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Starter Certification

Starter Certification Requirements

Prerequisites (need to be completed before you can begin on deck training):

  • Age - 18 years or older
  • USA Swimming member in good standing (current registration, APT and BGC)
  • Session and time requirements:
    • Certified as a Stroke & Turn Judge for at least three months
    • Worked a minimum of four sessions at a minimum of two meets as a Stroke & Turn Judge

Certification Requirements (completed within one year of clinic attendance)

  • Complete and pass the Starter Certification Course on the USA Swimming University.
  • Minimum of four apprentice sessions at sanctioned or approved meets
    • At least two different meets
    • At least two different mentors
    • Completion of Starter Evaluation Form after each session affirming satisfactory performance
    • Evaluation Session may be done any time after the 3rd apprentice session (Evaluator List)
    • Note that if evaluation is not successful, the evaluator must submit to the apprentice a written action plan within two weeks and copy the Officials Chair.
    • Members who have five plus years of USA Swimming experience as a 13&O athlete or coach member need only complete half of the on-deck apprentice session requirements provided they show competency in the position, at the discretion of the LSC Officials Chair or designee.
  • Must complete certification within one year of month of the clinic
  • After successful completion of evaluation, submit the Certification Request Form.
  • Certification until: December 31st two years after the year of certification if the certification occurred between January 1st and June 30th of the year of certification. December 31st three years after the year of certification if the certification occurred between July 1st and December 31st of the year of certification

Starter Recertification Requirements

  • Continue to be a USA Swimming Official in good standing (current registration, APT and BC)
  • Qualified recertification sessions** required: eight sessions over a three year period as a starter
  • Complete and pass the Starter Certification Course on the USA Swimming University.
  • Submit the online Officials Recertification Request Form
  • Recertifying extends your certification until December 31st two years after the year of certification if the certification occurred between January 1st and June 30th of the year of certification. December 31st three years after the year of certification if the certification occurred between July 1st and December 31st of the year of certification and recertifies S&T Judge.

** Qualified Recertification Session: Qualified Recertification Sessions are Sessions officiated by certified officials which count towards the Recertification requirements listed in this document. In order for a Session to count as a Qualified Recertification Session, it must meet the following criteria: 1) the Session must include strokes and/or relays; 2) the Session must not be a Time Trial; 3) the Session must not contain only freestyle events, even if including both individual freestyle events and freestyle relays; 4) the Session must occur at a meet which is either a Sanctioned USA Swimming meet, a YMCA meet for which an LSC has issued an approval (as defined in USA Swimming Rule 202.6), or, for no more than 25% of any official’s total required Qualified Recertification Sessions, an NCAA National or Conference Championship meet.