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BeCOME a USAS Official for DCS

Our team welcomes volunteers to assist in every aspect of meet and event hosting. The best view of the "action" is on the pool deck as a USA Swimming official. USA Swimming Officials ensure consistent, high-quality and technically correct competitions. And it's fun!


No swimming experience is required. The process is easy but does require some time and commitment. The reward is worth the effort!


Choose one of two paths to begin the officiating journey: the "dry-side" (Admin Officials ensure that all paperwork and times/scoring are correct) or the "wet-side' (Stroke & Turn Officials watch all swimmers and ensure that everyone is swimming their strokes legally).


Regardless of the selected path, all officials must compete on-line training, a background check, and apprenticeship sessions at a sanctioned swim meet(s).


Interested? Email us at admin@swimdcs.com for all of the details!

Learn More

Getting Started as an Official

A brief overview of positions on the pool deck

  • Admininstrative Official (AO)

    Manages the "dry side" of a swim meet, handling event processing, entry and scratch management, seeding of heats, and recording official times and results. Admin Officials supervise other volunteers such as the clerk of course, timing system operators, and data entry (if there are any).  The Admin Official also oversees the generation of psych sheets, heat sheets, and final results. Their primary goal is to ensure accurate data flow from entries to final results, ensuring swimmers receive the correct results.  


  • Stroke & Turn

    Observes swimmer's strokes, turns and finishes to ensure that each athlete adheres to the rules and complies with the requirements of each.  A Stroke & Turn judge's jurisdiction to declare an infraction is determined by the Deck Referee or Chief Judge at the beginning of each session and will vary from meet to meet depending upon the number of Stroke & Turn officials on deck. Online training, an exam, and apprentice sessions at a sanctioned swim meet with a mentor are required for this position.


    The Stroke & Turn position is the starting point of  “wet side” officiating. (We will schedule an info clinic for Stroke & Turn at our pool prior to the first meet of the season). 


  • Starter

    Ensures that each race is fair from the starting block. Works in collaboration with the Deck Referee, invites each swimmer to get ready to race with the words “Swimmers take your marks”  and then initiates the start with a beep and flash from the electronic system. This position requires online training, an exam, and apprentice sessions at a sanctioned swim meet with a mentor. 


  • Meet Referee

    Serves as head of the whole meet.  Directs Admin Official, Starter and Stroke & Turn officials. Training and performance in all positions (“wet side” and “dry side”) is required to achieve this position. 


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