In this issue:
Season End
Looking Back/Planning Ahead
Questions
Officiating Protocols
Just a quick reminder to keep up the good work you've been doing - and to continue to be mindful of your jurisdiction and the protocols we've discussed with regard to your actions on deck. We want to be sure to "observe, not inspect" and show everyone (coaches, swimmers, spectators and your fellow officials) that you are paying attention. That means being in proper position, facing the pool, and putting yourself where you can see the swims - especially where the common infractions occur. This would also include walking the sides of the pool the whole length (or at least as far as you can), and when the swimmers in your jurisdiction separate, you do the best you can to watch their swims. Also keep in mind that while you are working, conversations with coaches, swimmers and other parents should be kept to a minimum - or even better to be saved for after you've completed your shift.
One of the differences between the dual meets and post-season A-Champs is the officials who are on deck. Midlakes requires that officials for Prelims and A-Champs be USA Swimming certified so there won’t be much difference in officiating – the same set of rules, interpretations, and exceptions will be used, the main difference will be the experience of our volunteers. A number of folks are willing to help out and will be recognized by the white shirts and navy blue shorts/skirts around the pool at each of these events. You’ll also notice two separate individuals in the roles of referee and starter which is more formal during the post-season mostly in an effort to confirm false starts (should there be any).
As you may have come to appreciate, officiating is a demanding and sometimes thankless job. So, if you get a chance, please thank those officials for their extra efforts in helping us conclude the 2009 season. And for those of you not on deck, as you watch and observe, you may hear some parents in the stands wonder how a call could get missed. Please reassure them that everyone is doing the best they can and that every once in a while, a call gets missed - even by an experienced official.
B-Champs are coming up this Saturday and each attending team has been asked to provide officials. If you haven’t been identified as a potential official and are planning to attend, please be sure to check with your club’s volunteer coordinator or the host club as I know there will at least be a need for an extra set of eyes to help judge the relay take-offs.
And speaking of relay take-offs, when you prepare for next season, you might want to consider setting up your club's volunteer list with a separate position of "Relay Take-Offs". Each club (host and visiting) should be providing 2 for each dual meet (to handle the 8&U and 10&U Medley and 8&U Free Relays) - and when they are not available, it creates a burden on the host club. As we want to ensure fairness across the competition, it would be great to be sure to have this identified as a needed volunteer position for next year.
Did you know that all of these updates are
available on the Midlakes website? If you missed one, feel free to
check out the prior updates on the website – they are on the right hand
side under Officiating Updates. And while we never know what may happen
next year with regard to the rules and any potential changes, we’ll do
our best to keep you informed with regard to holding officials training
sessions. We’ll likely hold these for next years’ season in May and
likely different days/times (like this year) to accommodate the most
folks – and like any skill, it gets rusty if not used, so please plan on
attending if nothing else to use as a refresher. If there are people
who you know who missed out on training (or these updates) this year,
please forward this email to them asking them to respond to me so I can
add them to the distribution list. Midlakes will also communicate news
via the website.
And finally, if your swimmer is new to the sport and/or you’re
considering joining a year-round swim team, I know that USA Swimming is
always looking for additional officials to help on deck. If you are
interested in finding out more and joining the ranks, please let me
know.
Questions
Q1: After the start in
butterfly, the swimmer was underwater completing multiple fly kicks
before surfacing. While underwater, the swimmer had a noticeable
sculling motion of the hands during his fly kicks. Does this
represent a potential DQ for arms underwater recovery?
A1: This is one of the inconsistent areas of our
officiating world. While in Breaststroke, a lateral or downward
motion of the arm defines the first pull, there is no such definition
for Butterfly - nor is there any definition or prohibition of
"sculling". So you would actually have to see something that would
clearly indicate a "pull" - something that would show breaking of the
wrists or elbows and an actual "grab" of the water - and then a movement
of the arms back forward in order to call an "underwater recovery".
Q2: In the backstroke finish, the
swimmer was approaching the wall on his back and lunged forward to touch
the wall. After the initial lunge, the swimmer completed what
appeared to be a dolphin kick underwater, which indicated to me that he
was fully submerged prior to touching the wall. In essence, the swimmer
lunged too early, and he dolphin kicked his way to the wall. I
vaguely recall you telling us that the swimmer could only be fully
submerged AT finish on backstroke. Based on my observation, the
swimmer was fully submerged BEFORE finish. Would this be a DQ?
A2: You have correctly differentiated between "before
the finish" and "at the finish". Based on your description, if he
"kicked into the wall" and you clearly saw him submerged then yes, that
would be a DQ. In the Rule Book, please refer to 101.4.2 where
this defines that the swimmer must on the surface of the water after 15
meters "except it is permissible for the swimmer to be completely
submerged during the turn, at the finish...". And
you would need to SEE this prior to you moving your eyes to observe the
touch at the wall.
Q3: During the IM, the swimmer in lane 4 left the wall with her shoulders past vertical toward the breast at the beginning of her backstroke leg. When I finished writing up the DQ, I continued to watch the other swimmers and found that the swimmer from lane 4 had made her back-to-breast turn and ended up in lane 5. The lane 5 swimmer was about 10-15 yards ahead of the lane 4 swimmer. About 5 yards after the lane 5 swimmer made her breast-to-free transition the two swimmers "met" with one swimmer going over the other. It didn't appear that the lane 5 swimmer touched or pushed off the bottom of the pool, though her stroke was definitely disrupted. I would have DQ'd the lane 4 swimmer for interfering with the lane 5 swimmer, but she was already DQ'd from her backstroke leg. I didn't DQ the lane 5 swimmer because I couldn't see if she pushed off the bottom and since it was the freestyle stroke, there was no stroke infraction. Was that the correct call? And would the lane 5 swimmer be DQ'd if they were doing breaststroke and their stroke was disrupted caused by interference from another swimmer?
A3: Interference would be called on the swimmer who ended up in the wrong lane but because she was already DQ'd because of the backstroke infraction, you didn't have to do anything else - the swimmer who was interfered with was swimming freestyle and as long as they only "stood" on the bottom (then "released") they would not be DQ'd. If any swimmer's stroke is disrupted based on interference then they would not be DQ'd provided the only cause of their stroke being interrupted was the other swimmer - it's definitely a judgment call.
As usual, let me know if you need any clarification. Thanks!
