In this Issue:
Champs Meets
Just a quick reminder that as we move into the Champs portion of our
season, the officials' work isn't done. B-Champs needs officials -
so if you have swimmers in B-Champs or just want to help out, please do
so - and any official can volunteer to officiate. Many of our USA
Swimming officials are gearing up for Prelims and A-Champs - but you
might see a few of them on deck at B-Champs. And speaking of
Prelims/A-Champs, all USA Swimming certified Midlakes officials have
been contacted about working at these meets. If you are one and
didn't receive an email, please let me know so I can include you in the
fun!
One of the big challenges we have sometimes (in the
heat of competition) is to keep in mind that we as officials are part of
a team and are "team neutral" - in other words, it doesn't matter what
suit color or cap is worn (or which swimmer is in what lane), we need to
be fair and respectful of the competition across jurisdictions and
toward our fellow judges. Even when we know the other official
missed something, we need to remember that we all might miss something
sometime or that sometimes it falls into the "doubt"
category. Officials should be respectful in tone and tenor as we
interact with other officials - as there are coaches, swimmers and
parents that are watching, looking for that fairness and respect to
shine through. When they don't see it, it raises doubts that the
swimmers are being judged fairly.
If you have any questions about calls that are made
(or not made), as we discussed in training, please take these to your
referee/starter to make sure that everyone is literally and figuratively
on the same page. In addition, if you happen to be serving in
another role (like timer or being a runner or maybe just a plain
spectator) and you see something that was missed, it's really not your
call to make. As indicated in last weeks Update, please address
these concerns with your coach and let them handle it as they see fit.
For all of us as the season comes to a close, please don't "check out"
and forget that we all need to have patience with one another as we look
to do better in the future.
If your kids performed well this
season and/or are looking to improve their swim skills and are
interested in pursuing swimming year-round, you should think about
becoming a USA Swim Official. We've had a few retirements this
year so we are definitely looking to replenish the ranks. USA Swim
Officials clinics are offered in the Fall (usually September/October) by
Pacific Northwest Swimming (PNS). They announce these on their
Officials website (http://www.teamunify.com/pnws2/__doc__/official_clinics.html)
- please be sure to check it out (and I'll try to send out an
announcement when they are scheduled). If you are interested, let
me know and I can work with you to get a clinic scheduled in your area.
For a couple of years now, I've included thanks to
officials in my season wrap-up Update - from coaches, club
representatives and fellow officials. So if you have someone who
has gone out of their way in providing superior officiating volunteer
service and you'd like to recognize them, please send me an email
letting me know and I'll compile those and pass the Kudo's along in my
season-end Update.
Q1: If the
event is the Medley and during the freestyle the swimmer turned on their
back to rest and then turned back on the breast to continue swimming, as
many inexperienced swimmers do, is this a DQ?
A1: If the
freestyle swimmer in a Medley event actually "swims" backstroke (keeping
in mind that backstroke is any stroke on the back) then yes, it would be
a DQ. If they merely roll onto their back to breathe, then no.
Q2: If a male
swimmer wears a shirt to swim, is this a DQ?
A2: Male
swimmers are not allowed to wear swim gear that extends below the knee
or above the navel. So yes, once the swimmer is warned, a shirt is
NOT allowed to be worn and would be a DQ.
Q3: We give
heat winner ribbons at our meets and one swimmer got the heat winner
prize, but came in second because their timers watches were slower than
another lanes watches. Should we have a volunteer who does place
judging?
A3: Starters
should be writing down place finished. These would be
cross-referenced only when the computer system flags the heat as needing
place verification or there is an obvious, glaring difference between
the times (for example 20.99 in 10&U Free). Place judges are not used
and should not be used in carrying out a meet - your heat winner awards
person should probably check with the starter when the races are close.
Q4: In
backstroke, the swimmer flipped onto his stomach to perform his turn,
started the flip but couldn’t make it over, then decided to just touch
and move on to the next lap on his back. Should he be DQ’d because he
went 90 degrees past vertical towards the breast?
A4: If in your
judgment, they actually "swam" on their front, then yes. But if it
was part of their "turning action" then it needs to be more than just
"ugly" to be a DQ. Remember, if there's doubt, then there's no
call.
Q5: On 2
different in-the-water relay take-offs: on one exchange, Swimmer 2
released her hand before Swimmer 1 touched the wall, she realized that
and touched the wall with her hand again before taking off. On the other
exchange Swimmer 4 never put his hand on the wall before take off.
Would these be DQs?
A5: Reviewing
the USA Swim 2010 Rule Book: 101.7.3, it states that: "In relay races
involving in-the-water starts, the team of a swimmer who has lost touch
with the end of the course before his/her proceding teammates touches
the wall shall be disqualified, unless the swimmer in default returns to
the original starting point at the wall." Midlakes also has rules
regarding "in the water starts" (contained in the Swim Operating Plan)
which further clarify that it is the hand of the swimmer that must
remain in contact with the wall, not just the feet. So, based
on these descriptions, these both could be DQs for early take-offs.
However, in the first case, while the hand that left the wall was
replaced, might that indicate a "benefit of the doubt" situation with
regard to that swimmer perhaps readjusting themselves on the wall?
Clearly, in the second case, there was no intent to have the hand on the
wall, so it would definitely be a DQ.
Q6: One of the
15-18 Boys isn't available for prelims but is available for finals.
Can I list him as an alternate for the relay and have him swim in place
of another swimmer at Finals? And can this other swimmer still
swim his individual events at Finals? Relay substitution is legal
in USA Swimming so it's a little confusing in Midlakes.
A6: This is
covered under the Midlakes Swim Operating Plan under G. Championship
Meets: "5. Substitutions may be made in relays for injury or illness.
When a substitution is made, the swimmer who is deleted may not swim in
any events. The substitute swimmer must be listed as an alternate on the
entry sheet. Regulation #3 under Championship Meets still applies to the
new swimmer regarding number of events entered." Since the other
swimmer is not being substituted because of injury or illness, a
replacement of this nature would not be allowed.
Thanks again for all
the work you do. Let me know if you have any questions or
concerns. If you know of others who should receive this
information, please let me know - and if you are no longer interested in
receiving these, let me know and I'll remove you from the distribution
list.
Regards,
Scott Allen
Officials
Chair
Midlakes
Swim League
