November 18, 2002

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.

WATER DEPTH - Remember, starting blocks cannot be used unless water depth at the starting end is not at least 4 feet deep! NO ONE can give permission to use starting blocks in less than 4 feet of water! Page 10 in the Rule Book covers water depth in detail.

BACKSTROKE STARTS - The backstroke start rule now requires swimmers to have their feet, including the toes, completely under the surface of the water. Standing in, or on, the gutter, or curling the toes over the edge of the gutter, even if the gutter is under the water, is NOT legal. Officials, it is permissible to give the command, "Place your feet," before giving the starting command, "Take your mark." Giving the "Place your feet" command would be a great preventive officiating technique to be sure all swimmers can hear, and understand, the starting commands. If a swimmer is in legal starting position at the starting sound, but moves his toes out of the water and/or curls them over the edge of the gutter after the starting sound, a stroke violation should be called, not a false start.

STARTING PISTOLS - Many officials use starting pistols to recall swimmers after a false start and to signal when the lead swimmer in the 500-freestyle has 2 lengths, plus 5 yards remaining in the race. If a school does not want an official to bring a starting pistol into their school, they should notify the official. If a starting pistol is not used, the next best choice is some type of portable horn. If the school notifies the official not to bring a starting pistol, the school is responsible for providing an alternative sounding device. If the official chooses not to use a starting pistol, the official is responsible for providing an alternative sounding device. We will allow the starter to use the starting horn for the recall and in the 500. Be aware that the use of the starting horn to recall swimmers after a false start is not always effective because of the noise level in the pool.

EXHIBITION SWIMMERS - Exhibition swimmers must count the event as one of their 4 allowable events, cannot score points and are subject to all other swimming rules. The rule regarding exhibition swimmers is NOT intended to allow swimmers who have been DQ'd for a false start to participate in a race as an exhibition swimmer. Allowing DQ'd swimmers to compete creates a serious liability issue for officials and coaches as there is no rule support for doing so. If a DQ'd swimmer participates in the race from which they were DQ'd and suffers a catastrophic injury, the referee and head coach assume liability as the swimmer should not have been a participant.

LAP COUNTERS - NFHS rules have changed the penalty for not providing an adequate number of lap counting devices for all lanes. If there are enough lap counting devices for the visiting swimmers, the host team swimmers compete without the use of the devices, but with no other penalty. If there are not enough lap counting devices for all visiting swimmers, who want to use one, the host team is disqualified from the event and the visiting swimmers compete to earn points.

Although NFHS rules allow the use of a lap counter in the 500-yard freestyle to be optional, the following restrictions are in place for swimmers in Iowa. If a swimmer chooses to use a lap counting device, the lap counter (the person) must be in position at the start of the race and remain in position until the swimmer in their lane 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.

CONVERTED METRIC TIMES - The Athletic Association now allows the use of converted metric times as official entry times for district swimming. CONVERTED METRIC TIMES USING THE NFHS CONVERSION CHART FROM THE NFHS SWIMMING RULE BOOK WILL BE ALLOWED AS OFFICIAL DISTRICT ENTRY TIMES.

OFFICIAL'S EVALUATION - We will continue the officials' evaluation program this season. Coaches, please evaluate all officials working all high school swimming meets (grades 9-12). The evaluations will be used to address general areas where officials, as a group, are doing well and those where improvement is needed. Individual evaluations will not be shared with individual officials. There were two concerns that surfaced from the 2001-02 evaluations. 1) Officials not meeting with coaches and captains before a meet. Although such a meeting is not required by rule, it's still a good idea to have a meeting to discuss special concerns or procedures for the meet. 2) Officials not moving up & down the pool, therefore, being out of position to make the proper calls. It is very important for officials to move up and down the length of the pool as much as possible. The priority should be swimmers who are in positions to score points. In the early stages of a race an official should be in position to observe the strokes and turns of all swimmers.

Coaches believe there are 3 areas in which officials are doing a very good job. 1) Overall knowledge and application of the rules. 2) Keeping meets running smoothly. 3) Conducting consistent and fair starts. As you know, these areas are crucial to the meet. GOOD JOB OFFICIALS! Please pay particular attention this year to the meeting with the coaches and captains and to being in position to make the proper calls.

SPORTSMANSHIP - Coaches, 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 before meets about sportsmanship.

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 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 season, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Alan Beste

Administrative Assistant