Officials

Technical Officials

Technical officials are an essential part of St Neots Swans Swimming Club. They enable the club to run its own swim meets and to support other open meets and galas that the club attends. Without officials, competitions simply do not take place.

Our officials help ensure every event is safe, fair and professionally run. The club is always looking for new volunteers who are willing to train as technical officials, and we fully support prospective officials throughout their training. The club will fund the relevant training courses required.

Typical officials’ roles include:

• Timekeeper

• Judge Level 1

• Judge Level 2

• Judge Level 2S (Starter)

Becoming an official is a rewarding way to support the club and to learn more about the sport.

Swim England Training Pathway

Swim England, in partnership with British Swimming, provides a structured training pathway for technical officials. Below is an overview of the qualifications and training requirements.

Timekeeper

This is the entry-level qualification for officiating. Training typically includes a short theory session, followed by a practical poolside assessment. The minimum recommended age for Timekeeper training is 14.

Judge Level 1

Judge Level 1 is the first full technical officials’ qualification after Timekeeper. The training begins with an online theory module, after which candidates are issued with a practical logbook for mentored poolside experience. Candidates are normally expected to complete the qualification within a defined period (usually 11 months).

Judge Level 2

Judge Level 2 focuses on the skills of judging strokes, turns and finishes in more depth. To begin Level 2 training, candidates must:

• Be at least 16 years old

• Already hold the Judge Level 1 qualification

• Have completed at least 20 hours of poolside experience as a qualified Judge Level 1

Training consists of further mentored poolside sessions and completion of a workbook before final assessment.

Judge Level 2S (Starter)

Judge Level 2S is the progression route for those wishing to qualify as a Starter. To begin Level 2S, candidates must:

• Be Judge Level 2 qualified

• Have completed at least 20 hours of post-qualification experience as a Level 2 judge

Training includes mentored starter practice followed by a final practical assessment.

Useful Documents and Resources

Below are useful resources for training and reference:

• East Region Technical Officials Training

• Technical Officials Training Courses

• World Aquatics Competition Regulations

• Disqualification Reporting Form (PDF)

• General Resources for Technical Officials

• Contemporary Issues: Officials Awareness Module

• Technical Officials Licence Applications and Renewals

• Big Learns & Top Tips from Swans Technical Officials

Get Started

If you are interested in becoming a technical official and supporting the club at training sessions, galas and open meets, we would love to hear from you.

Simply complete our  Join Us Form*, and a member of the officials’ team will contact you with the next steps.

*Please note that we are only able to onboard new officials who are current club members, parents or guardians of members, or who have an existing affiliation with a Swim England–accredited club.