Last updated on February 10th, 2023 at 03:29 pm
A good swim meet starter can help the swimmers get a great start for their race. Of course, as with any part of their race, the swimmer is ultimately responsible. But few will question that a good starter can have a positive influence on an athlete’s start. Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, International Swimming Hall of Fame member, ESPN and NBC Sports swimming analyst said this about the start. “The start is a critical place of the race, and critical point in the race, where everything starts [including] the momentum of the race…certainly an official has to be totally focused. Just as the athlete has to be focused on the start, the official needs to be focused on that as well.”
Contents for Swim Meet Starter: Advice on Being a Good One
USA Swimming Resources for Swim Meet Starters
Considering working higher level meets? USA Swimming has a great series called The Professional Official. It provides detailed standards for national level officiating according to position. The Professional Starter has insights useful to starters of all levels. Wondering about false starts? Check out What is a False Start? by USA Swimming.
Additionally, experienced starter and mentor Jayne Spittler of Illinois Swimming shared the following. She also recommends and has authored many of, the training resources for starters, and other officials, available on the Illinois Swimming Officials Clinics and Training page.
Advice on Being a Good Swim Meet Starter
By Jayne Spittler
Patience, patience, patience
- With yourself
- With the swimmers – especially BEFORE you invite them to take their mark
- And with your Ref and other Officials
- Don’t let nerves or surroundings speed up your normal starting routine
- Live your life in slow motion
Focus
- On your job and your job only
- And on each start
- On the swimmers behind the block pre-start
- On the swimmers on the block pre-Take Your Mark (TYM)
- And on the swimmers after TYM
- On the swimmers in the water after the start
- Live your life in a bubble
Stay within yourself/Take care of yourself
- Don’t let other officials distract you
- Preserve your voice
- Get enough sleep
- Get enough fresh air
- Stay hydrated
- Don’t second-guess yourself or let people’s comments get you down
- Be calm, stay calm
- Have a regular routine for each start and USE IT
- Live a self-pampered life
Trust your Head Starter
- Listen to his/her requests and suggestions then try it “his/her” way
- Use him/her as your sounding board and mentor
- Listen
- Let him/her know how you’d like feedback delivered
- Work as a team
- Enjoy a life of support
Relax and smile
- Enjoy the sport we love
- Enjoy the opportunity you’ve been given
- Let your relaxed smile help set up the (non-verbal) communication process between swimmer and starter
- Feel blessed
Conclusion
Swimmers need meets and meets need starters. Thank you for doing what you can to become a good one!
Preparing for a swim meet? Check out The Ultimate Swim Meet To-Do List. Then, get a bird’s eye view of Who does What at Swim Meets. Both include easy-to-follow links to related information. Doing a smaller, simpler meet? Host a High School or Developmental Swim Meet will help.
Need more help? See 20+ Ways to Get Swim Meet Timers and Officials: 20+ Ways to Get them for Swim Meets.
Also, discover a few things you can do to Increase Safety at Swim Meets. Find ideas to implement before your meet as well as last-minute quick and easy tips!