From Lanes to Leadership: Melaina Howard Bridging the Gap as Swimmer and Official

Melaina Howard cannot imagine the frustration an athlete feels when showing up to a major meet only to find it canceled due to a shortage of officials. As the daughter of a swim official, Howard always intended to follow her father’s path eventually, but a recent injury shifted her timeline. Instead of waiting until her competitive days were over, the Colorado Mesa sophomore distance freestyle swimmer has stepped onto the deck now, becoming a certified USA Swimming official while still competing for the Mavericks.

When Howard found herself sidelined from the pool, she saw an opportunity to stay connected to the sport she loves. She began by officiating Special Olympics meets, a cause she has supported since she was thirteen as a coach and volunteer. Her background in American Sign Language, which she studied for three years, has made her a vital asset in communicating with deaf athletes and has even inspired her future career goals in deaf education or athletic administration.

Mastering the View from the Deck

Howard is currently a certified stroke and turn judge and has just completed her certification as a starter. Her next objective is to become a certified chief judge, a role that requires rigorous coursework, testing, and shadowing veteran officials. She finds the work deeply interactive and enjoys the head of meet aspects that come with higher level certifications.

Being an official is a physically and mentally demanding role. For large multi-day events, Howard explains that while a crew can technically function with six people, having twelve officials allows for necessary breaks and the use of walkers. These officials walk the sides of the pool to ensure no infractions occur in the middle of the lane where glare might hide a stray flutter kick during a breaststroke set.

The Benefit of the Doubt

One of the most significant insights Howard has gained is that officials are not looking for reasons to disqualify athletes. The primary rule of officiating is to give the athlete the benefit of the doubt. If there is any uncertainty about what was seen, no call is made. This perspective has actually enhanced Howard’s own swimming performance, as she now has a technical understanding of exactly what judges are looking for when she hits the wall for a turn.

Howard recalls a specific instance where she had to call a backstroke turn infraction. She waited to see the turn a second time to be absolutely certain before making the call. While she has had to navigate the occasional upset coach, she maintains that the officiating community is a supportive extension of the swimming family, built on a foundation of mutual respect and the shared goal of a fair competition.

Building a Professional Network

Officiating has opened doors to a diverse professional network that Howard would not have accessed otherwise. Standing on the deck has allowed her to build friendships with engineers, teachers, and administrators who offer advice and potential career connections. She views these relationships as a vital part of her “Architecture of the Pivot” as she prepares for life after graduation.

The dedication required is immense, as Howard often practices with her team for two hours before working a seven-hour meet session. However, she views this as an investment in her future and the future of the sport. With an early start in the officiating world, Howard is already dreaming of a path that could lead to the Olympic Games. By the time she reaches her professional peak, she will have decades of experience, proving that a student-athlete can lead from both inside the lane and from the edge of the deck.