Officials News Archive - May, 2010

Hi Folks!

It may seem like a long way off, but the long course sectional meet will be here before you know it!  This meet will be held at Mt. Hood Community College this July 20-24 and applications for assigned position are being accepted through July 12.

Click here for the application in Word format.

Click here for the application in PDF format with fillable fields. 

Regardless of whether or not you choose to apply for a position, all officials are welcome and encouraged to work one or more sessions.  This will be an Officials Qualifying meet and evaluations will be offered for N2/N3 advancement and recertification.  Moreover, this meet is a lot of fun and you will see some great swims!

See you on deck!

Bob McMillan

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Hi Folks!

A question arose at last year’s 11 & Over Championships regarding “closing the heat” and I had forgotten about this until I was recently asked a similar question.  We’ve all seen a situation where the referee turns the heat over to the starter and at some point prior to the start of the race another swimmer jumps up on the block.  What do we do in this case; when is the heat closed?

At the time many of us began officiating we used a recall process for false starts.  Part of the process had a recall referee or designee close the heat with a whistle blast.  I don’t remember if the rules actually referred to this action closing the heat or if this was just jargon, but in our LSC we treated it as the rule.  Regardless, the rulebook clearly outlines the procedure for starting at present, and there is no reference to “closing the heat”.

Still, while there is no official point at which the heat is closed, the rules do set the expectation for the swimmers to step up on the block or place their hands and feet for a backstroke start without undue delay.

Closing the heat is a judgment call belonging to the meet referee.  Because it is subjective, the decision should probably take into account the desire of the meet host.   At most A/B/C meets heavy in B/C swimmers, as well as B/C and dual meets held throughout the season, the goal is to get kids their swims; at most of these meets we often swim kids who’ve missed their heat in a later heat if space exists.  If this is the case it doesn’t make sense to DQ a swimmer who jumps up on the blocks late.

At A meets or A/B meets, as well as late season and championship meets, that grey area of forgiveness is typically shortened and swimmers are required to report without undue delay.  Still, the judgment regarding when the heat is closed to further participants lies with the meet referee, and the meet referee should communicate the expectation regarding closing the heat to the coaches in their meeting and with the deck referee(s) prior to the start of the meet. 

While the rulebook does not refer to closing a heat, the meet referee certainly has the authority to declare to the deck referees “the action of turning the heat over to the starter closes the heat, and anyone stepping up after this, without good cause, shall be disqualified for delay of meet.”  This would then be a delay of meet DQ rather than a no-show or missed heat.

I hope this helps clarify what we mean by closing the heat.  As always, the best way to avoid confusion or misunderstanding is to communicate with the coaches and officials in advance.

See you on deck!

Bob McMillan

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Hello OSI!  Ken Schuh - a friend from the past - has a tremendous opportunity to participate in the wildest swim event known. Open water Swimming!!
 
IES (Inland Empire Swimming) has 2 OW Swim Meets this year and we want to invite OSI swimmers and teams to participate! Both meets are dual sanction USAS and USMS meets, so please spread the word!
 
July 3, 2010 --- Snake River Challenge --- 3/4 mile point to point on the Snake River in Clarkston, WA (Lewiston, ID)
August 14, 2010 --- CAST Classic Open Water Swim --- 2.5K fun swim, 5K and 10K competitive on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
 
I am also offering both of these swim meets as training opportunities for Officials and want to extend that offer to OSI officials.
 
Here are links to the Host teams websites:
 
Snake River Challenge - sanction here
www.lcneptunes.com
nmcraft@aol.com
 
CAST Classic - sanction here
www.swimcast.net
castclassic@gmail.com
 
Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions!
 
Sincerely,
 
Ken Schuh
IES Open Water Chair
openwaterken@aol.com

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The CRST decathlon meet is May 29 and 30 and is in desperate need of starters, deck referees, stroke and turn, and electronic timers.  The meet will run for about 8 hours each day; if you can work even part of a day your help would be appreciated.

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Dear Oregon Swimming Officials:

On behalf of the OSAA and our 3,700 high school swimmers state-wide, I would like to thank you for all of your contributions to the sport and the student-athletes that participate in it.  Many of you volunteer at your local high school meets through-out the season and at their district meets.  I am lucky enough to get to spend 2 days with many of you each February as you volunteer for our state championships.  Your contribution at that meet is invaluable and we truly could not do it without each and every one of you.

Special thanks to Bob McMillan for securing coverage for our high school district meets and to Joe Dahl, Judy L’Roy and Gene Mielke for serving as my State meet referees.  Another special thanks to Jacki Allender for the awesome job that she does as my OSAA Swimming Rules Interpreter.

Thanks again to each of you, take care.
 
Warmest Regards,
Cindy Simmons
Assistant Executive Director
Oregon School Activities Association

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Hi Folks!

Most of us were taught to ensure a swimmer moves at least one foot to the front edge of the block or pool deck for a forward start.  I’ve recently been advised the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Committee has interpreted the statement "with at least one foot at the front of the starting platform" (101.1.2C) to mean “in the front portion” or “toward the front” but not necessarily at the front edge. 

What this means is we, as starters and referees, have no authority to insist swimmers move a foot to the front edge of the block for a forward start.  We must ensure swimmers have one foot not at the back of the block, but that is the extent of our positioning authority around the foot/feet for the forward start.

Please change your practice to abide by this rule interpretation immediately.

See you on deck!

Bob

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