January 27 Officials Updates

January 28 update

• The Recorder clinic has also been added back with 2025 version

January 27, 2025

Officials Registration Invoicing Update

Following the previous communications regarding officials registration invoicing, Swim Ontario has decided to delay the invoicing process until further notice. We aim to provide an update to clubs next week regarding the revised timeline and details for officials registration invoicing.

Swim Ontario Photography, Videography & Cellphone Procedure for Competitions

As communicated on January 20, 2025 to clubs, the NEW Swim Ontario Photography Videography and Cellphone Procedure is now in effect.

This procedure replaces the Swimming Canada Events Photography & Videography Procedure.

The Safety at Competitions meet package statement has been updated with this information in all templates. The second to last paragraph should now read

The Swim Ontario Concussion Management & Swim Ontario Photography, Videography, and Cellphone Procedure will be in effect. For complete details click HERE.

The Safety at Competition document that is linked in all the meet packages has been updated with the latest information. Please read both the procedure and the safety at competition document to familiarize yourself with the new procedure as it applies to competitions.

Meet Management ACTION:

• If you have already sent in your last changes to your meet package, we ask that you add this to your communication to attending clubs either through a technical bulletin or email and post the Procedure near spectator entrance and on the deck.
• If your facility has stronger procedures (i.e. no cell phones permitted at all) then that procedure needs to be followed and be in your meet package.
• If you are sending revisions to your meet packages, please update the Safety at Competitions statements to reflect the correct Procedure.
• If you have recently submitted a sanction application and the sanction is not yet approved, we will be requesting that the Safety at Competitions statement be updated prior to approval.

Meet Sanctions & Sanctioning Requirements

Swim Ontario has made the decision to open sanction applications for competitions until the end of the season. Clubs may submit sanctions applications for competitions up to and including August 31, 2025 using the Interim Sanctioning Process.

A reminder that sanction application deadlines are in effect and meets submitted late risk being denied.

A reminder that Swim Ontario will be looking at achieved TIERs at the sanction deadline based on Active officials within the club in the REMS System for meets after March 1, 2025. For details click HERE

NEW Credential Approval process

All REMS short clip videos can be found at playlist HERE

• A new quicker way to approve credentials loaded from officials short clip video can be found HERE

Level 2 & 3 certification credentials

• Swim Ontario receives automatic notification now of missing Level 2 & 3 certification as well as Level 3 Referee achieved.
  • COAs should NOT create the records for approval. It is important to manage the credential (deck evals and clinics) approvals in order for Swim Ontario to receive notification of Level 2 & 3 certification. Level 2 & 3 certification notification will only look at Approved credentials.
    • A reminder to set the status as Active when loading credentials. If you select Passed or Attended, these will not be recognized.
  • Officials should be instructed to NOT add levels of certification credentials. They will be deleted.

REMS Knowledge Base

All Swimming Canada guides on the REMS can be found HERE

Canadian Swimming Utility (CSU) updates

• REMS Audit feature alerts a COA / Club Registrar of Suspicious Birthdates and Credential Issues.
  • Credential Issues Status
    • <NOT SET> :Level 2 & 3 certification by COA. Swim Ontario is working through these. We ask that you no longer add these credentials.
    • <NOT SET> / Passed / Expired / Attended: Deck Evals or Clinics added by the COA that did not set to Status “Active”. ACTION: Please adjust to Active status.
    • Awaiting Approval: Credentials added by the Official. ACTION: Please review and approve, reject or delete.
• Level 3 Referee qualification added for ease of reference when doing an Official Lookup. This is based on a new credential added to REMS. Swim Ontario will add these credentials in REMS once approved.

Official Clinic Updates

Please note that 4 revised and/or corrected clinics have been loaded to the Google Folder Drive.

• Judge of Stroke (2024 clinic fixed)
• Administrative Desk
• Meet Manager
• Referee

Contact officials@swimontario.com for the google folder link