Notes from Officials’ Secretary – SASA MC 6 January 2018
New FINA Rules 2017 – effective from 2 October 2017, and consist in the main of reinterpretations of existing rules rather than new ones. Update seminars for Somerset officials in Shepton Mallet (November 2017) and Clevedon (8 January 2018). A further seminar will be offered in the south of the county.
Development Meet 2017 – went well, proving a good practice event for trainee officials. Hopefully, a software upgrade needed to enable the most effective use of the new AOE system will be approved by the committee.
County Championships 2018 – preparations are well underway. Many more officials required at the time of writing, but I’m hopeful that volunteers will come forward in large numbers.
Referee Examination November 2017 – 2 of the 5 candidates passed (Chris Metcalfe and Mike Riggall), with the remaining 3 achieving just below the very challenging 80+% pass mark required. Two unsuccessful candidates will retake in May. We now have to find a level 3 meet outside Somerset for Chris and Mike to take their practical assessment within the next 6 months. Future costs of referee training (eg entry fees, travel and resource costs) will be met by ASASW.
New Courses since September 2017 - J1 courses for Team Bath AS, Clevedon, Weston-s-Mare, Wells, Yeovil and TDS/Wellington. Thanks to all the tutors who ran these courses, and to Carolyn Cox for running a J2 course.
Qualifications since September 2017 – 3xJ1; 1xJ2S.
Safeguarding – tutors of any officials’ courses where trainees are under 18 will in future require safeguarding accreditation. To this end, Emily Taylor has arranged a safeguarding course for Somerset tutors for 6 February in Wellington. The cost will be met by ASASW.
Notes from SASA Representative to Regional Board
ASA is now an Incorporated Body. David Flack has been elected as a member of the Swim England Board.
The Region is currently seeking a new Officials’ Secretary.
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