Additional Resources

Officials

Welcome new and welcome back returning Officials,
 
I am sorry I missed you at the parent's meeting.  I heard that Kurt and Paris did a great job filling in and I hope they were able to encourage a few new parents to begin the process on becoming a PVS official.
 
I am sending out the following information for officiating with PVS.  I hope you find it useful.
 
First: if you are receiving this email and you do not wish to be on this list please let me know.  I will remove you from my address book if you are no longer involved in officiating with Machine.
 
Our first meet of the season is the Turkey Claus Championship at Takoma on December 3-5.  There are 3 meets scheduled for that weekend so I know that it will be difficult to staff.  So I am starting my begging early.  Please set aside some time that weekend to help out with that meet.  It is always a lot of fun and we use the meet to collect toys for toys for tots so it is always nice to work with the Marines for this important organization.
 
The PVS officiating process has 2 requirements: 1) registration with USA swimming, and 2) Certification in the position.
 
1)      Registration
a)      For all new officials please go to this link -   http://www.pvswim.org/registration/2011_NonAthlete_Form.pdf  for the registration form – print it out, fill it in.  The CLUB initials are MACH.  Provide the form to Paris – Machine picks up the tab for the membership fee.
b)      For returning Officials: if you were registered last year and you worked meets,  the registrar should be sending you a registration form in the mail.  The form will indicate if your fee has been waived ( i.e. did you meet the requirements of working the appropriate number of meets last year)
 
2)      Certification/recertification.
                                                   i.      For all positions officials must take the training clinic.  For the Colorado timing system and the Hy-Tec results positions the clinic needs to be taken only 1 time. For the positions of Stroke & Turn, Starter and Ref, officials must take new or recertifying clinic once every 2 years.  Stroke & Turn clinics given in NVSL count toward the PVS clinic requirement.  If you took a summer clinic with another summer league, let me know and I will check with Rita Page to see if you received credit at that clinic.  If you filled out a PVS registration card at your summer clinic, chances are you will get credit for PVS.  That is the only position where the clinics cross over – starter or ref must be done in a PVS clinic.
       

ii.      For new certification there is a requirement for training in each position
                            Stroke & turn : Serve on-deck as a trainee with a Stroke and Turn Judge (who has been certified for at least one year) at a minimum of four (4) sessions. The four sessions must be at a minimum of two different non-championship meets. All sessions must include strokes other than freestyle.   You must also complete the USA Swimming test requirements.
                         

                            Starter: Be a certified Stroke and Turn Judge in PVS for at least one year. Serve on-deck as a trainee with a PVS certified Starter or Referee at a minimum of five (5) different sessions at a minimum of three (3) non-championship meets. Start sufficient heats at each session to allow Referee to evaluate performance.  You must also complete the USA Swimming test requirement

                            Colorado timing: Perform successfully under the supervision of a certified Colorado Timing System operator at a minimum of 5 sessions at a minimum of two (2) different non-championship meets.  The final session must include an evaluation by a PVS evaluator.
                            Hy-Tek: Perform successfully under the supervision of a certified Hy-Tek operator at a minimum of 5 sessions at a minimum of two (2) different non-championship meets.   The final session must include an evaluation by a PVS evaluator.
                                            

vi.      Referee: Referee positions in PVS are invited positions –For ref you must be nominated by a PVS Club Official's Chairman and/or member of PVS Officials Committee. Retain valid registration with US Swimming as a non-athlete. Be invited to train by PVS Officials Committee. Attend special PVS Officials Clinic for first time Referees. Attend PVS conducted Referee's Clinic. Serve on-deck as a trainee with at least two different Referees (each of whom has been certified for at least one (1) year by PVS.) Train at least six (6) sessions at a minimum of three (3) different non-championship meets.   No more than three sessions may be at intra team, dual or tri meets. The final session must include an evaluation by a PVS evaluator.  Be a certified Hy-Tek operator and Colorado Timing System operator -- see certification requirements for those positions. Must have successfully served at least once as a Chief Judge.   You must also complete the US Swimming test requirements.
                      

v.   Recertification:  If you are unsure when your current certification expires, you can check the expiration date on the PVS Officials Roster at:   http://www.pvswim.org/official/pvsoffros.htm
 
This is the link to the position descriptions/requirements: http://www.pvswim.org/official/certification_requirements.html
 
Now is a good time to double check your activities on the USA Swimming Officials Tracking database.  The link is:
 
http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1516&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
 
There are no certification requirements for timers.  You do not need to register as a USA Swimming non-athlete.  Just come down on deck during warm ups and sign up.  However, if you are a timer and are interested in learning more about competitive swimming, I encourage you to pursue certification as a stroke and turn judge.   
 
Here is the clinic schedule for this fall.  If you are interested in attending, you can pre-register at the link below, or just show up. Clinics for Stroke & Turn, Starter, Colorado, and Hy-tek will be held during the Harvest Moon Meet on Oct 9.  These clinics are convenient if you have a swimmer in that meet.   I also encourage officials to volunteer for that meet.  It is a good opportunity to get back in the swing of things at a meet that is always a lot of fun.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OFFICIAL CLINIC SCHEDULE

This is the link to the clinic schedule for this fall:
 
http://www.pvswim.org/official/officialsclinics.html
 
USA Swimming has developed new mandatory policies as well as recommended best practices for interaction between athletes and adults.  These policies and recommended practices were developed to provide a positive and safe experience for athletes.  Certified officials should be familiar with these new mandatory policies and recommended practices.  The link below provides information on these new policies and recommended practices.  Please review the information when you get a chance.
 
http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1962&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en-US
 
If you have any specific questions about officiating or the upcoming season that I have not answered, please feel free to email me and I will search out the answer. 

I look forward to seeing you on deck this season.

Scott Robinson

officials@machineaquatics.com

USA Swimming Diversity Select Camp Information
Applications Due February 15th, 2012