There are four judges at each meet – two from each team. These volunteers watch the swimmers during their races and determine that the starts, strokes, and turns are performed properly. A swimmer who does not meet the established requirements will be disqualified by the judges. This position requires an online training (which free and valid for 3 years) from the Gwinnett County Swim League.

Important because: DQs help swimmers learn and prepare them for the County Meet
Timeframe: First half (Events 1-36) and Second half (Events 37-82)
Volunteers needed: 4
Best for: People who want a front-row view of races and have some swimming knowledge

“Benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer: Call what you see and see what you call”

Jurisdiction –Jurisdiction for each judge is from the wall they are standing on to the halfway point of the pool, for the lanes they were assigned by the Head Official.

Deck Protocol –If you see something a swimmer is doing that is illegal: Raise your hand high overhead; Make the call into the radio (lane of swimmer & what is illegal); On timer sheet: circle or clearly mark swimmer that is DQd; Write DQ; Write initials of S & T Judge that made the call; Write a brief description of what is illegal; Additionally, Write the call on your heat sheet in case questions come up later.

BACKSTROKE
Start: In water facing start end with both hands on gutter or starting grips.
Stroke: Any style as long as swimmer remains on back. Swimmer must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
Turns: During turn swimmer may go past vertical to the breast and may utilize a continuous single or continuous simultaneous double arm pull to initiate the turn. Some part of swimmer must touch wall at completion of each length. Shoulders at or past vertical toward back when feet leave wall.
Finish: Some part of swimmer must touch the wall while on the back.

FREESTYLE
Start: Forward start.
Stroke: Any style may be used. Swimmer must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
Turns: Some part of swimmer must touch the wall at completion of each length.
Finish: Must touch the wall

BREASTSTROKE
Start: Forward start.
Stroke: Body kept on breast. Stroke cycle is one arm pull and one leg kick in that order. Simultaneous arm movement in same horizontal plane. After start and each turn one arm stroke may be completely back to legs. Head must break surface at widest part of second pull. Recovery by the hands from the breast-on, under, or over the water.
Kick: After start and each turn, prior to the first breaststroke kick, a single butterfly kick is permitted. Movement of the legs shall be simultaneous vertically and horizontally.
Feet turned out during propulsive part of kick. No alternating, scissors, or butterfly kick, except as stated, is allowed.
Turns: Shoulders at or past vertical toward breast when feet leave wall.
Finish: Touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface. At the last stroke before the turn and at the finish an arm stroke not followed by a leg kick is permitted. Head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding the touch.

BUTTERFLY
Start: Forward start.
Stroke: Body kept on breast. Multiple kicks permitted, but first arm pull must bring swimmer to the surface. Must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after start and each turn not more than 15 meters where head must break surface. Arms, shoulder to wrist, brought forward over water and pulled back simultaneously.
Kick: Simultaneous up and down movement. No alternating, scissors, or breaststroke kicking movements.
Turns: Shoulders at or past vertical toward breast when the swimmer leaves wall.
Finish: Touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Start: Forward start.
Stroke: Rules for each stroke apply. Must swim ¼ of event distance as prescribed stroke, in order of Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. May not swim in the style of the other three strokes during the freestyle leg.
Kick: Rules for each stroke apply.
Finish: Turns conform to finish rules for the stroke.