When judging on deck for a swimming competition, you will see lots of different athletes working hard to be their best. This includes swimmers with disabilities. As a Stroke and Turn Judge, you don’t need to worry about deciding on what accommodations or modifications are allowed. But it might be good for you to understand what you may see on deck, and what considerations you need to judge swimmers with disabilities in the water.

Article 105 in the rulebook contains guidelines and suggestions for modifications.

The meet referee is responsible to work with the coach and swimmer to identify appropriate accommodations. If there are any swimmers with disabilities, the Referee may inform you of accommodations or modifications. This could include a change in starting position, reassignment of lanes, or a personal assistant.

Note that the meet referee doesn't have to share the disability or accommodations with the Stroke and Turn Judges. They may just overturn a call, if appropriate. 

What are some of the things that help swimmers with disabilities?

Swimmers who are blind or have vision loss may use a personal assistant to get them to their block, to notify them of turns and the finish, or to signal a relay start once their teammate has touched the wall. Personal assistants may also be used by a swimmer with a cognitive disability.

Swimmers who are deaf or hard of hearing require visual signals for the start.

Modifications are frequently needed for swimmers with physical disabilities. They may require assistance to assume and hold a starting position, which may be a sitting position on the block or deck, or in the water.

When judging the stroke of a swimmer with a physical disability, Officials should follow this general rule: if a part of the body is absent or cannot be used, it is not judged. If it is used during the stroke, it should be judged in accordance with the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations.

Judgments are made based on the actual rule — not on the swimmer’s technique. For example, the breaststroke swimmer with one arm or leg shorter than the other, may have a non-symmetrical stroke or kick, but as long as the arm or leg action is simultaneous, it would meet the rule. For touches in breaststroke and butterfly, the athlete must reach forward as if attempting a simultaneous two-hand touch. When a swimmer has a different arm length, only the longer arm must touch the wall, but both arms must be stretched forward simultaneously.

At the turn and finish of the butterfly, an athlete with no leg function is permitted to perform a partial stroke with the arms recovering forward under the surface of the water in order to touch the wall. For breaststroke and butterfly, after the start and after each turn, a swimmer who is unable to push off with the legs may perform one arm stroke that doesn't need to be simultaneous to attain the breast position.

These are rulebook examples given to officials for your general information. But, again, you will make calls based on the technical rules as in any race. The Meet Referee will determine the validity of the call based on accommodations agreed to before the meet.

When judging on deck for a swimming competition, you will see lots of different athletes working hard to be their best. This includes swimmers with disabilities. Your main focus as an Official should be to judge based on the rules, as always.