You’re On Deck!
Explanation of the Certification Process for PVS Officials

Sea Devils Swimming encourages all interested parents to become certified as a Potomac Valley Swimming (“PVS”) deck official. PVS is the Washington area branch of U.S.A Swimming (“USA”), the governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. If you have officiated in summer league swimming (such as NVSL or MCSL) that experience provides a good foundation for officiating in PVS, as US Swimming rules govern in the summer leagues.

To begin, you should download a PVS/USA “non-athlete” registration form 2009 Non-Athlete Registration form Completing this form will initiate the process. Once you are certified, SDS will reimburse you for the registration fee.

Next, you should register for a Stroke and Turn officials’ clinic administered by PVS. A list of dates, times, and locations is provided at the PVS website (www.pvswim.org) Click on the Offiicials tab for access to the PVS Officials information.  To register for a clinic, click the link that corresponds to the session that is most convenient for you.

Please note that Officials clinics for early fall, 2008 will be held::

Click here for upcoming officials clinic schedule

At your clinic session, you will receive a PVS official’s training session record card for officials in training. While “in training” you should attend at least four meets to “shadow” certified officials and observe the certified officials with whom you work. It is helpful to register with SDS’s officials’ coordinator, John McKenzie (janddmck@aol.com) prior to attending these meets, so that he may coordinate with the meet referee, and the referee will know that you will be attending. At the conclusion of each meet in which you work, you will present your officials training session card to the meet Referee, and he/she will sign the card, indicating that you have completed one of the four requisite training sessions.

At the clinic, you will receive a complete USA Swimming rulebook.  PVS officials are required to take an open-book, on-line test that should be completed and submitted electronically. This test will be graded electronically and results transmitted to PVS.

After attending the clinic, completing the on-deck training sessions and successfully completing the test, you will receive your PVS official’s patch. This patch, and the PVS/USA laminated registration card which you receive after registration, should be brought with you to all meets at which you officiate. SDS will also order a PVS name badge for you. When officiating at PVS-sanctioned swim meets, you should always bring your credentials and name badge.

John is happy to answer any questions or assist you with the process of becoming a certified official.  He can be contacted at his email address janddmck@aol.com