YOUR Officials Commitment

Every MAC family is expected to have at least one family member trained and actively officiating at swim meets throughout the season. MAC hosts many invitational and championship meets each swim season, and we must have a large contingent of qualified volunteer officials to officiate at our meets. MAC meets are attended by hundreds of swimmers and are an important source of revenue for our club. Without volunteer officials, the sport and our club could not survive.

Every MAC family pays a volunteer commitment fee. See the volunteering requirement page for more information. 

Don't worry if you are new to swimming or have never "officiated" before. Officiating at swim meets includes the “on deck” positions such as Timers, Strokes and Turn Judges, Starter and Referee. MAC will train you, and the training counts towards your volunteer points. Training prepares officials to implement technical and administrative rules of swimming and ensures that the competition is fair and equitable to everyone.

OFFICIALS TRAINING CLINICS

Volunteers for all officials’ positions need to be trained at officials training clinics. Clinic sign-up information will be emailed to you and posted on the MAC website. Officials training clinics usually take place in Fall, Winter and Spring.

At least one family member must strive to upgrade officiating skills according to the chart below to move up the official ladder. Attending one clinic per year is considered mandatory.  After completion of your first clinic of the year you will receive a credit of $50 ($20 after course completion and the remaining $30 after working your first session).

Group

Official Levels and Cinics
  OP

 

Certified Level 1 official. Attend Timers & Safety Marshall clinic and Judge of Stroke & Turn clinic

TAG

Certified Level 1 official. Attend Timers & Safety Marshall clinic and Judge of Stroke & Turn clinic.

Bronze/JAG

Certified Level 1 official or above. Attend Timers & Safety Marshall, and Strokes & Turns Judges, and 1 more clinic (Chief Timer, Administration Desk, Chief Finish Judge, etc.).

Bantam/Junior

Certified Level 2 official or above. Attend Timers & Safety Marshall, Strokes & Turns Judges, and 1 more clinic (Chief Timer, Administration Desk, Chief Finish Judge, Starter, etc.).

Senior

Certified Level 2 or 3 official and above.

The officials’ clinics will be run in the following format:

  • MAC in house officials clinics (September and December and/or April)
  • Online officials clinics (email officials@markhamaquaticclub.com for enrollment key)
  • Central Region officials clinics in Fall and Spring

Please report to the Club Officials Chair if you have completed your first officials’ clinics at a Central Region clinic.

MAC-hosted swim meets are an important source of revenue for the club, but some competitions do not generate revenue (i.e. time trials). Parents who have an athlete(s) participating in non-revenue generating time trials are still expected to volunteer as an official. Since entry fees are not charged for time trial participation, volunteering at these events does not necessarily qualify for volunteer credits. The club operating budget will cover administration costs for these competition(s) including rentals, electronics, etc.

MAC is hosting 8 meets in 2023-24. 

For further information regarding officiating please contact MAC’s Officials Chair at officials@markhamaquaticclub.com.

Additional Info

Club Official Development Plan

Officials Certification System

Swim Ontario Links

Officials  positions -   https://www.swimontario.com/officials/positions

Officials Clinics - https://www.swimontario.com/officials/clinics

Officials  Roles - https://www.swimontario.com/officials/roles