Following a review at a recent meeting of Swim England’s Swimming Leadership Group there has been an update to the training processes and uniform requirements for technical officials.

Technical Officials have an important role to play in ensuring a fair and level playing field for all athletes in the sport from club level right through to international competitions.

England, Scotland and Wales have been working towards common standards in the education and training of all swimming officials.  All three Home Countries use FINA Technical Rules meaning trained officials are listed as British Swimming Officials.

Officials Training:– The updates in training come at the opening level of Judge 1 – for full statement and details click here

Officials Uniform Guidance click here

Certificate of Exemption:–    The national governing body’s ‘Certificate of Exception’ is the first of the two resources and is an update of the previously named ‘Certificate of Swimming Disability’.    The certificate was initially created to enable disabled swimmers to participate in competition without being penalised for rule infractions beyond their control.

This was particularly relevant to swimmers who could not, or did not, want to have a para-swimming classification.    For full statement and details click here

Swimwear Guidance:-   Alongside the certificate, steps have also been taken to update Swim England’s swimwear guidance to include reference to period wear for the first time.  This guidance is currently applicable to swimming only and Claire Coleman, Swim England head of development, was happy to support the updates.

“These changes ensure Swim England is addressing current and relevant issues head on. Ultimately, we want to make participating and competing easier for swimmers. “We look forward to the impact it will have on our members and achieving a nation swimming.”

The updated guidance for appropriate swimwear can be found here. To request any support in this area, please contact Mike Hawkes via equality@swimming.org.

Swimming Cap Guidance:-  Swim England fully understand how swimming hats designed for Afro hair can reduce barriers to the sport for under-represented groups, including Black people.   We would therefore like to reassure all our members and the wider swimming community that we embrace their use for participation, training and racing.