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Belleville Swimming

Officials

Become a Swim Official

Swim meets are essential for our swimmers to reach their goals, but they can't happen without volunteer officials! Swim officials enforce technical rules and ensure fair, safe competition.

In Ontario, officials are volunteers—primarily parents and family members. It takes dozens of officials to run a single session, and our ability to host meets relies on parent participation.

Requirements

  • Must be 14 years of age or older.

  • Must be registered as an official with Swimming Canada.

How to Get Started (New Officials)

Step 1: Register

Express your interest in becoming an official during season registration or email our Officials Coordinator. You will receive an email invitation to set up or update your account in SportLomo/REMS (Swimming Canada’s registration portal).

Step 2: Complete Your First Two Clinics

To step on deck as a Level I Official (Timekeeper / Safety Marshal), you must complete two introductory eModules:

  1. Introduction to Officiating (Timekeeper)

  2. Safety Marshal

How to access online clinics:

  1. Log in to your REMS account.

  2. Click the LMS (Learning Management System) button and select Official.

  3. Under the STATUS tab, click eModule to complete both required introductory clinics. (You can also sign up for live virtual or in-person clinics under the CLINIC tab).

Returning & Transferring Officials

  • Returning Belleville Beast Officials: Look out for the season start-up form in your email, or contact our team to reactivate your profile. When prompted by SportLomo, select "Update Information" (do not click Register/Renew, as this creates a duplicate account).

  • Transferring from Another Club: Contact our Club Officials Administrator to transfer your Swimming Canada profile to the Belleville Beast Swim Team.

Next Steps & Moving Up the Ladder

Our team relies on officials advancing their certifications. Swim Ontario tracks every club’s official development!

  1. Get Evaluated: Once comfortable timing, ask the Session Referee for a deck evaluation before a meet session begins.

  2. Take Advanced Clinics: After two successful deck evaluations as a Timekeeper, take the Inspector of Turns and Judge of Stroke clinics to become a Level II Official.

  3. Track Your Progress: Completed clinics and formal deck evaluations are recorded in your REMS profile under the Credentials tab.

    • Tip: Keep your email receipts and take a photo of the meet sign-in sheet/signed evaluation forms for your personal records!

Official Dress Code

For Swim Ontario–sanctioned meets:

  • Bottoms: Black pants, shorts, or skirt

  • Shoes: Black shoes

  • Tops:

    • White T-shirt or Polo: Timekeepers & Chief Timers

    • Red Polo: All other deck officials

Key Deck Roles at a Glance

  • Safety Marshal: Maintains pool safety during warm-ups.

  • Timekeeper: Operates stopwatches/plungers and records times.

  • Inspector of Turns (IT): Observes starts, turns, and finishes for rule compliance.

  • Judge of Stroke (JS): Walks the sides of the pool to monitor stroke mechanics.

  • Chief Timer: Manages lane timekeepers and provides backup watch support.

  • Administration Desk / Chief Recorder: Manages entries, scratches, and official race results.

  • Starter & Referee: Lead the session, ensure fair starts, and oversee general meet operation.

Contact & Support

Have questions about getting started, tracking credentials, or moving up to higher certification levels? We’re here to help!

  • Club Officials Coordinator: coa@bellevilleswimming.com

  • Belleville Beast Board Contact: president@bellevilleswimming.com