JUDGE OF STROKE, INSPECTOR OF TURNS

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JUDGE OF STROKE, INSPECTOR OF TURNS HEAD LANE
TIMEKEEPER
July, 2007
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Our schedule for this clinic is as follows

• Function of Judge of Stroke
• Function of Inspector of Turns
• Filling out the Card or Disqualification Form
• Head Lane Timer
• Overview of all Strokes
• Individual Medley
• Relay
• Questionnaire

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• The Judge of Stroke

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Function of Judge of Stroke

• Inspect the technique of the competitor
• Observe the turns and the finishes to assist the
  inspector of turns
• Note all infractions, disqualify offenders
• Inform Referee and Technical Advisor (TA) if a
  SWAD swimmer, of any disqualifications
• Within 15 minutes shall inform the competitor
  and/or coach (if so instructed by the referee)
• May be assigned extra duty of judging relay
  take-over.

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Judge of Stroke
Judge of Stroke

• Turns Judge

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Function of Inspector of Turns

• Observe the swimmer,
• Commencing from the beginning of the last
  armstroke before touching and ending with the
  completion of the first armstroke after turning
• During the touch

• Note all infractions, disqualify offenders
• Inform referee and TA if a SWAD swimmer of any
  disqualifications
• Within 15 minutes shall inform the competitor
  and/or coach (if so instructed by the referee)
• May be assigned extra duty of judging relay
  take-over.

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Judge of Stroke
Turns Judges
Judge of Stroke

• However you may be required to judge both the
  stroke turns

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When serving as both you should be positioned to
move between the side and the end of the pool.

• Strokes and Turns Judge

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More typical is to find Stroke and Turn Judges
observing the turn end of the pool.
Should watch a complete turn one lane at a
time. Insure that you saw the infraction.

• Strokes and Turns Judge

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Filling out the Card
Write DQ clearly across the front of the card.
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Filling out the Card
125 pm
Non-simultaneous touch at the turn
at 50 m
Bob Marley

• On the back of the card,
• Write the time of the occurrence
• Write the distance at which the potential DQ
  occurred
• Use correct wording to describe the potential DQ
• Sign the card Print Your Name

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Disqualification Form

• At Cardless Meets,
• Typically a form with specific locations to be
  completed
• Including,
• The Event number
• The Heat number
• The lane number
• Swimmers name (used in Alberta
• but not at Nationals or Trials)
• The time of the occurrence
• The distance at which the potential DQ occurred
• Use correct wording to describe the potential DQ
• Sign the card
• Present to Referee and TA if a SWAD swimmer
• Ensure swimmer or coach has been told

Hand-out Suggested Wording for DQs
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Head Lane Timer
A Head Lane Timer is a Timer
who is also
Stroke and Turn Certified.
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Judge of Stroke
Assistant Chief Timer
Marshalling Area

Timers

Strokes And Turns
Timers

Timers

Timers

Timers
Judge of Stroke
Chief Timer

• Head Lane Timer

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Head Lane Timer

• Responsibilities
• Checking the swimmers name for each heat
• Checking the swimmers are competing in relays in
  the order stated on the card or lane sheet
• Taking splits ensuring that 3 times (splits)
  are taken on the first leg of a relay
• Ringing the bell on distance events
• Judge relay take-over

These are duties which the Head Lane Timer may
assign prior to the start of the meet.
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Head Lane Timer

• Additional Responsibilities
• Ensuring no one touches the timing pads
• Ensure 3 manual times are collected for swimmers
  in senior events and for swimmers with
  disabilities
• Long Distance Events (800m and 1500m events)
• Verify completed lengths with Chief Timer
• Ensure split time for each lap is recorded
• Bell is rung
• With 2 lengths 5 meters remaining
• Over the right hand lane marker
• Continuously from wall approach to the backstroke
  flags

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Did you know?

• A swimmer may,
• Stop and stand on the bottom of the pool only in
  freestyle
• Hang on to the lane rope (to catch their breath)
  only in freestyle
• Come back under the lane rope if they have moved
  to an incorrect lane (provided in breaststroke
  they take only one stroke)

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However,

• A swimmer may not,
• Walk on the bottom of the pool
• Push off from the bottom of the pool
• Pull on the lane markers

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Overview of all Strokes
The Start The Stroke The Turn
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Breaststroke SW 7
The Start
Swimmers With A Disability (SWAD) ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO DO A DOLPHIN KICK
A swimmer may take a single dolphin kick
followed by a breaststroke kick after the start
and each turn while the swimmer is completely
submerged.
After the start each turn ONE arm stroke is
allowed past the hips. The head must break the
surface of the water by the time the arms have
reached the widest part of the second arm pull.
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
Each stroke cycle must contain one pull and one
kick in that order. During each cycle some part
of the swimmers head must break the surface of
the water.
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
The elbows shall be under the water except for .
the final stroke before the turn, during the
turn and for the final stroke at the finish.
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
During each cycle some part of the head shall
break the surface of the water
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
The feet must be turned outward in the propulsive
part of the kick
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
All movements of the arms are simultaneous and in
the same horizontal plane.
One more time
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Breaststroke
The Turn
THE TOUCH a simultaneous two hand touch.
Head may be submerged.
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Breaststroke
The Turn
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Breaststroke
The Turn
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Breaststroke
The Turn
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Breaststroke
The Turn
A swimmer may take a single dolphin kick
followed by a breaststroke kick after the start
and each turn while the swimmer is completely
submerged.
NO alternating movement.
Swimmers With A Disability (SWAD) ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO DO A DOLPHIN KICK
One more time
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Breaststroke
Questions?
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Backstroke SW 6
The Start
SWAD Swimmers must have their toes below the
water surface at the start.
The head must have broken the surface by the 15m
mark after the start or turn.
The swimmer is in the water facing the start end
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Backstroke
The Stroke
NO movement beyond 90 degree vertical.
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Backstroke
The Stroke
NO movement beyond 90 degree vertical.
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Backstroke
The Turn
At the turn, the swimmer may touch on their back
and MUST leave on their back.
OR the swimmer may roll onto the breast, use a
CONTINUOUS single or double arm pull to initiate
the turn
Kicking into the turn is still allowed.
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Backstroke
The Turn
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Backstroke
The Turn
There is no disqualification for the lifting of
the head during the continuous turn.
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Backstroke
The Turn
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Backstroke
The Turn
When executing the turn, there must be a touch of
the wall with some part of the body.
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Backstroke
The Turn
The swimmer must leave on their back. On the
back is less then 90 degrees.
One more time
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Backstroke
The Finish
At the finish of the race the swimmer MUST touch
the wall while on the back.
The body may be submerged at the touch.
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Backstroke
Questions?
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Butterfly
The Stroke
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Butterfly SW 8
The Start
The swimmer is allowed to take no more than one
arm pull while totally submerged. This must
bring the swimmer to the surface.
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Butterfly
The Stroke
There is no limit to the number of leg kicks
allowed off the start and at each turn
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Butterfly
The Stroke
The head must break the surface of the water by
15 m after the start each turn
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Butterfly
The Stroke
Both arms must be brought forward together over
the water and brought backward simultaneously
throughout the race.
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Butterfly
The Stroke
All up and down movements of the legs must be
simultaneous.
The position of the legs or feet need not be on
the same level, but they shall not alternate in
relation to each other.
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Butterfly
The Stroke
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Butterfly
The Stroke
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Butterfly
The Stroke
One more time
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Butterfly
The Stroke - Arms
SWAD Swimmers MUST recover their arms OVER the
water!!!
Arm Recovery is over general water level.
SWAD Swimmers shoulders MUST be in line with
normal water!
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Butterfly
The Stroke - Arms
Arm Recovery is not over the water.
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Butterfly
The Stroke - Legs
One leg is allowed to be carried higher than the
other.
The Dolphin kick is the only legal kick
SWAD Breaststroke kick is allowed
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Butterfly
The Stroke Legs
Alternating kick (flutter) is not allowed.
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Butterfly
The Turn
Must make a two hand, simultaneous touch.
Arms must be recovered over the water on the
touch.
This picture shows an underwater recovery which
is NOT permitted
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Butterfly
Questions?
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Freestyle SW 5
The Start
The start is from the blocks. Some part of the
head must have broken the surface by the 15m
mark after the start or turn.
The stroke the swimmer may swim any style or
combination the stroke is judged as a freestyle
stroke. Some part of the swimmer must break the
surface throughout the race.
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Freestyle
The Turn
The swimmer must touch the end wall with some
part of the body during the turn.
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Freestyle
The Turn
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Freestyle
The Turn
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Freestyle
The Turn
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Freestyle
The Turn
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Freestyle
The Turn
One more time
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Freestyle
Questions?
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Individual Medley SW 9.1
All strokes, turns and finishes must
be performed within the rules assigned to that
stroke.
The strokes must be swum in proper sequence.
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Medley Relay SW 9.2
All strokes, turns and finishes must
be performed within the rules assigned to that
stroke.
The swimmers and strokes must swim in proper
sequence.
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Medley Relay Takeovers

• Swimmer may start from the blocks or the pool
  deck.
• If warranted the swimmer may start in the water
  (water depth or SWAD).
• The person starting may be in motion as the
  swimmer arrives.
• The person starting may not lose contact with
  block until the arriving swimmer touches the wall.

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Medley Races
The swimmers must swim in the proper
sequence. Any other order is an infraction. The
Free style leg must be front crawl, or a stroke
other then fly, breast, or back.
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Questionnaire

• Please take 30 minutes to complete the
  questionnaire
• Please use the answer sheet.
• We will use the questionnaire for the correct
  answers.
• Remember! There may be one or more correct
  answers for each question.

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1. The Judge of Stroke has authority/responsibilit
y to

• Also serve as an Inspector of Turns
• Disqualify swimmers for any infraction of the
  stroke rules which he observes within his
  assigned zone
• Serve as lane timer, if so assigned
• If directed by the Referee, inform the swimmer or
  his coach of each disqualification and provide
  the rationale for the DQ
• Advise swimmers of incorrect/inefficient
  technique
• Inform the swimmer before he completes his race
  that he is going to be disqualified
• Confer with the Referee/TA or other Judges of
  Stroke as necessary.

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2. The Inspector of Turns has the
authority/responsibility to

• Observe and judge the legality of the approach,
  the touch and push-off of each turn in his
  designated lanes
• Disqualify swimmers for infractions of the Turn
  Rules which he observes within his assigned zone
• Serve as relay take-over judge, if so assigned.

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3. The Judge of Stroke should be positioned

• Along the side of the pool
• At the starting or turning end of the pool,
  overlooking the centre lanes
• At the table with the Clerk of Course.

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4. The Inspector of Turns should be positioned

• At the starting or turning end of the pool,
  overlooking the lanes to be judged
• Along the side of the pool, between the
  backstroke flags
• At the table with the Chief Finish Judge.

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5. When serving as both Judge of Strokes and
Inspector of Turns, you should be positioned

• Where you can move between the side and the end
  of the pool
• Mid-way along each side of the pool
• High in the stands where you can observe the
  entire pool.

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6. In BREASTSTROKE events, the swimmer can
legally

• Swim with the head submerged for the entire race
• Swim with the head above the surface of the water
  at all times
• Swim with the head submerged, provided it breaks
  the surface of the water at least once during
  each complete stroke cycle
• Dive into the wall, submerging the head on the
  touch
• Keep the head submerged after the start or turn,
  providing it breaks the surface before the widest
  part of the second arm pull is reached
• Have the elbows above the water for the final
  stroke before the turns, during turns and at
  final stroke at the finish.

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7. In BREASTSTROKE events, the swimmer can
legally

• Touch with one hand before the other at the turn
• Touch with both hands simultaneously but at
  different levels
• Touch with both hands simultaneously above, below
  or at the waters surface
• Allow the shoulders to leave the horizontal plane
  before completing the touch.

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8. In BREASTSTROKE events, the swimmer

• May be on the side when coming out of a turn,
  after the feet lose contact with the wall, before
  beginning the first arm-pull
• May take two complete strokes (arm pulls and leg
  kicks) before breaking the surface of the water
• May use a single dolphin kick followed by a
  breaststroke kick, while wholly submerged after
  the start and each turn
• May permit the heels to break the surface of the
  water
• May use the flutter kick
• Must use the dolphin kick throughout he race
• May recover the arms on, under, or over the
  surface of the water, providing the elbows remain
  beneath the surface
• May fully extend the arms beyond the hip line
• May take a complete stroke cycle underwater for
  the purpose of returning to the correct lane.

Not allowed in SWAD
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9. In BACKSTROKE events, the swimmer may legally

• Use a double arm pull
• Use an alternating arm stroke
• Use an inverted frog or dolphin kick
• Use a flutter kick
• Turn his shoulders past the vertical during the
  stroke
• Be submerged after the start and after each turn,
  provided the head breaks the surface of the water
  by the 15m mark
• Turn onto the breast and immediately initiate a
  continuous turning motion
• Scull towards the wall, if he has missed the
  touch, as long as he/she did not leave the back
  during the turn
• After initiating a continuous turn, lift the head
  to determine the walls location without
  interrupting the continuous nature of the turn.

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10. In BACKSTROKE events, the swimmer may

• Touch with both hands at the turn or finish
• Touch while on the back, roll on to the front,
  grab the gutter and push off on the back
• Turn before touching the end-wall with the
  foremost part of the body
• Turn his shoulders past the vertical at the final
  touch
• Dive into the wall and touch below the surface
  while still on the back
• Be on the breast when leaving the wall after a
  turn, but return to the back before starting the
  first leg kick
• Kick while still submerged, after a turn
• Kick during a continuous turn.

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11. In BUTTERFLY events, the swimmer may legally

• Take more than one kick after the start and each
  turn before taking the first arm pull
• Use flutter kick
• Use the frog kick
• Alternate between dolphin and frog kick at will
• Swim with one leg consistently higher than the
  other
• Recover the arms underwater during the normal
  stroke cycle
• Alternate arm strokes
• Trail legs with no kicking.

SWAD
SWAD
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12. In BUTTERFLY events, the swimmer may

• Kick into the wall for a touch with one or more
  correct leg kicks and the arms extended
• Recover the arms underwater to complete a touch
• Touch below the water line
• Touch with the hands at different levels
• Touch with one hand before the other but at same
  level
• Touch with one hand
• Turn on to the side before the touch
• Dip one shoulder going into the turn, before the
  touch
• Be on the side coming out of a turn, before
  beginning the first arm pull
• Complete any number of underwater arm pulls
  before returning to the surface after the start
  or a turn
• Kick while on the side before beginning the first
  arm pull
• At the start and after each turn, the swimmer may
  be submerged provided some part of the head
  breaks the surface of the water before the 15m
  mark

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13. In FREESTYLE events, the swimmer may

• Touch with one hand
• Touch with one foot
• Touch with two hands
• Use the Breaststroke
• Use the dog-paddle
• Push off on the back after a turn
• Push off the bottom after a turn
• Alternate strokes at will
• Swim submerged at the start and after each turn
  as long as the head breaks the waters surface at
  or within the 15 m.

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14. In the INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY, when changing from
one stroke to the next, the swimmer is required
to

• Retain the correct form of stroke until a legal
  touch has been completed
• Attain the correct form of the next stroke in
  accordance with the rules by the beginning of the
  first stroke
• Be free to turn in any manner after a legal touch
  has been made for that stroke
• Remain on the surface of the water.

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15. The last one-fourth of the distance in the
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY or MEDLEY RELAY

• May be the Front Crawl
• May be the Sidestroke
• Shall be the Front Crawl
• Shall be any stroke but the first three of the
  Medley.

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16. The order of the strokes for the MEDLEY RELAY
is

• Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle
• Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle.

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17. The order of the strokes for the INDIVIDUAL
MEDLEY is

• Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle
• Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle.

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18. A Judge of Stroke/Inspector of Turns may
disqualify a swimmer for any stroke or turn
infraction which he personally observes

• Whether or not the swimmer is in his assigned
  zone
• Only if the swimmer is in his assigned zone.

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19. A Judge of Stroke/Inspector of Turns shall,
unless otherwise instructed, report the
disqualification directly (verbally) to the

• Meet Referee
• Chief Finish Judge
• Session Referee/TA
• Chief Timekeeper
• The swimmer/coach within 15 minutes of the
  infraction, if so instructed by the referee.

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20. A swimmer shall be disqualified for

• Standing on the bottom of the pool except in
  freestyle
• Walking on the bottom of the pool in the
  direction of the race
• Using a stroke other than that specified for that
  event
• Pulling on a lane marker in the direction of the
  race
• Pulling along the side of the pool in the
  direction of the race
• Leaving the water and then re-entering to
  complete the race
• Holding on to a lane marker or pool wall to catch
  his breath
• Interfering with the progress of a swimmer in
  another lane
• Pushing off the bottom in the direction of the
  race
• Breaking the stroke or the orientation of the
  stroke during the race except in freestyle.

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21. In a relay event, when a relay take-over
judge observes an early take-over, he should

• Immediately inform the remainder of the team that
  they have been disqualified
• Wait until the end of the race before informing
  the team about the disqualification
• Immediately inform the Referee and TA if a SWAD
  swimmer
• Inform the Referee/TA at the end of the race.

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22. In a relay take-over, the next swimmer

• May start from the blocks or the pool deck
• May start in the water when circumstances warrant
  (water depth/SWAD)
• May be in motion before the touch is made as long
  as the toes are in contact with the block or
  side
• May return and touch the wall if he feels that
  his take-over was too early.

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23. When a Judge of Stroke/Inspector of Turns
notes the details of a potential DQ on the
swimmers card, he should also

• Indicate on the front of the card that the
  swimmer is DQd (i.e. a rubber stamp, bold
  diagonal line, etc.)
• Sign the card
• Indicate the time the disqualification occurred
• Record the distance at which the infraction
  occurred.

NOTE IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT, DO NOT DISQUALIFY
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24. Some of the responsibilities of the Head Lane
Timekeeper are to

• Ensure that the assigned swimmer is in his lane
• Ensure that the correct time card is being used
  for each heat
• Determine the finish time of the winner of each
  heat
• Ensure that the correct times are being read and
  recorded in his lane
• Determine the official time for his lane (when
  directed by the Chief Timekeeper)
• Ensure that one timer takes split times
• Determine the placing of the swimmer in his lane
• Notify the Chief Finish Judge, as directed, if
  the swimmer has made an apparent light touch
• Operate the lap counters in long distance events
• Judge the legality of relay take-over
• Act as Turn Inspector if qualified and assigned
• Ensure the swimmer in his lane is informed of his
  official time.

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25. When an automatic judging and timing system
is in use, the Head Lane Timekeeper should

• Ensure that no one inadvertently contacts the
  touch pad
• Ensure that three manual times are provided
• Transcribe the automatic time from the display
  board onto the time card.

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26. In long distance events, the Head Lane
Timekeeper shall

• Verify the number of completed lengths with the
  Chief Timekeeper before ringing the bell
• Delegate responsibility for tracking the number
  of lengths and ringing the bell to another
  Timekeeper
• Advise the swimmer in his lane of the number of
  laps he has completed
• Ensure that the split time for each lap is
  recorded (on the time card or other official
  form).

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27. The bell for the bell lap

• Shall be rung when the swimmer has two lengths
  and 5 meters still to be swum
• Shall be rung over the right-hand lane marker
• Shall be rung continuously as the swimmer
  approaches and leaves the wall (from the
  backstroke flags to the backstroke flags)
• Shall be rung for 800m and 1500m events only.

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28. When judging takeovers, the Head Lane
Timekeeper shall

• Observe the touch-out and take-off from above the
  lane
• Keep one finger in contact with the toe of the
  swimmer on the block
• Advise DQd swimmers immediately, even before the
  race is completed
• Observe the take-over from the side of the pool.

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Always give the swimmer the benefit of doubt.
You may be deceived by a splash
You must be absolutely sure.
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• Thank you.

Approved by the Alberta Officials Committee We
would like to acknowledge the initial work on the
power point presentation done by Swim Ontario