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Update

January 27, 2026

Referee Development and Review Documents

Jan 27 Update to the tools used to support Referee & Starter development and progression

January 27 update

The SOOC with the Education and Referee Evaluation working groups want to share an update to the tools used to support referee development and progression.

The former Referee Assessment document has been revised and separated into two distinct resources to better distinguish guidance from documented feedback. 

  • The Referee Position and Briefing Guide is a reference document for developing referees, to develop a strong senior official briefing, deck check, and general briefing for swimming competitions. 
  • The Referee Coaching Review is a structured review and feedback tool used following on-deck observation to support development conversations and progression.

The website has been updated to reflect these changes, including revised document names where applicable. Some areas, such as bulletins and pdf documents, may not yet show the updated names. The link that previously led to the Referee Assessment now directs to the Referee Coaching Review, so even if a document name hasn’t been updated on the site, the correct document will be accessible.  

For Level IV and Level V evaluation requests, candidates may submit either the former Referee Assessment Form or the new Referee Coaching Review as part of their submission during this transition period. Level V referee coaches/mentors will also receive training on the Referee Coaching Review through upcoming clinics to support consistent understanding and application of the updated tool.

These updates are meant to make things clearer, more consistent, and focused on helping referees learn and improve.

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