Why Officials?

What are those people in white and blue doing on the pool deck ….

Any sport requires rules and swimming is no exception. Swimming has officials to verify that swimmers:

Wait for the start signal or relay exchange
Do the right stroke within the allowed constraints
Touch the wall at the finish

After that, it’s just GO FAST!

Once you know the rules and become an official you start the progression to become qualified to work in the Olympics (in a few years anyway)! The rules at that level are the same as we use on the pool deck for our kids. This will make you an “expert” at the next Olympic swimming viewing party you attend.

More Information:

http://www.pns.org/officials/

http://www.usaswimming.org and look under the Volunteers tab – The Officials link is on the left side.