultaneous pull or arm recovery
• Need not be symmetrical
• Arms not recovered over the surface of the water
• The arm is anything above the wrist and below the
  shoulder

• Looking for any part of the arm to break the
  water surface

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Butterfly Contd

• Upward or downward movements of the legs not
  simultaneous
• Legs or feet alternate in relationship to each
  other
• Legs and feet do not have to be on the same level
• A scissors or breaststroke kicking movement

• One hand or non-simultaneous touch at turns or
  finish

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Backstroke Infractions

• Toes curling over the gutter after the starting
  signal (before the starting signal is the
  starters responsibility)
• Head not up at 15 meters
• Shoulders not past vertical toward the back upon
  leaving the wall, during swim, and at finish
• Shoulders may turn past vertical toward the
  breast during the turn
• Failing to touch the wall at the turn
• If the swimmer missed the wall, he or she may
  come back to touch the wall provided that the
  swimmers shoulder has not turned past vertical
  or reached the opposite end of the course
• Non-continuous turning motion after shoulders
  turned past vertical towards the breast

• Gliding or kicking independently of the
  continuous turning action is illegal
• More than a single or simultaneous double arm
  pull is illegal

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Breaststroke Infractions

• Cycle must start with a pull, starting with a
  kick is illegal
• Hands brought beyond the hip line, except for the
  first stroke after the start and after each turn
• Head does not break the surface during each cycle
• Arms not pulling in the same horizontal plane,
  including the first pull following each turn

• Non-simultaneous pull
• Elbows not remaining in contact with the water
  during the recovery (forward) portion of the
  stroke except for the last stroke before the
  turns and finish (does not apply to the backwards
  pull)

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Tara Kirk in Women's 200m Breaststroke Santa
Clara 37th International Swim Meet
The elbows must stay wet during the recovery
phase of the arm pull
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Breaststroke Infractions Contd

• One hand or non-simultaneous touch at turns or
  finish
• Not past vertical towards breast off wall
• Not on the breast from the beginning of the first
  arm pull after the start and after each turn
• Feet not turned outward during the propulsive
  phase of the kick
• Non-simultaneous kick
• A scissors, flutter, or butterfly kick

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Breaststroke Kick

• The position of the feet is key to judging the
  breaststroke kick
• If the toes are pointed outward during the
  propulsive phase of the kick, it is a legal
  breaststroke kick
• If the toes are pointed straight back or inwards,
  it is a butterfly kick
• It is legal for the feet to break the surface of
  the water unless followed by a downward butterfly
  kick
• It is a legal kick if the feet are following the
  hips as the knees pull them forward
• It is not unusual for strong swimmers to push a
  wave of water under their bodies during the first
  pull which results in their legs rising up and
  down - this is legal

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Freestyle Infractions

• Head not up at 15 meters
• Walking on or pushing off the bottom
• Using the lane line or gutter for propulsion
• Failing to touch the wall upon completion of each
  length
• Swimmer may return to touch the wall if and only
  if next length has not been completed

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IM Infractions

• Strokes not swum in proper order
• Proper order fly, back, breast, free
• Violation of stroke and turn rules for each
  stroke
• The stroke for each ¼ of the designated distance
  shall follow the prescribed rules for each stroke
• The turns when changing from one stroke to
  another shall conform to the finish rule of the
  just completed stroke
• The last ¼ of the race must be swum as something
  other than butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke

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Medley Relay Infractions

• Strokes not swum in proper order
• Proper order Back, Breast, Fly, Free
• Violation of stroke and turn rules for each
  stroke
• The last ¼ of the race must be swum as something
  other than butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke
• Early take-off

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Freestyle Relay Infractions

• Violation of freestyle stroke and turn rules
• Early take-off

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Additional Rules

• A swimmer must start and finish in the same lane
• Standing on the bottom during a freestyle race
  shall not disqualify a swimmer, but a swimmer
  must not leave the pool, or walk, or spring from
  the bottom. Standing on the bottom during any
  other stroke shall result in disqualification
• Obstructing another swimmer by swimming across or
  otherwise interfering shall disqualify the
  offender
• Grasping lane dividers to assist forward motion
  is not permitted

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Rules Specific to our League

• 6/Under Exceptions
• This age group is only disqualified (DQ) for
  swimming an incorrect stroke more than 2/3 of one
  length of the pool to gain an unfair advantage
• In order for a Championship meet record to be
  accepted, the swimmer must swim the stroke in
  accordance with the official USA Swimming Rules
  and must receive a Record Eligible slip

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Rules Specific to our League

• 7/8 Exceptions
• This age group is only disqualified (DQ) for one
  hand touches (butterfly and breaststroke) at the
  finish and swimming an incorrect stroke more than
  2/3 of one length of the pool.
• In order for a Championship meet record to be
  accepted, the swimmer must swim the stroke in
  accordance with the official USA Swimming Rules
  and must receive a Record Eligible slip.

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Placement and Rotation of Officials

• Determined by head ST judge
• I recommend end judges
• Dependent upon pool configuration
• Dependent upon the number of officials available
• Generally rotate clockwise after a defined number
  of events

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Jurisdiction of Officials

• Determined by head judge
• End judges only
• End to middle of pool
• Side judges only
• End to middle of pool
• Equal time should be spent observing each of the
  swimmers within your jurisdiction
• If one or more lanes are empty, an equal amount
  of time should be spent on the empty lane(s)
• Your full attention should be on the swimmers
  when they are within your jurisdiction

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Disqualifications

• If youre hesitant in making a call, then it is
  probably too close to make
• The benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer
• After observing a DQ, continue to observe all the
  swimmers in your jurisdiction

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Disqualification Reports

• Event , Heat , Lane
• Confirmed name of swimmer and team
• Violation
• Note Most, but not all, violations are listed on
  the DQ slips
• Your name (Judge)

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Disqualification Reports Contd

• Be prepared to answer three questions
• What was your jurisdiction?
• What did you see?
• Use proper terminology
• Which rule was violated?
• Questions from parents/coaches should be directed
  to the meet director
• Do not become involved in deck squabble

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Talking with the Swimmer

• If opportunity allows, you may speak with a
  swimmer, follow these general guidelines
• Wait until the end of the race
• Move out of the way so you are not holding up the
  progress of the meet
• Inform the swimmer of the violation, dont coach
• Dont touch the swimmer
• Age-group swimmers
• Get down to eye level
• Good, bad, good

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Relay Takeoff Judging

• Dual confirmation is almost always used
• Referee or chief judge will assign positions
• When the toes of the outgoing swimmer leave the
  blocks (wall for in water starts), look down to
  see if the incoming swimmer has touched
• If you observe an early takeoff, mark accordingly
  the swimmer and lane number

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Relay Takeoff Judging Cont.d

• The head judge will compare your observations
  with those of the second takeoff official only
  if both agree as to the same swimmer taking off
  early is it a DQ
• All relay takeoff slips should be turned in to
  the referee/head judge as part of the official
  record
• The head judge usually collects the takeoff slips

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Judging Swimmers with Physical Disabilities

• Judge, in accordance with USA Swimming rules, any
  part of the body that is used
• Do not judge a part of the body that cannot be
  used
• Base your judgment on the actual rule, not the
  swimmers technique

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Remember!

• The swimmer always receives the benefit of the
  doubt
• Call what you see, not what you dont see
• Links to all material can be found at
• http//www.oaktreesharks.us/officials
• Please email questions/comments to
• soren.soe_at_gonsoe.com

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Thank you!
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Breaststroke Situation

• In a breaststroke turn, the swimmer touches with
  his left hand and then touches immediately after
  with his right hand. The turn judge raises a
  hand, signaling a disqualification. The coach
  argues that the turn is legal because both hands
  were on the wall at the same time. Does the
  disqualification stand?
• Recommended Resolution Yes, the rule is very
  clear. USA Swimming Rules and Regulations states,
  At each turn, the touch shall be made with both
  hands simultaneously.... Therefore, the hands
  must touch at the same time, not one after the
  other.
• Applicable Rules 101.1.4

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Breaststroke Situation

• While swimming the breaststroke, a swimmer
  touches the wall at the turn with both hands at
  the same time. However, the swimmers left hand
  was at the top of the wall while his right hand
  touched well below the surface of the water. The
  turn judge raised her hand and the swimmer was
  disqualified. Was the call correct?
• Recommended Resolution No, the call was not
  correct. The breaststroke turn rule states that
  the touch shall be made with both hands
  simultaneously at, above, or below the water
  surface. This allows the swimmers hands to be on
  different levels when they touch the wall. They
  still need to touch the wall at the same time.
  The same is true for the touch at the finish of
  the race.
• Applicable Rules 101.1.4, 101.1.5

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Breaststroke Situation

• During the breaststroke, Bob was disqualified for
  a simultaneous touch with one hand under the
  water and one hand above the water but not in
  line with the water surface. He was on the breast
  at the finish. Is this a valid DQ?
• Recommended Resolution Bob should not have been
  disqualified and the DQ should be overturned. The
  touch may be made with both hands simultaneously
  at, above, or below the water surface.
• Applicable Rules 101.1.3

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Breaststroke Situation

• To get further distance out of her breaststroke
  pulls, a young swimmers hands are brought all
  the way down to his legs on each pull. Is this
  legal?
• Recommended Resolution It is not legal. The
  hands shall not be brought beyond the hipline,
  except during the first stroke after the start
  and each turn.
• Applicable Rules 101.1.2

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Breaststroke Situation

• Although a breaststrokers head breaks the
  surface of the water during each cycle, she was
  disqualified for not taking a breath during each
  cycle. Is this a valid DQ?
• Recommended Resolution There is no requirement
  to breathe at any specific point of any swim. The
  rulebook states, some part of the swimmers head
  shall break the surface of the water at least
  once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke
  and one leg kick, in that order, except after the
  start and each turn the swimmer may take one arm
  stroke completely back to the legs and one leg
  kick while wholly submerged. There should be no
  disqualification
• Applicable Rules 101.1.2

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Butterfly Situation

• A swimmer in butterfly moves too close to a lane
  line. During the recovery portion of an arm
  stroke the swimmers right arm hits the lane line
  causing the right arm to trail the left arm over
  and into the water (alternating action). However,
  the swimmer then pulls both arms back
  simultaneously during the propulsive portion of
  the arm stroke. The stroke judge signals a
  disqualification. Is this a valid DQ?
• Recommended Resolution This was a correct call.
  In the butterfly both arms must be brought
  forward over the water and pulled back
  simultaneously. In this case, the swimmers arms
  were not brought forward over the water
  simultaneously. The fact that the lane line
  prevented the swimmer from recovering both arms
  simultaneously is not germane to the judging of
  the stroke.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2, 103.13.1

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Breaststroke Situation

• A swimmer is disqualified for swimming out of
  cycle. The stroke and turn judge indicates that
  the swimmer swam with simultaneous arm stroke and
  leg kick from the start of the race when the
  rules require the swimmer to swim with one arm
  stroke and one leg kick in that order. The coach
  claims that being out of cycle means that the
  swimmer clearly started the race with a leg kick
  prior to the first arm stroke and that swimming
  simultaneous arm stroke and kick is not a
  violation of 101.1.2. Should the DQ stand?
• Recommended Resolution The usual occurrence of
  the cycle violation is at the beginning of the
  race when the swimmer begins with a leg kick
  rather than an arm stroke. However, the cycle
  rule does apply to the entire swim in that the
  swimmer cannot have two arm strokes without an
  intervening leg kick and vice-versa. During the
  breaststroke, the leg kick normally occurs during
  the recovery phase of the arm stroke. A referee
  would need more information on the actual
  sequence of each part of the kick and stroke to
  be sure that the swimmer had two consecutive legs
  kicks or arm strokes. With the above information,
  the DQ should not be allowed.
• Applicable Rules 101.1.2, 101.1.3

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Butterfly Situation

• After the start of a butterfly event, a swimmer
  incorrectly believes that there has been a
  recall. He stands up but, realizing that no one
  else has stopped, he then resumes swimming. Is
  there a disqualification?
• Recommended Resolution Yes. Any swimmer who
  stands up in a stroke other than freestyle will
  be disqualified.
• Applicable Rules 102.10.5

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Butterfly Situation

• Near the finish in a butterfly race, a swimmer
  starts his final stroke and finds himself too
  close-to the wall to make a full recovery, so he
  ducks his head under and reaches forward
  simultaneously with both hands underwater from
  the breast to touch. Is this legal?
• Recommended Resolution No, this is illegal
  according to USA Swimming Rules and Regulations.
  "Both arms must be brought forward over the
  water...."
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2

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Butterfly Situation

• A swimmer in butterfly takes a simultaneous
  two-arm pull, kicks several times with her arms
  at her sides, brings both arms simultaneously
  forward over the water, keeps her arms stretched
  out in front of her for several kicks and then
  does another simultaneous two-arm pull. She
  repeats this process throughout the swim. Should
  she be disqualified?
• Recommended Resolution There should be no
  disqualification. There is no rule requiring an
  arm stroke between leg kicks. The swimmer may
  kick as many times as desired between strokes as
  long as both legs kick simultaneously.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2, 101.2.3

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Butterfly Situation

• A swimmer has a hard time bringing her arms
  completely out of the water during the recovery
  portion of the butterfly. Only half of her arm
  clears the water surface. The official on the
  turn end of the pool disqualifies her for not
  recovering her arms completely out of the water.
  The coach goes to the Referee and protests the
  call. Was the call proper?
• Recommended Resolution No. Where the rule
  states, Both arms must be brought forward over
  the water and pulled back simultaneously, any
  part of the arm recovering over the water is
  sufficient for satisfying this rule.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2

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Butterfly Situation

• A swimmer likes to keep his feet separated while
  kicking to the surface of the water at the
  beginning of the butterfly. He was disqualified
  for not having his feet and legs together while
  he was doing the butterfly kick. Is this a valid
  disqualification?
• Recommended Resolution No. The legs or the feet
  do not need to be on the same level.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.3

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Butterfly Situation

• In the butterfly a swimmer approaching the finish
  takes a stroke, recovers and then dives for the
  wall doing a butterfly kick all the way in. As
  part of the dive, he submerges completely prior
  to touching the wall. Is this an infraction?
• Recommended Resolution As long as the turn judge
  can clearly see the entire body of the swimmer is
  fully submerged, then the swimmer should be
  disqualified. The rules state that the swimmers
  head must break the surface of the water by the
  15-meter mark and must remain on the surface
  until the next turn or finish.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2

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Butterfly Situation

• A swimmer in the butterfly enters the water at
  the start and swims on her side without going
  past vertical toward the back. She performs a
  kick with both legs moving simultaneously without
  alternating but moving from side to side. The
  turn judge at the start end calls a
  disqualification stating that the swimmer did not
  perform a kick with an up and down motion. Should
  the DQ be accepted?
• Recommended Resolution The DQ should not be
  accepted. The view of the kick as up and down is
  relative to the swimmers body.
• Applicable Rules 101.2.2, 101.2.3

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Backstroke Situation

• A swimmer in backstroke who has gone past
  vertical with the shoulder makes the backstroke
  turn but fails to touch the wall and sculls back
  to touch. The turn judge reports this as a
  disqualification. Is this a valid DQ?
• Recommended Resolution Yes.
• Applicable Rules 101.3.3.

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Backstroke Situation

• During the backstroke a swimmer approaches the
  turn. When the swimmer moves past vertical
  towards the breast to make a flip turn, he finds
  himself in contact with the wall. With out doing
  a flip turn the swimmer leaves the wall past
  vertical towards the back. What action should the
  turn judge take?
• Recommended Resolution No action is required.
  During the turn the shoulders may be turned past
  vertical toward the breast after which a
  continuous single arm pull or a continuous double
  arm pull may (not required) be used to execute
  the turn. As the turning action was continuous,
  there should be no disqualification.
• Applicable Rules 101.3.3

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Backstroke Situation

• After passing under the flags and preparing for a
  turn during a 100-yard backstroke event, a
  swimmer turns past the vertical towards the
  breast and extends his arm while kicking. He does
  not take an arm pull but continues to kick into
  the wall then executes a flip turn, leaving the
  wall on his back. Should he be disqualified?
• Recommended Resolution The swimmer should be
  disqualified for a non-continuous turning action.
  As there is no initiation of the turning action
  after the shoulders pass vertical, the turning
  action is not continuous. The fact that the
  swimmer was kicking has no bearing on the
  disqualification.
• Applicable Rules 101.3.3

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Freestyle Situation

• A swimmer likes to swim the butterfly. He would
  like to do the butterfly during the freestyle
  event. An official tells his coach that he can
  swim butterfly, but he can¹t alter the stroke at
  any time during the race. Was this a correct
  statement made by the official?
• Recommended Resolution No. In an event
  designated as freestyle the swimmer may swim any
  style. In a medley relay or an individual medley
  event, freestyle means any style other than
  butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke.
• Applicable Rules 101.4.2