If you are receiving this email, it is because you have signed up to be a Stroke and Turn Judge this swim season.  First of all - THANK YOU!!  This is not an easy volunteer job to fill and we appreciate each of you!  Second of all - we had no representation at the League's Stroke and Turn Clinic a few weeks ago.  No big deal, but we need to make sure we know what's going on and we are playing by the same rules as every other team.  I'm attaching the Rules of Competition.  If you could please just quickly read over sections D & E (pages 4-5) before your volunteer shift.  We all know that some of our competitors take this stuff VERY seriously and as long as we are all using the same guidelines, there should be no issues.  I'm also attaching the Stroke & Turn Guidelines - there will be a copy of these on each judge's clipboard for reference (a quick cheat sheet, if you will).  Finally, NO ONE, not a coach, a parent, a swimmer, a timer, the starter, NO ONE is allowed to approach a stroke judge during the meet (yes, your children and family are allowed to talk to you).  If you have ANY issues with this - please find me!  This was reviewed with all teams and discussed in our league meeting this winter.  

Here are some notes that were given to me from the league's clinic:

- During INDIVIDUAL EVENTS, each judge is responsible for watching the 3 lanes closest to him/her to about halfway down the pool so that each judge monitors one quarter of the pool. 

- The judge should only document infractions in their jurisdiction. 

- During RELAYS, judges shall be stationed together at each end of the pool, in a location with visibility of the pool and swimmers mutually agreed to by the pair, and they shall be responsible for relay take-offs, strokes, kicks, turns, and finishes across the pool as far down the pool as they can see. Only calls relating to relay take-offs must be mutually agreed to. 

- The calling of False Starts is the responsibility of the Starter. The Starter may ask a judge to write a DQ, and the Starter should sign it.

- DQs are written to assist swimmers with the learning process. - Judges may not inform swimmers directly of a DQ. 

- The benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer.

Thank you all again and please let myself or Wojtek know if you need anything!

Henley