Journey To Excellence SYNCHRO ONTARIO

SEPTEMBER 2016

DIANE VAN DER POL

My Judging Progression - Canada

1975 Level I Provincial

1978 Level II Provincial

1982 Level III National

1985 Level IV National

1991 International Trainee

1995 Level V Cdn. International

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ONTARIO

QUEBEC CANADA

International Progression

1998 FINA “G” International

2004 FINA “B” International

2006 FINA “A” International - Present

2008 National Evaluator - Present

2009 FINA Evaluator – Present

FINA Development Clinic, Clinician G

B A

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Judging Role What are the international requirements?

Judge Certification

-remain active judging all events at international level meets including both figures and routines; Junior and Senior level; also remain active at the national level, provincial level

-obtain satisfactory evaluations from FINA at international competitions both in judging and bias and within Canada

-every 4 years attend a FINA A Judge School, participate and pass a written test (last school in St. Petersburg, Russia).

-I have judged internationally since 1991 throughout the world, most recently the selected judge for the Rio Olympic Qualifier in March of this year and the 2012 Olympics in London.

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Judging Role

What are the other

expectations and qualifications?

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Judging Role -commitment to learning and personal growth

-to represent Canada in an ethical, professional and diplomatic manner in all formal and informal settings and to be supportive of Synchro Canada

-to be an ambassador, a role model, a contributor to special projects

-strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity

-take on leadership roles, lead judge meetings, participate or lead in clinics

-strong communication skills, ability to communicate clearly & effectively

-be a contributor to the growth of the sport within Canada and internationally

-problem solve, be resourceful and take initiative when appropriate

-flexible and adaptable-ability to adjust to change, challenges

-ability to self manage-reliable, punctual, plan and organize

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Evaluator Role

An evaluator is present to work with the judges.

They judge all the routines assigning marks. These marks are not displayed or counted in the result. They sit on deck having the same view as the judges.

Using the judge marks together with the computer evaluation produced by the scorers, evaluators spend many many hours at home after the competition evaluating the judges scores and observing their overall behaviour.

Judges are provided written feedback on their performance to help the judges learn.

Once the work is complete the evaluations are sent to each judge and to the regulatory bodies-FINA, UANA, national evaluator. Evaluations are a significant consideration for promotions and selection to judge at competitions.

I currently evaluate both domestically and internationally. (France, USA, Netherlands)

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Evaluator Certification

Evaluator Certification

-be nominated and selected by FINA as a judge evaluator; must be an ‘A’ judge; 20 spots

CANADA (2) Diane van der Pol, Louise Kennedy, CHINA (1) CZECH REPUBLIC (1) EGYPT (1) SPAIN (1)

FINLAND (1) FRANCE (1) GREAT BRITAIN (1) ITALY (1) JAPAN (2) KAZACHSTAN (1) MALAYSIA (1)

NETHERLANDS (1) RUSSIA (1) SWITZERLAND (1) USA (2) UZBECHISTAN (1)

-attend evaluator clinics every 4 years and pass the test

-actively evaluate in Canada and internationally with good evaluations

-lead discussions throughout the competition, interact with judges at the competition regarding their performances and followup with written feedback

-submit the evaluations to each judge and to the regulatory bodies-FINA, UANA, national evaluator

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Part of the Team

Centre of Excellence, National Team and Club Visits

-work with athletes providing ongoing feedback to coaches both figures and routines

-numerous times I have worked with the COE athletes this past year

-club visits – local clubs; visited Gloucester for a weekend and worked with coaches, swimmers and shared a presentation regarding my 2012 Olympic judging experience

-attend national team camps and evaluate and work with the athletes

Training Camps

-have attended numerous training camps, most recently Puerto Rico and previously in Spain to work with the national team athletes

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Contributor/Leader - Domestic -Technical Expertise – thorough knowledge of Technical Manuals.

-Constantly working at ways to move the sport forward - rules, elements, proposals to move the sport forward at the FINA and Canadian level.

-Clinician – provincially, other provinces recently Saskatchewan, SC & SO conferences etc.

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Contributor/Leader - Domestic -Member of numerous committees and working groups, served as the Officials Chair for Canada and on that committee for numerous years fulfilling various roles.

-Current member of the International Judges Sub-Committee working with the international judges. My current portfolio is training and mentorship.

-National Team Trials Officials Leader-selection of the judges, assist with the scheduling and organizing of the officiating aspects of national team selection events. (2-3 times per year)

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Contributor/Leader - International -Technical Expertise – continual, rules, elements, proposals to move the sport forward at the FINA and Canadian level

-FINA Manual – Free Combination author

-Free Routines method of judging was changed as a result of work done by several international judges in Canada. Pilotted a new system in Canada and then proposed this method which was accepted at the FINA Congress. Submissions are ongoing and we are working on new systems all the time.

-Working on changing wording of marking scale to make easier.

-Clinician, have led several clinics - most recently selected by FINA to run a 5 day judging development clinic in New Zealand.

-Participate in clinics – most recently selected by SC to attend with a coach and participate in an international clinic held in Slovakia; attended many clinics worldwide.

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Journey of Excellence - onwards

-Thirst For Learning!!! Synchro is an evolving sport. -Judges must stay current and continually be learning.

-We work as a team for the betterment of the sport.

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Journey of Excellence - onwards

-Challenging! Speed in decision making and formulating a mark. -Concentration for extended periods not always in ideal conditions. i.e. weather -New skills such as Acrobatics, increasing speed of movement, complexity of actions, new routine events-highlight routines and mixed duets. -Changing judging methods, learning new figures and technical elements every 4 years, new reference materials

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Journey To Excellence - onwards Never did I expect my involvement at 12 years old would lead to the fabulous opportunities

that I have had!

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Journey To Excellence - onwards Ethical – with swimmers, coaches and fellow judges. Judges are viewed through a glass bubble.

Conflict of Interest – follow the rules of SC, SO. Can’t have a conflict.

Listener – know when to speak and when to listen.

Be a positive role model, ethical and non-biased.

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Journey To Excellence - onwards Social media is a concern. What is posted on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Judges need to be careful about their posts, and what they ‘like’.

They should not favour swimmers, coaches or clubs.

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

Judges are not paid for their work. They pay for their uniforms, their resource material and an annual registration fee.

They are remunerated for their costs based on an established per diem.

Most are juggling and balancing work commitments at the same time.

Very important to be supported by family members and by your work colleagues.

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

Why?

Making lifelong friendships both in and out of the pool!

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

Best view in the house!

Opportunity to travel

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

AND PASSION for our sport and our fine athletes!!

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

Judges are the biggest fans!!!

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

AND hoping that my contributions are making a difference to the sport –to the swimmers, to the coaches, to my colleagues and synchro enthusiasts!

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference

that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

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My thanks to -FINA

-Synchro Canada

-Synchro Swim Ontario

-Seneca College

-my family!!!!

-my colleagues

for their continual support!!!

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My thanks to you!

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Journey To Excellence - onwards

Questions?