November 26, 2001

Dear Swimming Coaches and Officials:

This is the first of two letters you will receive during the swim season which address rule's issues that may need further clarification. My hope is the letters will facilitate a more consistent application and understanding of the rules across the state. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

FORWARD START - As you know, swimmers no longer need to have at least one foot at the front edge of the starting block until the command, "Take Your Mark." After giving the command, if a swimmer has not assumed a legal starting position with at least one foot at the front edge of the block the "Stand Up" command should be given. All swimmers should be reminded that legal starting position requires at least one foot to be at the front edge of the block at the "Take Your Mark," command. The starter then begins the starting sequence again. If the swimmer still does not assume a legal starting position, the "Stand Up" command should be given a second time. The starter may now direct a reminder at the individual swimmer or visit with the individual swimmer to be sure he understands legal starting position. If the referee feels it is warranted, the swimmer could be disqualified at this time for failure to assume a legal starting position. If the swimmer is not DQ'd at this time, but fails to assume legal starting position a third time he should be disqualified for failure to assume legal starting position. If a swimmer has not assumed legal starting position, the race should not be started, then recalled, as that creates a disadvantage for the other competing swimmers.

BREASTSTROKE - Rules require the arms to remain in the same horizontal plane during the execution of the stroke, but allow the arms and hands to be in different horizontal planes on the turns and finish. As discussed at the rule's meetings, the transition from the same horizontal plane to different horizontal planes can take place after the final, propulsive arm pull immediately prior to the turn or finish. Once the arms are no longer in the same horizontal plane, the swimmer cannot take another arm pull prior to the turn or finish without being disqualified for illegal body position.

Rules also require the elbows to remain under the surface of the water, except for the last stroke at the finish. To be consistent, the elbows are no longer required to be under the water after the final, propulsive arm pull immediately prior to the finish. Once the elbows are no longer beneath the water, the swimmer must finish the race without taking another arm pull.

BUTTERFLY - The rules require corresponding points on both hands to remain in the same horizontal plane during the execution of the stroke, but allow the hands to be in different horizontal planes on the turns and finish. As discussed at the rule's meetings, the transition from the same horizontal plane to different horizontal planes can take place after the final, propulsive arm pull immediately prior to the turn or finish. Once the hands are no longer in the same horizontal plane, the swimmer cannot take another arm pull prior to the turn or finish without being disqualified for illegal body position.

TIMERS - Coaches, please be sure to have timers ready prior to your home meets. I would prefer at least one timer be an adult, but I understand that is not always possible. Officials, please be sure to have a short meeting with the timers to impress upon them their importance during the meet and to summarize their duties for them. Please refer to the Swimming Officials Manual for assistance.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS - I'd like to clarify responsibilities when bleeding occurs during a swimming meet. It is the responsibility of the host school to provide trained personnel and supplies to properly handle the cleaning of blood from any environmental surfaces, i.e., deck, blocks, etc. It is each coach's responsibility to handle the cleaning of blood from their athletes, and to use universal precautions when doing so. Officials' are not to be involved in cleaning blood from athletes or surfaces. Their job is to enforce the rule on bleeding as printed in the rule book. A sheet which provides more details on the responsibilities of schools and officials when bleeding occurs is enclosed.

CONVERTED METRIC TIMES - The Athletic Association has never allowed the use of converted metric times as official entry times for district swimming. This has been the procedure because, until recently, the NFHS did not have an official method of converting metric times to yard times. The NFHS now prints a metric-to-yard conversion chart in the NFHS Swimming Rule Book on page 41. The Swimming Advisory Committee believes these converted times should be allowed as official district entry times. Therefore, CONVERTED METRIC TIMES USING THE NFHS CONVERSION CHART ON PAGE 41 OF THE NFHS SWIMMING RULE BOOK WILL BE ALLOWED AS OFFICIAL DISTRICT ENTRY TIMES FOR THE 2001-2002 SEASON, VIA A ONE YEAR WAIVER. At their regularly scheduled meeting in May 2002, the Swimming Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Control to allow converted metric times on a permanent basis. A copy of the conversion chart is enclosed.

OFFICIAL'S EVALUATION - As you were notified earlier, an official's evaluation will be used on a trial basis for the 2001-02 season. Coaches have been asked to evaluate officials working all high school swimming meets (grades 9-12) using preestablished criteria. The evaluations will be sent to me at the Athletic Association. The results of the evaluations will be used to address general areas where officials, as a group, are doing well and those where improvement is needed. Those areas will be shared with all officials through mailings. Individual evaluations will not be shared with individual officials.

LAP COUNTERS - Although NFHS rules make the use of a lap counter in the 500-yard freestyle optional, the following restrictions were put in place last year for swimmers in Iowa. If a swimmer chooses to use a lap counter, the lap counter must be in position at the start of the race and remain in position until that swimmer has completed the race. If a swimmer chooses not to use a lap counter, no one will be allowed in the lap counter position for that lane or swimmer. If a lap counter arrives after the start of the race, the referee should direct them to leave and the swimmer will compete without a lap counter. That is the only penalty assessed.

SPORTSMANSHIP - Coaches, please be sure to visit with your swimmers about good sportsmanship. Swimming has a great reputation when it comes to proper behavior and I'd like to it keep that reputation! Officials, remember to visit with coaches and captains prior to meets about sportsmanship. I have enclosed the Sportsmanship Statement handed out at rules meetings as a reminder to everyone about how sportsmanship can be addressed prior to meets.

I hope these clarifications assist both coaches and officials. If you have other situations you would like to have addressed in the January letter please call, fax, write, or E-mail them to me. My E-mail address is <abeste@iahsaa.org>. Additional 2001-2002 NFHS Swimming Interpretations can be found on the National Federation's web site at <www.nfhs.org/rules-swimming.htm>.

If you have any questions during the course of the season, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Alan Beste

Administrative Assistant