Swim Meet Chief Judge Protocol: One Method

Last updated on June 23rd, 2022 at 06:30 pm

A swim meet referee may choose to use an official, or officials, in the chief judge role at a meet.  There are many ways to use this position. Influencing factors may include the number and experience of available officials, pool configuration, and the level of swimmers attending the meet, among others. Below is one way a chief judge could work. It assumes the availability and use of radios.

Preparation During Swim Meet Warm-ups

• Unless already done, receive an assignment, jurisdiction, and any other instructions from meet referee.
• Find out how the referee would like the disqualification reported: to the swimmer or the coach. If instructed to tell the swimmer, find out what to do if holding a swimmer, or relay, for a pending disqualification that is taking a long time to resolve. Possible resolutions could include:
  • Asking the swimmer to return after she or he gets warm clothes on, or
  • Asking the swimmer to return after finishing his or her warm-down, or
  • Notifying the coach instead of the swimmer, or
  • Another way specified by the referee.
• Get needed paperwork and other supplies. (Pencil/Pen, Clipboard, etc.)

Chief Judge “Possible Infraction” Processing: One Method

• As the swimmers approach your area of jurisdiction, watch your assigned officials
• If a hand goes up, immediately move to that area while informing the deck referee via radio. Say, “Possible disqualification (your end of the pool – turn or start) and the lane assignment(s) of the official (Example: lane(s) 1, 2, 3 or 1-4, etc.) If it was a stroke official who raised a hand, state which side of the pool (Example: lane 1 side or lane 8 side.)
• First thing after getting to the official, find out the lane in question. Then, radio the lane number to the deck referee. If multiple using chief judges, this also gives the chief judge who will tell the swimmer of the infraction, time to move into place to stop the swimmer before he or she leaves the area after the race.
• Ask the official
  • What lane?
  • What is the call?
  • When did it happen? (Was it within their assigned jurisdiction?)
  • What did you see?
  • If needed, talk with the official about the call. More questions may be asked, including what the whole body was doing.
• Once you have a clear picture of the infraction, call it into the deck referee on the radio.  State the event, heat, and lane along with the infraction using rule book language. At the end of the call, either “recommend acceptance” or state “needs further discussion.” If, the official decides to rescind the call, call in the event, heat, and lane, then say, “no call.”
• If the deck referee accepts the call, write-up the disqualification. When swimmers are out of the calling official’s jurisdiction, have the official sign it.  Then give it to the deck referee to sign.
• If another chief judge is notifying the athlete:  The notifying chief judge tells the swimmer of the infraction. Then, confirms notification with the deck referee. On the radio say, “Swimmer notified, heat X, lane X.”

Protocol If Using Reserve Officials

• The chief judge sends the reserve official to the judge who raised a hand.  The reserve official takes his or her place. The calling official may now discuss the call with the chief judge. The reserve official fills in for the calling official until that person can resume the post.