Official Clinics

We are in need of new and returning parents willing to be trained and work as officials at each of the meets. It is a great way to get to know this sport and the more back-up officials, the better!

We are required to supply a Referee and Starter for each of the home meets as well as two Stroke and Turn Judges for all meets. Please give serious consideration to attending training for one or more of these positions.

The NVSL requires officials to update their certification every two years and strongly encourages officials to update their certifications yearly. The League feels strongly the Stroke and Turn clinic should be attended yearly due to ongoing changes in the rules.

Referees need to remain current in three clinics - Referee, Starter and Stroke and Turn.
New Referees need to also attend the New Referee Clinic.

If you have had any prior swimming experience or wish to be certified, we encourage you to attend the NVSL Officials Clinics or contact SwimTeam Reps

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2026 NVSL Official Clinic Schedule

Below are the available clinics for current officials who need re-training, and those interested in becoming an official. Officials include Stroke & Turn Judges. Starters, and Meet Referees:

There is no cost for attending the clinics, and advance registration is NOT required. However, clinics start on time, rain or shine. Therefore, please note that if you arrive more than 10 minutes late for a clinic, or depart prior to its conclusion, you will not receive credit for attending.

PLEASE NOTE - FOR 2026, ALL CLINICS WILL BE HELD IN PERSON. THERE WILL BE NO ONLINE RECERTIFICATION CLINICS IN 2026.

New Referee, Referee/Starter, New Starter, and Stroke & Turn Clinics are 2 hours in length. Please check mynvsl.com for any changes in schedule

Saturday, May 16th – 8AM-10AM

*New Referee Only @ Shouse Village
New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet

Sunday, May 17th – 8AM-10AM

*NEW Starter Only* @ 8AM-10AM @ Pleasant Valley

Wednesday, May 20th – 7PM-9PM

Ref/Starter Recertification @ Little Hunting Park
Ref/Starter Recertification @ Old Keene Mill

Saturday, May 30th – 8AM-1PM NVSLU @ Fairfax County Govt Center

12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035.

**We will have volunteers in the lobby to direct you to the correct rooms for your clinics.

*NEW Referee Only @ 8AM-10AM
*NEW Starter Only* @ 8AM-10AM
Ref/Starter Recertification @ 8AM-10AM
SwimTopia MeetMaestro Training @ 8AM-10AM
Chief Timer Clinic @ 9AM-10AM
Stroke and Turn (New and Recert) @ 10:30AM-12:30PM

Sunday, June 7th – 8AM-10AM

New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ Orange Hunt
New/Recertification Stroke and Turn Clinic @ High Point Pool

Sunday, June 14th – 8AM-10AM

*New Referee Only / *New Starter Only @ Rolling Valley (Participants must choose either New Ref or New Starter)
Ref/Starter Recertification @ Crosspointe
Ref/Starter Recertification @ Sully Station II

Wednesday, June 17th – 7PM-9PM

New/ Recertification Stroke and Turn @ Hayfield Farm
New/Recertification Stroke and Turn @ Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association

*New Referee and New Starter clinics are only for officials who are new to these positions and who have not been previously certified. These clinics cannot be used to recertify for either position. There are no exceptions.

Please contact [email protected] with questions.

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OFFICIALS’ QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES
From the 2025 NVSL Handbook:

To work as an NVSL Official, an individual shall have attended the NVSL clinics listed below in the current or previous year:

Stroke & Turn Judge - Stroke & Turn Clinic or current USA Swimming Certification as a Stroke & Turn Judge
First Year Starter – New Starter Clinic or current USA Swimming Certification as a Starter and New/Recertification Stroke & Turn Clinic or current USA Swimming Certification as a Starter and Stroke & Turn Judge
Returning Starter – Referee/Starter Clinic or current USA Swimming Certification as a Starter and New**/Recertification Stroke & Turn Clinic or current USA Swimming Certification as a Starter and Stroke & Turn Judge
First Year Referee – New Referee Clinic, New Starter Clinic, and Stroke & Turn Clinic Returning
Returning Referee – Referee/Starter Clinic and Stroke & Turn Clinic

**The qualification procedures for starters have changed as of 03/01/2025. Some returnin starters will need to certify as a stroke and turn judge for the first time and should attend the New Stroke and Turn clinic.

Notes:

In lieu ofthe NVSL Stroke & Turn Clinic, current certification as a USA Swimming Stroke &Turn Judge may be may be substituted. High School clinics will not count. Attendance at a Stroke & Turn clinic every other year is required by the NVSL. Certified USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Judges who wish to substitute their USA Swimming certification for attendance at an NVSL Stroke & Turn Clinic should notify their Team Representative and the Clinic Attendance Recorder, Michelle Hale at [email protected].
In lieu of attending the NVSL Starter Clinic, current certification as a USA Swimming Starter may be may be substituted. High School clinics will not count. Certified USA Swimming Starters who wish to substitute their USA Swimming certification for attendance at an NVSL Starter Clinic should notify their Team Representative and the Clinic Attendance Recorder, Michelle Hale at [email protected].
NVSL Officials’ Clinics last about two hours. Those arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving early will NOT receive credit for attendance. Officials MUST have five years or more of experience in order to attend a virtual recertification clinic. No exceptions will be granted.
The New Referee Clinic and New Starter Clinics will NOT meet the requirement for Returning Referee or Starter qualification.
There is NO Reciprocity with USA Swimming for NVSL Referees. All NVSL Referees must be a Current Stroke & Turn Judge and must attend either a) the NVSL New Referee and New Starter Clinics, or b) the NVSL Referee-Starter Clinic in the current or previous year.

CERTIFIED REFEREE

To be awarded the Certified Referee Patch, an individual shall:

be currently qualified as an NVSL Referee as outlined above; and
have completed the following deck requirements: (1) worked two NVSL ‘A’ meets as a Referee and (2) worked at least two additional NVSL “A” meets in a judgment capacity (Referee, Starter, or Stroke & Turn); and
have been recommended by (1) his/her Team Representative; and (2) by the Division Coordinator, who requests an evaluation by the NVSL Observation Committee as part of his/her recommendation; and
have been evaluated while serving as a Referee during an NVSLmeet by a member of the NVSL Observation Committee, AND earned a positive patch recommendation from the Observer. (Note: deck requirements listed above in part b.should be completed before an evaluation is requested.)

To remain entitled to wear the Certified Referee Patch, a Referee shall maintain his/her qualification by attending an NVSL Referee/Starter Clinic, AND an NVSL Stroke & Turn Clinic in the current or previous year.

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