RAFSA Officials

Supporting the RAF Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Teams is a small but successful band of officials from all service backgrounds and ranks. We participate at all RAF and Inter-Service events – both pool and open water, where the officiating team provide the necessary infrastructure for these competitions to be held successfully.

So, what do the officials do? For any competition the officials provide guidance and regulation; they ensure the rules of the sport are enforced fairly and impartially, and that the event is conducted safely. All RAF Swimming, Diving and Water Polo competitions are held in accordance with the rules of the sport as detailed by the amateur swimming association and FINA.

There are 4 basic levels of qualification for a poolside technical swimming official:

· Timekeeper: Introduction to the world of the swimming official. Competent with a stop watch and understands the poolside procedures required.

· Judge Level 1: Next step up, and first level of British qualification. Encompasses the role and duties of Timekeeper, Chief Timekeeper and Inspector of Turns.

· Judge Level 2 and 2S: Second level of British qualification. Knows the laws of the various strokes, is able to place the finishing order of an event and, if Judge level 2S, is also qualified to act as the starter.

· Referee: Must already be qualified at Judge Level 2S. Has overall responsibility for running the event safely and fairly.

There are additional officials’ qualifications for those involved with Open Water swimming:

· Open Water Official: The responsibilities of the Timekeeper, Finish Judge, Turn Judge, Race Judge, Course Officer, Safety Officer and Assistant Referee are unique to this element of swimming, and require individuals to receive appropriate training and mentoring in their application.

· Open Water Referee: Must already be qualified as an Open Water Official. As for a pool event, has overall responsibility for running the event safely and fairly.

For Water Polo different officiating skills are required. Water Polo qualifications cover:

· Table Official: No game can operate without a Timekeeper and secretary. These have responsibility for monitoring the progression of the game and recording the scores and infringements awarded against players.

· Water Polo Referee: Has absolute control over the game. Often referees work as a team of two, one each side of the pool.

Backing up these posts are other "non-technical" officials such as recorders and announcers. These do not require any particular qualification, but are still vital for the successful running of an event.

So who becomes a swimming or water polo official? Many parents are drawn to the role whilst watching their offspring progress competitively. Others are swimmers who see officiating as a way to remain involved with the sport they love when their own competitive edge has been dulled. Whatever your background, choose to become an official for the right reasons, and invariably both yourself and the sport will benefit for a long time. To become an official requires training, and to receive the correct level of tuition requires a certain amount of dedication and fairly regular involvement with a club in order to develop and maintain skills to an appropriate standard. Unfortunately the RAF does not conduct sufficient events to facilitate full ‘in-house’ development of our own swimming officials, though we welcome newcomers who wish to learn more about officiating at our competitions.

Officiating at service events is not just something limited to serving personnel. In order to ensure all the required positions are filled, we also enlist support from old colleagues, qualified spouses and local club officials. There is always a need for new officials to help us continue to achieve success; therefore do not be afraid of volunteering your services.

If you would like to know more about officiating with the RAF, please contact the RAF Officials Secretary:

Flt Sgt Paul Kendall, Tel 95951 7561, Email: MRMFWD-FSWSNCO5@marham.raf.mod.uk

For information of a more general nature, the British Swimming website has information about how to locate your local swimming club here. To read more about pool officials training please go here. To read more about open water officials training please go here. To find out about Water Polo officials training please go here. To find out how to become involved with Disability Swimming please go here.