Officiating is one of the most important jobs at our swim meets! Officials help ensure that our meets are conducted fairly and according to Midlakes rules.
Most officiating positions require completing one Midlakes virtual training. Midlakes offers training for new and returning officials throughout the season.
📚 Check the Midlakes Officiating Training Schedule:
https://mail.midlakesswimleague.org/Officiating.htm
🏊 Official Roles
STROKE & TURN OFFICIAL | Home & Away Meets
Observes strokes, turns, starts, and finishes to ensure swimmers comply with the rules for their assigned stroke. The judge rules on infractions occurring on their assigned side of the pool. Experience Level Required: Beginner to Intermediate experience is appropriate. A short 2–3 hour training course is required before serving as a Stroke & Turn Judge.
STARTER | Home Meets
The Starter conducts the start of each event by announcing the age and stroke, giving the command “Swimmers, take your mark,” and ensuring swimmers are motionless before starting the race with an electronic sound or whistle. The Starter is the sole judge of false starts. Experience Level Required: Intermediate experience is required. A short 2–3 hour training course is required.
MEET REFEREE OFFICIAL | Home Meets
The Referee is the senior official at the meet and is responsible for all deck officials. Experience Level Required: Advanced experience is required. Referees must attend the Midlakes Starter/Referee training for the current year.
CHIEF JUDGE OFFICIAL | Home Meets Optional, but should be filled whenever possible. The Chief Judge provides guidance to Stroke & Turn Judges, checks DQ slips, and assists the Referee. Experience Level Required: Intermediate to Advanced experience is required. A short training course must also be completed.
Note: At some meets, the Starter and Referee roles may be combined.
💙 No previous experience is required to get started! Midlakes provides training so families can learn the rules and feel comfortable serving as officials.
If you are interested in becoming an official, please consider attending a Midlakes training and helping support our swimmers at meets!
We need trained officials from our families to make our meets possible! 🏊♂️👏