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

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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

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Introduction

Peter Carney Chairman, Rules & Regulations Committee (not an active deck official) Treasurer, North Carolina Swimming Banker, First Union National Bank



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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)

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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)

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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

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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



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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.



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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



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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

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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?

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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.

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Hand Paddles

• • • • Obviously not permited What if swimmer is handicapped? NOT permitted Prosthetic devices ???



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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.

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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



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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



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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.



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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



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120 Day Rule (Domestic)

• Applies only to USS-sanctioned competition (What you do in closed competition does not matter.) • Educational exception



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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.



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Four Hour Rule

• Open discussion



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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



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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)



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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

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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

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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

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Rules Forum on Web

• USA Swimming Home Page http://www.usswim.org • Rules & Regulations Forum http://www2.usswim.org/cgi-shl/rules.exe



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Burning Rules/ Officiating Issues

• Your turn … What have we missed?



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USA Swimming

Thank you!

Peter Carney

pcarney@charlotte.infi.net 704/ 921 0320 599 3939 fax home 704/ 590 3676 590 3671 fax office

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