Open Water Official Certification
Open Water Official Certification Requirements
updated 03/2021
Open Water Judge
- Minimum age 18, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
- Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Judge Test with a score of 80% or better prior to attending an OW clinic/event.
- Must attend a pre-race briefing
- 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.
- Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Referee
- Minimum age 21, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
- Previous certification as an OW Judge
- Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
- Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
- Must apprentice on the water with a certified OW Referee for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
- Must be certified as a USA-S S&T Official
- Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Administrative Official
- Minimum age 21, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
- Previous certification as an OW Judge
- Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
- Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
- Must apprentice on land with a certified OW Referee who has experience as Administrative Referee for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
- Evaluation by evaluator/mentor and/or OW Referee to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.
Open Water Starter
- Minimum age 19, current with USA-S membership, BGC and APT
- Previous certification as an OW Judge
- Pass the USA Swimming Open Water Referee Test with a score of 80% or better
- Must attend OW clinic/pre-race briefing
- Must apprentice on the water with a certified OW Referee/Starter for a minimum of one (1) OW Event
- Must be certified as a USA-S S&T Official
- Evaluation by trainer(s) and/or Referee(s) to be reported to LSC Officials Chair or Certification Officer.