Judging
Our association is looking for people willing to get the necessary training to become figure and routine judges at our meets. Judging
is a good way for parents to learn more about the sport and contribute to the success of all athletes in our association. We particularly
want to encourage synchro alumnus to consider judging as a way to stay involved and contribute to the future of this sport.
Level 1: Association Judge
After being certified at Level I, you may judge figure and routine competitions at Novice and Intermediate levels. You could be
asked to judge at higher levels in PNA competitions. Any time that you are not judging at a meet, you are asked to practice judge to
gain more experience. You may choose to judge figures only, in which case you would train for Level 1F. Contact your Coach or
Club Representative, or the PNA Officials’ Chair for class dates and times. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age, and must be
USSS members.
Class requirements:
• Minimum age 16
• USSS Membership
• $10.00 Fee payable to PNA
• USSS Rulebook (available online)
Level 1 Certification requirements:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written open-book test (take-home) passing grade is 90%
3. Figure/position (poolside) identification test
4. Pass practice judging figures
5. Pass practice judging routines
Level 2: Association/Age Group Regional Judge
At Level 2, you may judge figures and routines for all age groups at all local competitions, and also at Regional Age Group
championships. Any time that you are not selected for a panel, you are encouraged to practice judge to gain experience. You may
choose to judge figures only, in which case you would train for Level 2F. Contact your Coach or Club Representative, or the PNA
Officials’ Chair for class dates and times. Candidates must be Level 1 judges, at least 16 years of age, and must be USSS members.
Class requirements:
• Minimum Age 16
• USSS Membership
• $10.00 fee payable to PNA
• USSS Rulebook (available online)
Level 2 Certification requirements:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written closed-book test, passing is 85%
3. Figure/position (poolside) identification test
4. Pass practice judging age group figures
5. Pass practice judging age group routines
Levels 3 and above
At Level 3, Judges are qualified to judge figures and routines at Zone and Collegiate Regional meets as well as local competitions.
Meets at this level include Senior Technical Routines and Element Testing.
At Level 4, Judges are qualified to judge U.S. national championship meets.
At Level 5, Judges are considered qualified to judge international competitions. USSS will select judges at this level to be
nominated to the list of judges certified by UANA, the governing body for amateur swimming in the Americas, and/or FINA, the
international governing body for amateur swimming.
Certification requirements for Levels 3 and above:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written closed-book test (85%)
3. Pass practice judging of figures at appropriate meet
4. Pass practice judging of routines at appropriate meet
5. Pass oral examination on figures at appropriate meet
6. Pass oral examination on routines at appropriate meet.
Contact the PNA Officials Chair early in the season to arrange for training and testing.
PNA POLCIES
COACH EDUCATION/TRAINING SUPPORT
Reimbursement shall be made for registration for Coaches College and CCP courses: 100% reimbursement for one coach per club
per event; 50% reimbursement for all other coaches per event.
Reimbursement of fees shall be made for successful completion of Challenge Tests for CCP.
Reimbursement shall be made for other courses or clinics as applied for and approved by the PNA Board of Directors with at least 30
days notice.
MEET MANAGER STIPEND
The Meet Manager(s) for a national or international meet shall receive a stipend plus 10% of any profits after the completion of all
required tasks. Profits shall be determined after the stipend and any commissions as listed in the National Meet Income Policy are
paid. (These shall be considered expenses.)
Stipend shall be $500 for US Collegiates, US Juniors, US Nationals, US Masters. Stipend shall be $1000 for US Age Groups, US
Open, and approved International meets.
The payment shall be the stipend plus 10% regardless of the number of Meet Managers.
NATIONAL MEET INCOME
Club receives commission of 10% for any sponsorship obtained over $500.
Club receives commission of 20% for any ticket sales, when a sales promotion is included in the income/fundraising plans.
Clubs receive 80% of the balance of the event profit apportioned by volunteer hours worked.
Each of the parts of this policy will be considered, amended, and approved as planning begins for each meet.
MEET ETIQUETTE
During Figure Competition:
Keep voices down, whether you are competing or not. The louder your voice is, the more distracted the judges may become.
Stay away from the judges and scoring tables. Do not converse around the judges.
Avoid walking behind figure panels, unless moving to your next figure.
Respect and follow directions of all officials.
Stay aware of the progression of the competition, so that you are in position when it is your turn.
Only athletes, judges, and deck workers are allowed on deck (no coaches, etc.)
During Routine Competition:
Only officials (judges and scoring/timing personnel), athletes, and coaches allowed in the competition area during routine
competition.
While a routine is in progress (music playing), there will be no movement on deck where the competition is taking place, unless you
are a volunteer or meet manager. If you must walk from one end of the pool to another, you must wait for the music to stop.
Cheering:
Cheering is allowed and encouraged, but screaming or shrieking is not appropriate.
If you are standing close to the judges, be considerate by withholding your cheering.
Warm up Pool:
No land drilling in pool. No routine parts/practice allowed.
Quiet lap swimming is the only exercise allowed. Use of the warm-up pool is at the discretion of the meet referee and is dependant
on pool space.
Do not remove your headpiece and bun or de-Knox.
Locker Rooms:
Please keep voices low as sound travels out to the pool.
All athletes are responsible in keeping the locker rooms clean by picking up and/or disposing of all bobby pins, hairnets, rubber
bands, food wrappers, etc. There are always trashcans located in the locker rooms.
De-Knoxing is not allowed.
Be courteous to your team and other teams in the locker room. No horseplay. Be considerate of the amount of space you take up in
the locker room. Everyone competing needs to have the locker room space. When possible, please put bags on deck or in the
bleachers to allow locker room space for those changing.
Pool Deck:
The pool area, including the deck and bleachers, needs to be left as clean as it was found. Toss all garbage, including what others
leave behind.
Keep bags and personal belongings out of the main traffic areas for your safety and the safety of others.
No video cameras on deck.
Our association is looking for people willing to get the necessary training to become figure and routine judges at our meets. Judging
is a good way for parents to learn more about the sport and contribute to the success of all athletes in our association. We particularly
want to encourage synchro alumnus to consider judging as a way to stay involved and contribute to the future of this sport.
Level 1: Association Judge
After being certified at Level I, you may judge figure and routine competitions at Novice and Intermediate levels. You could be
asked to judge at higher levels in PNA competitions. Any time that you are not judging at a meet, you are asked to practice judge to
gain more experience. You may choose to judge figures only, in which case you would train for Level 1F. Contact your Coach or
Club Representative, or the PNA Officials’ Chair for class dates and times. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age, and must be
USSS members.
Class requirements:
• Minimum age 16
• USSS Membership
• $10.00 Fee payable to PNA
• USSS Rulebook (available online)
Level 1 Certification requirements:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written open-book test (take-home) passing grade is 90%
3. Figure/position (poolside) identification test
4. Pass practice judging figures
5. Pass practice judging routines
Level 2: Association/Age Group Regional Judge
At Level 2, you may judge figures and routines for all age groups at all local competitions, and also at Regional Age Group
championships. Any time that you are not selected for a panel, you are encouraged to practice judge to gain experience. You may
choose to judge figures only, in which case you would train for Level 2F. Contact your Coach or Club Representative, or the PNA
Officials’ Chair for class dates and times. Candidates must be Level 1 judges, at least 16 years of age, and must be USSS members.
Class requirements:
• Minimum Age 16
• USSS Membership
• $10.00 fee payable to PNA
• USSS Rulebook (available online)
Level 2 Certification requirements:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written closed-book test, passing is 85%
3. Figure/position (poolside) identification test
4. Pass practice judging age group figures
5. Pass practice judging age group routines
Levels 3 and above
At Level 3, Judges are qualified to judge figures and routines at Zone and Collegiate Regional meets as well as local competitions.
Meets at this level include Senior Technical Routines and Element Testing.
At Level 4, Judges are qualified to judge U.S. national championship meets.
At Level 5, Judges are considered qualified to judge international competitions. USSS will select judges at this level to be
nominated to the list of judges certified by UANA, the governing body for amateur swimming in the Americas, and/or FINA, the
international governing body for amateur swimming.
Certification requirements for Levels 3 and above:
1. Classroom instruction
2. Written closed-book test (85%)
3. Pass practice judging of figures at appropriate meet
4. Pass practice judging of routines at appropriate meet
5. Pass oral examination on figures at appropriate meet
6. Pass oral examination on routines at appropriate meet.
Contact the PNA Officials Chair early in the season to arrange for training and testing.
PNA POLCIES
COACH EDUCATION/TRAINING SUPPORT
Reimbursement shall be made for registration for Coaches College and CCP courses: 100% reimbursement for one coach per club
per event; 50% reimbursement for all other coaches per event.
Reimbursement of fees shall be made for successful completion of Challenge Tests for CCP.
Reimbursement shall be made for other courses or clinics as applied for and approved by the PNA Board of Directors with at least 30
days notice.
MEET MANAGER STIPEND
The Meet Manager(s) for a national or international meet shall receive a stipend plus 10% of any profits after the completion of all
required tasks. Profits shall be determined after the stipend and any commissions as listed in the National Meet Income Policy are
paid. (These shall be considered expenses.)
Stipend shall be $500 for US Collegiates, US Juniors, US Nationals, US Masters. Stipend shall be $1000 for US Age Groups, US
Open, and approved International meets.
The payment shall be the stipend plus 10% regardless of the number of Meet Managers.
NATIONAL MEET INCOME
Club receives commission of 10% for any sponsorship obtained over $500.
Club receives commission of 20% for any ticket sales, when a sales promotion is included in the income/fundraising plans.
Clubs receive 80% of the balance of the event profit apportioned by volunteer hours worked.
Each of the parts of this policy will be considered, amended, and approved as planning begins for each meet.
MEET ETIQUETTE
During Figure Competition:
Keep voices down, whether you are competing or not. The louder your voice is, the more distracted the judges may become.
Stay away from the judges and scoring tables. Do not converse around the judges.
Avoid walking behind figure panels, unless moving to your next figure.
Respect and follow directions of all officials.
Stay aware of the progression of the competition, so that you are in position when it is your turn.
Only athletes, judges, and deck workers are allowed on deck (no coaches, etc.)
During Routine Competition:
Only officials (judges and scoring/timing personnel), athletes, and coaches allowed in the competition area during routine
competition.
While a routine is in progress (music playing), there will be no movement on deck where the competition is taking place, unless you
are a volunteer or meet manager. If you must walk from one end of the pool to another, you must wait for the music to stop.
Cheering:
Cheering is allowed and encouraged, but screaming or shrieking is not appropriate.
If you are standing close to the judges, be considerate by withholding your cheering.
Warm up Pool:
No land drilling in pool. No routine parts/practice allowed.
Quiet lap swimming is the only exercise allowed. Use of the warm-up pool is at the discretion of the meet referee and is dependant
on pool space.
Do not remove your headpiece and bun or de-Knox.
Locker Rooms:
Please keep voices low as sound travels out to the pool.
All athletes are responsible in keeping the locker rooms clean by picking up and/or disposing of all bobby pins, hairnets, rubber
bands, food wrappers, etc. There are always trashcans located in the locker rooms.
De-Knoxing is not allowed.
Be courteous to your team and other teams in the locker room. No horseplay. Be considerate of the amount of space you take up in
the locker room. Everyone competing needs to have the locker room space. When possible, please put bags on deck or in the
bleachers to allow locker room space for those changing.
Pool Deck:
The pool area, including the deck and bleachers, needs to be left as clean as it was found. Toss all garbage, including what others
leave behind.
Keep bags and personal belongings out of the main traffic areas for your safety and the safety of others.
No video cameras on deck.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Volunteers
We depend upon the helpful and dedicated parents of our association to do all the work behind
the scenes to allow our swimmers to compete. While the jobs may not necessarily be fun, they
are essential for the success of our organization and we encourage all parents to step forward at
meets where their child is participating to fill the many available positions. No experience
necessary! It is a great opportunity to meet parents from other clubs and give you a better
understanding of the sport. Training is done just before the event starts.
• Event setup
• Scoring
• Clerks of the Course
• Readers
• Runners
• Music/sound center announcers and DJ
• Event takedown
We depend upon the helpful and dedicated parents of our association to do all the work behind
the scenes to allow our swimmers to compete. While the jobs may not necessarily be fun, they
are essential for the success of our organization and we encourage all parents to step forward at
meets where their child is participating to fill the many available positions. No experience
necessary! It is a great opportunity to meet parents from other clubs and give you a better
understanding of the sport. Training is done just before the event starts.
• Event setup
• Scoring
• Clerks of the Course
• Readers
• Runners
• Music/sound center announcers and DJ
• Event takedown