Middle Atlantic Swimming will be conducting two clinics for new swim meet officials in May.  Both of these clinics are being held in a location very convenient to GPAC parents (one just over the Delaware Memorial Bridge and one at Jersey Wahoos in Mt. Laurel).  In addition, there will be a clinic for Starter certification in May as well.  To become certified as a starter you must have one year of experience as a certified USA Swimming Official.

What is required to become an official?
1) Attend the 1 day class (usually lasts 2-3 hours)
2) Take and pass the online (open book, open notes) certification test
3) "Shadow" at USA Swimming sanctioned meets for 6 meet sessions
4) Take and pass the online background screening check through USA Swimming

That is it!  No prior swimming/coaching experience is necessary.

The cost of the background screening is covered by Middle Atlantic Swimming.  The $60 USA Swimming officials registration fee is covered by GPAC. 

We will be losing a few of our certified officials heading into the Fall season.  We have a lot of great parents who volunteer as officials at our meets (including sessions their children are not swimming in), other team's hosted meets, and Middle Atlantic hosted meets.  I would love to have more of our parents join these great volunteers.  If anything, the more officials we have, the more the assignments can be spread out among more people.  At this time we really need officials from all age groups equally.

Here is further information about the clinics taken right from the Middle Atlantic Swimming website (www.maswim.org).  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MAY 7TH CLINIC IS THE SAME DAY AS THE GPAC LONG COURSE DERBY MEET:

Middle Atlantic Officials Clinics