FOR ALL OFFICIALS

With the launch of USA Swimming’s new SWIMS database on September 1, 2022, there will be temporary interruptions to the Officials Tracking System (OTS). Please review the information below for important updates and release dates related to OTS functionality.

USA Swimming staff and members of USA Swimming’s Officials Committee have been meeting regularly to prioritize the development of various aspects of OTS. Your LSC Officials Chair will be your contact for OTS updates. General information will also be distributed through the bi-monthly USA Swimming Officials Newsletters..

OTS Meet Tracking

OTS Meet Tracking is operational. The history of sessions is available to each offical through reporting under My Official History. Officials, sessions, and positions worked are entered for each OTS meet. Once assigned to the meet in SWIMS, meet referees have access to add and enter sessions for meets.

National Officials Certifications

The release date for National Officials Certification Applications, Workflow Approvals, and Reporting is still being determined.  There is an interim process for advancement and re-certification posted on the National Certification and Education webpage. National Certification updates are posted once per month to this page as well.

Of note, National Certifications in OTS are from certifications achieved prior September 1, 2022. National Certifications cannot be updated in OTS at this time.

Online Testing

Online Officials Testing is operational in the USA Swimming University online portal. In April 2024, the online Foundations and Stroke and Turn Clinic and Testing were launched. These are the required clinics for new officials and officials needed to recertify. LSCs may offer supplemental non-mandatory clinics. Once the online required clinic and test have been completed, the clinic name and passes date will be reported in the official's test profile and reporting history. 

Administrative Official, Starter, and Referee clinics and tests are still under development. Until these are finalized, please contract your LSC Officials Chair for clinics and use the existing tests in the USA Swimming University. 

The Athlete Protection Training (APT) courses and background check initiation process are also located in the USA Swimming University online portal.

LSC Officials Certifications

LSC Official Certifications are operational. Please contact your LSC Officials Chair for updates or corrections.

Requirements for LSC Certification have been standardized as of February 2024 and the passage of R9. Please contact your LSC Officials Chair for more information. 

Evaluations & Activities

All previous evaluations have been transferred to OTS. Evaluations that were completed and saved in the holding tank between September 1, 2022, and April 1, 2024, are still accessible for review. The LSC Meet Referees, LSC Officials Chairs, and evaluators are working together to upload the saved evaluations into OTS. Evaluations that are completed after April 1, 2024, are being directly uploaded into OTS.

The Activities section of OTS is still under development for LSC use.  Recording of activities for National Certifications is no longer required since all LSC certifications now require clinic attendance. 

For questions, please contact your LSC Officials Chair.