2022 Steps to becoming a Certified USA Swimming Official within the Georgia LSC (Stroke & Turn Judge)
Listen to a recorded version of the GA USA Official Stroke and Turn Judge class.
Take the Stroke and Turn official’s test located on the USA Swimming website www.usaswimming.org.
a. The tests are located under “Officials” > “Online Testing”. The test is open book, and you can either use a rule book or the PDF version on the rulebook available on the USA Swimming website. b. TO BEGIN , go to www.usaswimming.org > Select Deck Pass Login/Register > GET STARTED > Complete Registration Page [Unique SERNAME/PASSWORD for YOURSELF – Do Not use your child’s USA Login]. c. Click the Officials tab; then Online testing d. START AN OLINE TEST > Start Test (Select Certification – Stroke & Turn/Timer) Check [I Agree] > NEXT e. Fill in Areas – Note: leave USA ID blank. – Select GEORGIA SWIMMING > f. PROCEED TO THE TEST. g. The test must be passed with a grade of 80% or higher and can be taken multiple times. The test results are emailed to the Georgia Swimming Officials Chair, and the training coordinator. Email cwasmuth@comcast.net completion. (Must be 80% or higher) 3. Clarice and/or your trainer will email you an apprentice form once you have taken and passed your test. You must take this apprentice form with you to each USA meet until you have an Official GA Certification Card. 4. You must apprentice at five (5) sessions, at two (2) different Georgia Swimming Sanctioned meets. There you will work with an experienced official, to go over what happens during a swim meet and how the job is performed on deck. You should endeavor to work with different officials, so you can make the most of your experience during your apprenticeship. At the end of each session, you will have an apprentice form signed by the meet referee. Once this form is completed, you send a copy of it to the certification chair & training coordinator, and your USA Swimming credentials will be entered and activated. 5. Before you can be a certified official, you must join USA Swimming. You may start apprenticing prior to joining USA Swimming. Go on-Line to Georgia Swimming (https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?_tabid_=0&team=lscszgs). Click on the Registration tab. Go to the middle of the page and click Online Officials/Non-Athlete Registration and pay $76 via check or $76 via PayPal and submit the form: https://www.teamunify.com/TabGeneric.jsp?_tabid_=106783&team=lscszgs 6. This a yearly process to stay certified as a USA Official. (OPEN Registration begins September 1 every year) 7. USA Swimming officials are required to pass a background check. Unfortunately, background checks for other organizations will not meet USA Swimming’s requirements. The check costs $38, and the links to the background check are located on the USA Swimming Website under officials. There is a link on the main officials’ page to the background check section: www.usaswimming.org/backgroundcheck This is a mandatory BI-ANNUAL requirement to remain certified. 8. Concussion Training (free) – One and done: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61129/concussion-in-sports Send your completed concussion form to Ed Saltzman at swimsalt@bellsouth.net 9. You must complete Athlete Protection Training (APT). Due to new Safe Sport Rules – you must do this within 60 days of your 1st apprentice session on a deck. You must join USA Swimming as a nonathlete member prior to taking the APT - see step #6. https://www.usaswimming.org/utility/landing-pages/safe-sport/apt This is free and required yearly. (The first time takes about 2 hours and renewing takes about 30 minutes) Once you complete all these steps, you email the complete apprentice form to: 1. the Training Coordinator (Clarice Wasmuth) cwasmuth@comcast.net 2. the Certification Coordinator (Doug Kintz) cdkintz@earthlink.net 3. the Officials Chair (Ed Saltzman) swimsalt@bellsouth.net
