Officials are dedicated club members who have completed officiating courses (clinics) offered by Swimming Canada and Swim Alberta. Their commitment is absolutely essential to the success of our swim meets and plays a vital role in supporting our swimmers. Each official's role not only offers the chance to deepen your understanding of the sport's rules and regulations but also provides a unique opportunity to positively impact the swimmers' experience. Plus, you’ll enjoy the best view of the action right on deck!

Becoming an Official

Register as an official

• To become an official, you must first register as an official with Swimming Canada's  Registration and Events Management System (REMS) for the current season.  To register with Swimming Canada, please use this link:  Register as an Official.

Complete an officiating clinic

• To complete officiating clinics, login to Swimming Canada's Learning Management System (LMS) using this link:  Login to LMS from REMS

Sign up to do a Cascade Shadow Shift

• Cascade's shadow shifts allow an official in a new officiating position to work alongside an experienced official, gaining valuable hands-on training.
• Please note that shadow shifts are not required for Timer or Safety Marshal!!
• Cascade requires members to complete at least one shadow shift for every officiating position, again, except for Timer and Safety Marshal.
• Sign up for a shadow shift when signing up to work Cascade hosted swim meets.

Sign up to work independently at Cascade hosted swim meets

• Sign up for several swim meets to gain deck experience in each officiating position.
• For Timer and Safety Marshal ONLY, you can sign up immediately to work independently at a Cascade hosted swim meet without a shadow position.

Request Deck Evaluations

• A deck evaluation is when a Referee evaluates you while you are working in an officiating position during a swim meet session.
• Deck evaluations are required to become certified in an officiating position.
• The specific number of evaluations needed may vary depending on the position.
  • For detailed information, please see Swimming Canada's Officials Certification Pathway
• Referees have the authority to initiate deck evaluations and can choose to evaluate officials during swim meet sessions.
• Officials are responsible for printing & maintaining their Swim Alberta's Officials Certification Card
• It is expected that officials carry their certification card with them at all times while officiating at a swim meet.
• Officials cannot be evaluated during a shadow shift, as they are not working independently in the officiating role.​​​​​​​

Deck evaluation procedure for Officials

​​​​​​​Once you feel confident in an officiating position, you can arrange to have a Referee evaluate you while you work in that position during a swim meet session. To arrange a deck evaluation, please follow these steps:

Before the start of the meet session:

• Approach the session Referee to request an evaluation.
• Please provide your certification card to the Referee.

At the end of the meet session:

• Please ensure the Referee signs your certification card.

After the swim meet ends:

• Please email Kathy, Cascade Officials Administrator, with the following details:
  1. Your name;
  2. The login email of your Swimming Canada officials account;
  3. The officiating position in which you were evaluated;
  4. Swim meet session details (meet name, session date, and time), and;
  5. A photo of your certification card with the Referee's signature.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Questions?

Please contact Kathy, Cascade's Officials Administrator, if you have questions about:

• Officials accounts, new or existing;
• Officiating clinics;
• Certification and the Swimming Canada Officials Certification Pathway;
• ​​​​​​​Officiating deposit refund.

Please contact Amy, Cascade's Officials Coordinator, if you have questions about:

• Meet scheduling &sign-up;
• Points;
• Shadowing.​​​​​​​