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Open Water Official Certification

Open Water Official Certification Requirements

updated 03/2021

Open Water Judge
  1. Minimum age 18, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
  2. Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Judge Test with a score of 80% or better prior to attending an OW clinic/event.
  3. Must attend a pre-race briefing
  4. Apprentice at an OW event with at least one mentor (who has a minimum of one year experience as OW Judge) in any OW Judge position for a minimum of 1 event.
  5. Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Referee
  1. Minimum age 21, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
  2. Previous certification as an OW Judge
  3. Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
  4. Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
  5. Must apprentice on the water with a certified OW Referee for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
  6. Must be certified as a USA-S S&T Official
  7. Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Administrative Official
  1. Minimum age 21, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
  2. Previous certification as an OW Judge
  3. Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
  4. Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
  5. Must apprentice on land with a certified OW Referee who has experience as Administrative Referee for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
  6. Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Starter
  1. Minimum age 19, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
  2. Previous certification as an OW Judge
  3. Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
  4. Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
  5. Must apprentice on the water with a certified OW Referee/Starter for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
  6. Must be certified as a USA-S S&T Official
  7. Evaluation by trainer(s) and/or Referee(s) to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.