Helen & Graham - Qualified as swimming Technical Officials Judge Level 2!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Helen and Graham!  They have both qualified as J2 Officials and have provided this insight to encourage others in the club to step up and get involved for the benefit of all swimmers.

Why?
The technical answer is that Officials are essential to run galas for swimmers to swim. If our Club doesn’t provide Officials for galas, we don’t get invited.  And we were persuaded to do it.  Honestly, you learn a lot about swimming, feel good about supporting young people’s ambitions and well-being and help to make the sport happen.  Plus, free entry to galas, keeping busy, joining a friendly team of Officials, and refreshments - often a free lunch and bottle of wine/box of chocolates too!

What?
Along with the other Technical Officials at a swimming gala, we uphold swimming standards and ensure that all swimmers are competing fairly.  This ranges from timekeeping to judging swimmers’ strokes.  We never disqualify anyone; we report issues to the gala referee who decides whether to DQ a swimmer.

When?
We judge galas that our swimmers attend including County Championships and have supported other local Clubs at their galas. 

How?
We’ve done theoretical online training and then practiced at galas with the support of a mentor who is a qualified Judge.  Then you’re competent and you’re the judge but … you always give the benefit of the doubt to the swimmer, only judge what you see and the referee makes the decision on whether to DQ the swimmer or not.

Top tip
Just do it!  We didn’t know any of the technical rules of swimming before we started.  The training and support is really good.!

More information
With BBATT at the end of November and the County Champs in the new year, this is a great time to qualify as a J1.

This is what you need to do:
Let us know if you’d like to become a J1 Official so the Club can pay for your Swim England membership.  

Bourne End Swimming Club is a member of the Oxford and North Bucks  Amateur Swimming Association (ONB ASA).  As Officials are essential for galas, they pay for training.  To get your training course paid for, sign up here, following all the instructions:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaETy9eCuWNKsiJdk5_1yUmmErZ2CAUCEVpZmZp811cVPc4w/viewform 

Then you sign up for the online training course - find out more about the training on this webpage too. 
https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/swimming-technical-officials-judge-1-theory/

We’ll give you advice on attending upcoming galas such as BBATT to start your practical training.  If you have any questions, please ask and it will be great to have you join us as Swim Officials.

Officiating is an interesting, essential and satisfying swimming role!