| SANTA CLARITA SWIM LEAGUE 2008 RULES October 29, 2007 (Revised 02/25/08) 1. Official team practice can begin three (3) weeks prior to the League Opening Date. 2. All swimmers are limited to two (2) individual events in dual, intra squad, and championship meets. In addition to these two events, swimmers may swim in one (1) medley relay and one (1) freestyle relay. Each club may enter as many swimmers as desired in dual, intra squad, and championship meets. To qualify for an individual event for the Championship Meet, the swimmer must have participated and have a qualifying time for the corresponding event at a dual meet or intra squad meet that season (disqualification in an event does not count as a qualifying time). 3. Events per meet: Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Individual Medley, Free Relay, and Medley Relay. Current USS Swim Team Rules applies to stroke definition. 4. Swimmer's age as of June 1st determines age group of participation. All swimmers must compete in their own age group in individual events. For relays, swimmers may move up one age group only. 5. Distances for meets: Age Group Individual Events Relay (Medley and Free) 6 & under 25 yards* 100 yards 7 8 25 yards 100 yards 9 10 50 yards** 200 yards**** 11 12 50 yards*** 200 yards 13 14 50 yards*** 200 yards 15 16 50 yards*** 200 yards Exceptions: * 6 & Under Free and Back ONLY ** Butterfly 25 yards; IM 100 yards *** IM 100 yards **** Medley Relay 100 yards 6. Annual Stroke and Turn Meeting A. Scheduled to meet the Wednesday before the first dual or intra squad meet. Coaches, managers, league representatives, stroke and turn judges, and starters from each team are requested to attend. B. Warm ups for Championships will be announced according to rotation and volunteer assignments will be distributed. C. Review of stroke and turn guidelines, bylaws, and League rules will be discussed. 7. Officiating: each club will furnish the following adult volunteers and supplies: Host Club Visiting Club A. 1 timer per lane with watch and clip board A. 1 timer per lane with watch and clip board B. 2 stroke and turn judges for relays/ B. 2 stroke and turn judges/ 1 stroke and turn judge for individuals 1 stroke and turn judge for individuals C. 1 program manager C. 1 program manager D. 1 runner D. 1 runner E. 2 heat seaters E. 2 heat seaters F. 1 scorer F. 1 scorer G. starter and whistle G. 1 Ribbon Preparer H. meet director H. 1 Place Judges I. announcer J. head timer K. head set for stroke and turn judges L. 1 Ribbon Preparer M. 1 Place Judges Intra Squad Meet Intra squad meets will include a minimum of 2 timers per lane, 2 stroke & turn judges at all times Optional place judges All other necessary positions to run an efficient meet. 8. League fees shall be paid by each team. The balance is due to the treasurer by 9 pm on the Thursday prior to the first meet. Final rosters are also due at this time. Final rosters should be sorted by sex and age group. Information should include: swimmer number, name, address, birthdate, age, and sex. 9. Score sheets shall be kept by each swim club. One copy will be retained by the Host club and one by the Visiting club. For all dual and intra squad meets, except the last meet before the championship, the Host club will deliver one (1) additional copy to each coach by NOON the following Monday. For the final dual or intra squad meet, the Host club will deliver one (1) copy to each coach by the end of the Saturday of the final dual/intra squad meet. 10. Meet Rules A. The Meet Director will be responsible for assuring that all league rules are followed. All disputes will be decided between the Meet Director and each team league representative or his/her alternate. The Meet Director is responsible for handling any swim meet violations. B. The Program Manager will manage entry changes before the meet and oversee computer operations throughout the meet. No additions or changes will be accepted by the Program Manager after 8:00 a.m., except relay changes. Medley and freestyle relays can be changed up to the time the relay event is put into the seating area. . Any swimmers entered into incorrect events or left off the meet entries by accident will be allowed to swim, but can not earn points or receive ribbons for the event(s) in question. Corrected or late entries will swim in the slowest heat. Each Meet will be set up in the computer as a “dual meet”. C. Dual meets and intra squad meets will start at 8:30 am. D. Heats are organized slowest to fastest. The slowest heat is heat #1 Combining of events will be allowed only upon agreement of competing teams. E. Stroke and Turn Judges will have knowledge of correct stroke, kick, and turn criteria. Stroke and turn judges are the only individuals who may disqualify a swimmer and will notify timers and coaches (when possible) of any disqualification. During individual events one stroke and turn judge from each team will be allowed on deck for judging. During relays two stroke and turn judges from each team will be allowed on deck for judging. Any disqualifications must be agreed upon by both judges except for two hand touches on the finish. . Timers will record both times on the lane sheet. Entry cards will be used for relays only. All times to be recorded to the second decimal point when possible. ALL DISQUALIFICATION TIMES MUST BE RECORDED AND SHOULD LIST THE REASON FOR THE DISQUALIFICATION. Timers will stop the clock when any part of the swimmer's body touches the wall (applies to all strokes). G. Scoring: Individual Events 1st Place 6 points 2nd Place 4 points 3rd Place 3 point Relay Events 1st Place 6 points (no other points are awarded) H. Starters will commence all races in a timely manner and will disqualify late arrivals for events. The starter is the only individual who can call a "false start" and shall disqualify a swimmer for two (2) false starts. The starter or head timer will act as place judge on tight race finishes. I. Awards Individual Events: heat ribbons will be awarded for the first three (3) places of each HEAT, however, the top six (6) EVENT placers will be awarded the bigger event ribbons in lieu of place ribbons. Relay Events: only first place point ribbons will be awarded. Awards will be based on averaged times of watches unless over ruled by the Place Judges. J. Relays Only same sex can be aged up. Majority determines sex even teams race with boys. Two (2) of the same age group AND same sex ARE NECESSARY to form a relay team. Example: 2 boys and 2 girls constitutes a boys relay. Three boys and one girl is a boys relay. Three girls and one boy is a girls relay. Mixed relays are allowed ONLY if a team cannot field a relay in a specific age group. You can ONLY move up from one age group below. Double leg relays are allowed only if there are not enough members on the roster for that age group. Every effort must be made to qualify a relay in each age group prior to Championships. Any infraction of the above rules will result in disqualification for that relay. K. Warm Ups The home team will warm up first. Warm Up times are established as 7:30 to 7:50 for the home team and 7:50 to 8:10 for the visiting team. Each team will be assured 20 minutes of warm up. 11. Stroke and Turn Disqualifications A. Disqualifications will be made only by Stroke and Turn Judges or hired official. The stroke and turn judge or hired official will notify the lane timers of the DQ. The lane timer will indicate DQ on the entry slip on the PLACE line. A brief notation of the infraction is mandatory. Times will be noted on the entry slip even though the swimmer is disqualified. Disqualifications will be made for the following infractions: B. General Walking on the bottom of the pool Using the side of the pool or the lane lines to assist (pulling) in swimming Second false start (determined by the starter) Lane change that causes interference to other swimmers Pushing or otherwise physically assisting the start of a swimmer Exiting the pool anywhere but the end of the lane C. 6 & Unders We discourage disqualifications of 6 and Unders except as follows: Walking on the bottom of the pool Using the side of the pool or the lane lines to assist (pulling) in swimming Pushing or otherwise physically assisting the start of a swimmer. - Any swimmer who swims with a coach in the water will be disqualified. D. Freestvle Not touching the side with at least one hand or foot on the turn. E. Backstroke Turning over onto stomach at any time during the stroke or turn (except as permitted by current USS Swim Rules). Not touching the side with at least one hand on the turn or finish Performing one or more complete stroke other than backstroke F. Breaststroke Performing one or more complete stroke other than breaststroke. Using kick other than the frog kick or whip kick Not using both hands on wall simultaneously in the turn and finish G. Butterfly Performing one of more complete stroke other than butterfly Using kick other than the dolphin kick with the feet maintained in the same plane Not touching both hands on wall simultaneously in the turn and finish H. Relays Swimmer LEAVING the wall before the wall is TOUCHED by the previous swimmer Not touching the side with at least one hand or one foot on the turn Swimmer not exiting pool before next swimmer completes 25 yards Pushing or otherwise physically assisting the start of a swimmer* I. Individual Medley Each stroke in the medley must adhere to the before mentioned rules with the exception of the Back to Breast transition where a swimmer may use either turn. The swimmer may therefore turn to their stomach and perform their flip without touching their hand. The above disqualification criteria will apply at all meets and will be reviewed in a meeting between coaches and Stroke and Turn Judges prior to each season (#6) and prior to each dual, intra squad, or championship meet. 12. Championship Meet A. Swimmers must compete in at least one League dual meet or intra squad meet this season to be eligible for the Championship meet. To qualify for an individual event for the Championship Meet, the swimmer must have participated and have a qualifying time for the corresponding event for that season. Disqualifications do not count as a qualifying time. Seeding times for the championship must be from current season Santa Clarita Swim League meets ONLY. A swimmer who competes in at least one dual or intra squad meet but does not qualify for an individual event may participate in a relay, if a qualifying relay is available. Relays must have a qualifying time during the current season to swim in the Championship Meet. (ie: A team may not enter a C relay if no C relay had been entered during the season.) B. Championship meet will start at 8:00 am. Championship warm ups will allow for the host team at host pool. C. Dual meet rules apply to Championship Meet except for the following revisions: i. Program Manager – There will be two (2) meetings held the week of Championships on two consecutive nights. The first night, entries will be submitted and programs will be printed for review. This meeting will be considered the deadline for entries. The second night is for correcting heats and times and for possible scratches. Medley and freestyle relays can be changed up to the time the relay event is put into the seating area. Any swimmers entered into incorrect events or left off the meet entry by accident will be allowed to swim, but can not earn points or receive ribbons or trophies for the event(s) in question. Corrected and late entries will swim in the slowest heat. ii. Stroke and Turn (if no USS official is hired) Judges must have officiated at one or more dual/intra squad meets this season. Only one judge from each team will be allowed on the deck for the purpose of judging, except during medley and freestyle relays when more judges will be allowed. iii. Timers There will be three timers per lane. Three times will be written on each entry slip. The middle time will be used. iv. Scorers Each team will provide 1 scorer. D. Scoring: Individual events: 1st place 6 points 2nd place 4 points 3rd place 3 points 4th place 2 point 5th place 1 point Relays 1st place 6 points 2nd place 4 points 3rd place 3 points E. Medals will be awarded for the first six (6) places for individual events and first three (3) places for relay events. High Point Individual trophies will be awarded to the High Point Scorer in each boy and girl age group at the League Championship Meet. The Championship Award (Perpetual Trophy) will be awarded to the team with the highest point total. F. All disputes are to be handled by league representatives and the league representatives will verify the final score. G. The coaches relay will be comprised of coaches listed on roster. If there are less than four coaches a swimmer from the 15-16 age group will be selected. H. Parents relay will be comprised of parents of swimmers. Each team may enter only one parent relay team per sex. (One male and one female relay team). 13. Swimmer Conduct: A. Any swimmer with ink, marker, paint, etc. on his/her body, other than event numbers written on the hand(s), will not be allowed to swim. Any swimmer who writes on another swimmer with ink, marker, paint, etc. will not be allowed to swim. B. Any swimmer who does not give an honest effort by showing off during a race will cause a 10 point deduction for their team. This could include potentially each swimmer on a relay team. C. Swimmers may not display logos of their local club teams on their caps or suits. High school team caps are acceptable. D. Primary Team Colors are: • OOI – Red / Blue • OOII – Black / Teal • VH - Bright Blue |
Rules