An Interesting Query...

So, you're approached by the mother of a 6-year old female swimmer. Her daughter is the youngest of 3 children and the only girl. Her older brothers are quite accomplished in their respective age groups. The mother explains that her daughter looks up to her older siblings and, like them, wants to swim topless since it's working for them.

Should this be allowed? Will she break any rules? Believe it or not, this was a real question (not here in AMS). Let's have some fun with this. Add your comments as to what you think about this. Should the Referee allow the young girl to swim without a top?

Looking forward to your comments!

A Learning Moment, Regardless of Who the Athlete Is

From time to time, we talk about being fair handed as an Official. Some of us struggle when we officiate a young child, our own child or even a world class athlete. Here's a short video with Jim Naber (those of us old enough remember Jim from the 70's) where he talks about being disqualified at Nationals and his thoughts on being disqualified. In his words, play fair and teach the swimmers the truth. Enjoy this teaching moment...

To view this video, click here.

New Officials Rosters posted

As we approach the beginning of the 2014-2015 Short Course season, I wanted to post the updated Officials Rosters by Club, Name, Referees, Starters and Admin Officials. When you have a chance, look at your information to make sure it's correct. To see the AMS Officials Rosters, click here.

If you see something that's not correct, let me know by emailing me at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you on deck.

Important Change for Apprentice Officials

There is a very significant change for our non-registered Apprentice Officials that your clubs must be aware of...

In the past, AMS Officials trainees have been allowed to be on the pool deck without being USAS non-athlete-Official. In order for them to be a certified official, of course, they had to go through the registration process.

Beginning with the start of the 2014-2015 Short Course season, however, all AMS Apprentice Officials must be registered as Apprentice Officials. The good news...it's free. The bad news...it only lasts for 60 days. This doesn't mean that a trainee must complete their training in 60 days. It does mean that at the end of the 60 days an Apprentice Official must register as a non-athlete member of USAS, complete the Level 2 Background Check and complete the Athlete Protection Training. The USAS online officials tests can be completed at the Apprentice's leisure, once they are ready to be certified and work on deck as an Official.

Click here for the pdf version of the Apprentice Official Registration form.

No Apprentice Official will be permitted on deck without either a valid USAS Apprentice Official registration card or a USAS non-athlete membership card. 

I hope to send out similar information to your club presidents very soon. Let me know if you have any questions.

Short Course Schedule for October and November 2014

Here's the meet schedule for October and November, 2014. If you can officiate at any of these meets, please contact the host team's officials contact and let them know which sessions you can work and your highest level of certification. Try to RSVP as early as possible to alleviate the late night panic by the host teams as their meets approach!

UPCOMING MEETS
October 2014
Date	Meet	Host		Officials Contact
				Name	Email	Phone
4-5	First Splash	ANSC		Andrea Rousseau	arousseau@verizon.net	412-417-9186
4-5	First Splash	WHAT		Anne Countouris	acountouri@aol.com	412-860-1626
11-12	First Splash	FAST		Sue Schon	susan_schon@hotmail.com	412-983-8844
11-12	First Splash	HD		Becky Kass	kpkass@verizon.net	412-215-2789
25-26	Mini/Distance	DLAC		Diane Salvatora	ladidisalvatora@yahoo.com
25-26	Mini/Distance	TST		Kimberly Lynch	kkpsa@earthlink.net	412-952-4746
November 2014
Date	Meet		Host	Officials Contact
				Name	Email	Phone
1-2	Bronze		SFAC	Cindy Hestad	chestad@sfaquaclub.org	412-221-7796
1-2	Bronze		WAAC	Dave Vollmer	dave_sondra@msn.com	724-650-4130
8-9	Silver & Gold		CVSC	Scott Ramsey	stramsey@hotmail.com	412-207-8194
22-23	Mini/Xmas Qual		BPR	Tom Doyle	tdoyle@comcast.net	412-225-4059

Good to be back!

I'm very happy to return as your AMS Officials Chair. New to our group is this blog, a new way of communicating what's going on, rule interpretations and whatever else pops into our collective heads. If you'd like to see something "blogged", let me know. You can email me at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com or try my cell at 412-867-6687.

They say that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes an Officials Committee to lead our AMS officials. I'm excited to introduce you to your 2014-2015 Officials Committee. Typically, LSC's have Officials Committees made up of Referees. There's certainly no harm in that but I wanted to mix it up and get a broader representation on the Committee so I've invited Referees, Starters and Chief Judges to help lead our group. They are (in alphabetical order):

• David Buerger
• Donna Beyerl
• Anne Countouris
• Nikki Heasley
• Kristen Matheny
• Scott Pauley
• Scott Wilshire

We will focus on a number of meaty issues. Here's a sampling of things on the table...

• We will be expanding our training regimen to include clinics for various positions throughout the year. Some of the clinics will be classroom style but some will be on the pool deck so that those of us who are visual learners can see things first hand; 
• We will be introducing an officials clinic for prospective officials which will be less rules based (though that will be part of it) and more open discussion about officiating in general;
• We'll need to develop a stronger training regimen for our Administrative Officials and Chief Judges;
• Recertification begins in 2015 (current certification is due to expire on 12/31/15). We're going to take a look at this process and make sure it serves us well.

There are many other things to be considered by the Officials Committee and we'll keep you informed through this blog of our progress.

Lastly, I wanted to thank John Schaefer for serving as Officials Chair this past year. John devoted a lot of time and energy to the position and breathed new life into our training program. I know you all join me in thanking John for his commitment to AMS and USA Swimming officiating.

I'll be in touch. Count on it!