swimming officials

• Swimming Officials


  • Starter
  • Referee
  • Timekeeper
  • Inspector of Turns
  • Clerk of Course
  • Judges of Stroke
  • Finish Judges
• Starter


  Responsible for sending swimmers off the block and making sure each swimmer leaves on time. If a swimmer jumps early, the starter may penalize him or her for a false start. The starter controls the swimmers from the time the referee turns them over to when the race begins.
• Referee


  The single most important officiating role in competitive swimming, the referee has full control. He or she is responsible for enforcing the rules, settling disputes between coaches and other officials and calling swimmers to their respective blocks.
• Timekeeper


  Responsible for recording the time of the swimmer(s) in his or her respective name. There are typically two timekeepers for each lane, each of which uses a stopwatch to record swimmers' times.
• Inspector of Turns


  One inspector of turns is assigned to one or more lanes at each end of the pool. Each inspector of turns ensures that swimmers comply with the relevant rules for turning as well as the relevant rules for start and finish of the race.
• Clerk of Course


  These people line up competitors in correct order, ready for starting.
• Judges of Stroke


  These are located on each side of the pool. They ensure that the rules related to the style of swimming designated for the event are being observed, and observe the turns and the finishes to assist the inspectors of turns.
• Finish Judges


  These determine the order of finish and make sure the swimmers finish in accordance with the rules.
• Swimming competition areas


  • Swimming pool - competitive swimming events can take place in both 25 meter and 50 meter pools
  • Lanes - each swimming pool is split into eight separate lanes of 2.75 m and the outer lanes must have an additional empty space of 40 cm of water
  • Ropes - the outer lanes must have a green rope, four blue ropes for lanes 2, 3, 6 and 7, and three yellow ropes for lanes 4 and 5. The last five meters of the ropes are red to indicate the end of the pool
• Swimming competitors


  • Freestyle
  • Backstroke
  • Breaststroke
  • Butterfly
  • Individual medley
• Unlike athletics, both men and women compete at all the above events.
• The referee is responsible for enforcing rules, making decisions about disqualifications or penalties, and communicating with other officials.
• The chief timer is responsible for timing events using electronic devices and coordinating with other timers.
• The starter is responsible for starting the race on time, ensuring that all swimmers are ready to start, and signaling the start.
• •These determine the order of finish and make sure the swimmers finish in accordance with the rules.

  Finish judges
• •The single most important officiating role in competitive swimming, the referee has full control. He or she is responsible for enforcing the rules, settling disputes between coaches and other officials and calling swimmers to their respective blocks.

  referee