USA Swimming

USA Swimming USA Swimming Presentation to Colorado Swimming Peter Carney Denver, CO/ October 10, 1998 USA Swimming United States Swimming, Inc. (legal name will not change for now) now d/b/a USA Swimming internationally recognized consistent with our logo will improve our name (brand) recognition Colorado Swimming - October 1998 3 Presentation Outline • • • • • • • Introduction Governing Organizations (Who’s on first?) FINA Rule Changes (Mar 98) Interpretations/ Clarifications (focal point) USA Swimming Rules Changes (Oct 98) Rules Forum on Web Burning Rules/ Officiating Issues 4 Colorado Swimming - October 1998 Introduction Peter Carney Chairman, Rules & Regulations Committee (not an active deck official) Treasurer, North Carolina Swimming Banker, First Union National Bank Colorado Swimming - October 1998 5 Governing Organizations • Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) • United States Aquatic Sports (USAS) • USA Swimming (no acronym) • United States Olympic Committee (USOC) • Amateur Sports Act of 1978 • Closed Competition (NCAA, YMCA, etc) Colorado Swimming - October 1998 6 FINA Rule Changes (effective 3/6/98) • • • • • • Authority of Rules Committee Permissive vs. Restrictive Breaststroke (arms not shoulders) Butterfly (arms not shoulders, 15 meters) Freestyle (15 meters) Starting Position (flexible foot placement) 7 Colorado Swimming - October 1998 Interpretations/ Clarifications Interpretations, Issues or Questions that have come up in the past year or What the Rules Chairman has been doing… ...in his spare time Colorado Swimming - October 1998 8 Breaststroke Pull • Over water (butterfly) recovery not permitted • Arms must maintain contact with water • Arms/ elbows may be out of water during propulsive (back to the breast) phase Colorado Swimming - October 1998 9 Butterfly Scissors Kick • Not a disqualification until and unless the feet pass (alternate) in relation to each other • A foot that drifts higher than the other foot is not a DQ. Colorado Swimming - October 1998 10 Backstroke Turn (part 346) • Requirement for a continuous turning action does not apply under two situations: A. Swimmer never rotates past vertical B. Some part of the swimmer touches the wall prior to a discontinuous turning action Colorado Swimming - October 1998 11 Freestyle in Individual Medley • 101.4.2: “… in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke.” • Not a precise distance or number of strokes • When, in the opinion of the official, it is clear that the stroke is in the style of butterfly, breaststroke or butterfly: DQ Colorado Swimming - October 1998 12 15 meter rule at walls • Backstroke, Butterfly and Freestyle: Some part of the swimmer must break the surface throughout the race, except that it is permissible to be completely submerged for a distance of 15 meters off the start and each turn. • What about at the wall at end of pool length? Colorado Swimming - October 1998 13 15 meter rule at walls (continued) • Backstroke: – May not be completely submerged at finish – Challenging call for official to make • Butterfly: OK after last stroke • Freestyle: OK after last stroke • Yeah, I know it’s inconsistent. Colorado Swimming - October 1998 14 Hand Paddles • • • • Obviously not permited What if swimmer is handicapped? NOT permitted Prosthetic devices ??? Colorado Swimming - October 1998 15 FINA Whistle Start • At Juniors and above: – Short Whistles: Prepare – Long Whistle: Take the blocks • Pursuant to 202.2.12, you may request an exception to the rules to use this start procedure at any meet. Key issue: Include in meet information. Colorado Swimming - October 1998 16 Too many events • 102.2.2 & .3 limit the number of events SWUM, not ENTERED • Unless provided for in meet information, you may not limit number entered • What if swimmer swims too many events? • Under discussion at present Colorado Swimming - October 1998 17 Swimming up an age group • 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 or 15-18: NOT Permitted • No age associated with Senior events • Something and under: OK Colorado Swimming - October 1998 18 Mass Observation • If an LSC chooses to mass observe all swims at a high school or other nonsanctioned event, all valid swims (and corresponding times) achieved by USS registered swimmers are valid for all appropriate USS purposes. Colorado Swimming - October 1998 19 Banned Coach • Amateur Sports Act, USOC Constitution & By-Laws, USS Rules and Regulations provide for due process • Not necessarily automatic; Hearing necessary • Balancing act to ensure rights of all Colorado Swimming - October 1998 20 120 Day Rule (Domestic) • Applies only to USS-sanctioned competition (What you do in closed competition does not matter.) • Educational exception Colorado Swimming - October 1998 21 120 Day Rule (International) • Representation of a club of another FINA member (country) counts as if sanctioned USS competition. It is not considered closed competition. Colorado Swimming - October 1998 22 Four Hour Rule • Open discussion Colorado Swimming - October 1998 23 Advertising • Tobacco and alcohol products may not be advertised (Company names: OK) • Swim suit advertising limited to 16 cm2 2 (2.48 in ) but may be repeating pattern • Caps: no limit • 102.9 not well worded Colorado Swimming - October 1998 24 USA Swimming Rules Changes • • • • 17 housekeeping items New Spring Club Nationals in 2001 Code of Conduct Rules Committee and Legislation Committee now Rules & Regulations Committee (single consolidated committee) Colorado Swimming - October 1998 25 2001 Spring Club Nationals • Up to 4 sectional championships per Zone • Top three teams from each sectional may send up to ten swimmers • Any swimmer with senior cut (including those on a top three sectional club) may compete • Junior cut is minimum time standard Colorado Swimming - October 1998 26 Code of Conduct • List of restricted/ banned activities (follows) • Prosecutorial discretion – Initial investigation – Presidential decision to proceed or not with National Board of Review • All issues heard by National, not LSC Board of Review Colorado Swimming - October 1998 27 Code of Conduct (continued) • Illegal drug or sexual misconduct conviction or charge; drug use/ distribution • Any sexual contact between coach (or other in position of authority) and athlete • Physical abuse; threatening/ abusive language • Organized recruiting (with limits) • Not complete listing Colorado Swimming - October 1998 28 Rules Forum on Web • USA Swimming Home Page http://www.usswim.org • Rules & Regulations Forum http://www2.usswim.org/cgi-shl/rules.exe Colorado Swimming - October 1998 29 Burning Rules/ Officiating Issues • Your turn … What have we missed? Colorado Swimming - October 1998 30 USA Swimming Thank you! Peter Carney pcarney@charlotte.infi.net 704/ 921 0320 599 3939 fax home 704/ 590 3676 590 3671 fax office Colorado Swimming - October 1998 31