Swimming Officials
Swimming Technical Officials (STOs) are a central part of every swimming event and play an vital role in ensuring the events run smoothly, safely and within the sport’s regulations.
Swimming events cannot be run without qualified STOs being present and running the poolside.
Officials, who are all volunteers, do not need to be experienced swimmers or have a competitive background.
Everything that you need to know to become a qualified official is provided in the training programme. There is then an expectation that you progress to the next level of technical official, having gained poolside experience, at many levels of swim events, and record these details in your own logbook.
All three home countries now use FINA Technical Rules. As such, trained officials are listed as British Swimming Officials.
It is important that when qualified officials keep up to date with changes to technical rules and rules interpretations. To this end all qualified officials need to register for the Swim England Officials Newsletter here.
All Hampshire STO’s training is delivered through Swim England approved Course Leaders, based in various locations throughout the County.
Please contact your club officials organiser, an approved course leader or George Adamson (County Coordinator) for more information.
David Greenaway is responsible for recruiting all officials for County Swimming events and also keeps officials informed.