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Instructions

Items that are struck out are being proposed for removal. Items that are underlined are being proposed for addition. Rationale is added for clarification of the rule change. Vote yes or no for each proposal. Add comments to clarify your position. 

Question Title

* 1. pg  7    1-1-1 ART. 1 . . . The end walls are the walls perpendicular to the race course is the vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surfaces of the deck and overflow gutter, the front portion of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course. 

Rationale:
Definition further clarifies what constitutes the end wall.

Question Title

* 2. SECTION 4 Meet Management
pg 8  1-4-3b (new) 
ART. 3 . . . A race:
a. officially begins when the swimmers are called to the starting platforms by the
     referee's/starter's long whistle (4-1-5 NOTE);

b. is finished for each swimmer the instant that the swimmer touches the wall at the end of the
    prescribed distance.

c. b officially ends when the last swimmer finishes the race.

Rationale:
Definition further clarifies the finish of the race.

Question Title

* 3. SECTION 4 MEET MANAGEMENT
pg 9   1-4-5,6 (new)  
ART. 5 . . . A dive round is the completion of one dive by each participant.
ART. 6 . . . A dive session is a series of dive rounds culminating in a break.

Renumber remaining articles 5 - 11.

Other Rules Affected:
9-4-1d  ART. 1 . . . In championship meets, the competition shall consist of five voluntary dives and six optional dives.

d.   The dives to be performed during each round session of championship competition shall be as
       follows:

9-4-2   ART. 2 . . . The number of qualifiers for each round session of competition is the predetermined number of divers with the cumulative highest score for all rounds of competition. When there is a tie for the final qualifying position, all divers who are tied advance to the next round session of competition.

9-4-4    ART. 4 . . . After the preliminary round session, the number of qualifiers shall be four more than
 the number of places to be scored.

9-4-5   ART. 5 . . . After the semifinal round session, the number of qualifiers shall be equal to the number of places to be scored.

Rationale:
To clarify the difference between a diving round and a session, which are currently used interchangeably in Rule 9.

Question Title

* 4. pg 9   1-4-8d   SECTION 4 MEET MANAGEMENT
ART. 8 . . . Types of Meets
a.   A dual meet involves two teams;

b.   A double-dual meet involves three teams and is scored as two separate meets (Team A vs.
      Team B, Team A vs. Team C);

c.   A triple-dual meet involves three teams and is scored as three separate meets (Team A vs.
      Team B, Team A vs. Team C, Team B vs. Team C);

d.   A multi-team meet involves any number of teams three or more teams, each competing for
      the same points.

      1.   A championship meet is a culminating meet, as determined by state association policy.

      2.  Non-championship meets are scored meets which are not required to utilize
           championship rules.

      NOTE: Non-championship meets may be conducted using championship meet rules.

Rationale:
Currently a meet with two schools must run as a dual meet.  This requires teams to seed based on strict lane assignments.  In Colorado, they have meets with two schools where one school has 80 participants and the other eight (as an example).  Having to seed with strict lane assignments adds unnecessary heats to the meet and open lanes.  If we could run a two team meet as a multi-team meet, it allows for unlimited entries (per League approval) for the larger team and the ability to seed the meet based on time and not strict lane assignments.  This would make for a more efficient meet and one where we aren’t micromanaging coaches on how they can run/seed their meets.

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* 5. pg 24   3-3-2  
ART. 2 . . . Suits shall be of one piece. A competitor shall not be permitted to participate wearing a suit that is not of decent appearance.  Suits worn for competition must be non-transparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. Males shall wear suits which cover the buttocks and shall not extend above the waist or below the top of the kneecap. Females shall wear suits which cover the buttocks and breasts and shall not extend beyond the shoulders or below the top of the kneecap, nor cover the neck.  
PENALTIES: When an official discovers a competitor wearing illegal attire as described in Article 2, the official shall:

1.    when observed prior to the start of the heat/dive, notify the coach of the competitor to make the suit legal before becoming eligible to compete. If the competitor cannot comply without delaying the start of the heat/dive, the competitor is disqualified from that event/dive and shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal suit; For suits that do not conform to the current concept of appropriate: notify the state or district association of the offending team of the nature of the offense so that this will be corrected in the future. The state association may also assess an appropriate penalty if not corrected.

2.    For male suits that extend above the waist or below the top of the kneecap or female suits that extend beyond the shoulders or below the top if the kneecap or cover the neck: when observed prior to the start of the heat/dive, notify the coach of the competitor to make the suit legal before becoming eligible to compete. If the competitor cannot comply without delaying the start of the heat/dive, the competitor is disqualified from that event/dive and shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal suit.

What do we do with penalty two that is currently in the book?

Rationale:
The rule as currently written requires officials to make subjective calls regarding a student's private parts.  As seen this year in Alaska, this puts officials in a precarious position and potentially causes shame to a student.  By substituting the language regarding “decent appearance” with language from USA Swimming bylaws 102.8 1D, the official is still able to eventually address the issue. While both still speak to the appearance of the suit and not how the suit fits the athlete, the word “decent” still carries a stronger moral connotation.   Additionally, it creates a similar reporting system to that used in the NFHS Water Polo rulebook.

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* 6. SECTION 3 UNIFORMS
pg 24   3-3-3 (note)  
ART. 3 . . . The uniform consists of a suit and, if worn, cap(s).
NOTE:  The FINA mark and/or individual barcode and/or the USA Swimming approved check-mark logo on certain suits designating that the suit has been approved for FINA and/or USA Swimming competition is not considered to be a second manufacturer's logo nor a form of advertising. Such suits with a FINA marking and/or check-mark, if otherwise legal, shall be legal for NFHS competition.

pg 25   3-3-4c  
ART. 4 . . . Suits worn by swimmers (excluding divers) shall be limited to the following requirements:
c.  Suits with a FINA marking and/or the USA Swimming approved check-mark logo, if other legal,
     shall be legal for NFHS competition.

Rationale:
USA swimming will be implementing a new rule on September 1, 2020 that does not permit 12-Under swimmers to wear technical suits at most swim meets.  Some companies may submit a suit for approval by FINA that are not considered a technical suit, it for marketing purposes. USA Swimming has developed a small check mark that will be placed next to the FINA logo so an official could see that the suit is legal to be worn by 12-Unders.  This check mark will be positioned next to the FINA marking, and is not considered as a manufacturer’s logo or advertising.

Question Title

* 7. pg 24   3-3-3c
ART. 3 . . . The uniform consists of a suit and, if worn, cap(s).

c.  Two A single visible manufacturer's logos/trademarks/references, no more than 2¼ square
      inches with no dimension more than 2¼ inches is permitted on each item of the uniform [suit
     and cap(s)].

Question Title

* 8. pg 38   4-2-1e  (new)
ART. 1 . . . The referee’s authority begins as he/she is available on deck, which shall be at least 30 minutes before the meet.  The referee shall:

e.   ascertain if the coaches wish to permit swimmers to take a warm down following their event. 

Rationale:
There is no reference in the rulebook regarding competitors taking a warm down following their event.  However, this option is desired in many interscholastic settings.  The adoption of this rule will permit warm downs after swimming events.

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* 9. pg 43   4-9-2  
ART. 2 . . . A head lane timer shall be assigned to each lane.  This person shall record the times for the assigned lane and deliver a time card to the chief timer.  This person shall determine if the swimmer has touched the end wall finish end (or touchpad if automatic timing/judging equipment is used) and, for the 500-yard/400-meter freestyle, shall keep a written tally of the number of laps completed by the swimmer in that lane.

Rationale:
The phrase "finish end or touchpad if automatic timing/judging equipment is used" indicates that the touchpad takes precedence, which is not an adequate description of the finish of the race.

Question Title

* 10. pg 51   6-3-2
ART. 2 . . . When recorded by a properly operating automatic timing and judging system, the pad time shall be the official time (computed to the hundredth) and the order of finish shall be determined by integration of those times.  The official time is the time (computed to the hundredth) registered by touchpad, button or stopwatch when the swimmer completes the race and touches the end wall; the order of finish shall be determined by integration of the official time for each lane.  The referee shall verify the accuracy of the time for each lane using available data such as human judge place pick, times on adjoining lanes, etc.

Rationale:
Since a legal finish can be accomplished by touching any part of the end wall, even if a touchpad is present, the result achieved by that legal touch must be regarded as the "official" time for the event.  There is no rule foundation for the referee taking the pad time in preference to button/watch times.

Question Title

* 11. pg 52   6-3-4 (new)
ART. 4 . . . The backup system, using at least one manual timing for each lane, shall be operative in all meets.  The backup system shall be operative for all races but shall be used only for lanes in which the automatic equipment malfunctions.  The relative order of finish for competitors in lanes in which the equipment functions properly shall not be changed during the integration of backup times.  A difference of more than 0.3 seconds between automatic and backup times may indicate a potential malfunction.  When automatic timing/judging equipment is used, a backup system consisting of at least one manual timing device for each lane shall be operative.  When the referee determines that the swimmer's first point of contact at the finish of the race is: 
a.  the touchpad, that time shall be the official time;
b.  the touchpad, but a difference of more than 0.3 seconds between the automatic time and
     backup time exists (indicates a potential malfunction).  The referee determines that such
     malfunction has occurred, and the backup time for that lane shall be integrated into the
     results from the other lanes to determine the official order of finish;
c.  not the touchpad, the official time shall be the time registered by the backup system for that
     lane (semi-automatic button or manual watch).

Question Title

* 12. pg 59   8-1-7
ART. 7 . . . To finish the race, the swimmer shall contact the finish end in the manner prescribed.  When automatic timing /judging equipment is used, the swimmer must contact the touchpad or end wall between the lane lines where the touchpad should be located when in the proper position.

pg 62   8-2-1g
ART. 1 . . . The Backstroke:

g.     The finish requires completion of the required distance and contact with the touchpad finish pad (when automatic timing is used) or finish end by any part of the swimmer with some part of the body at or above the surface.

pg 63   8-2-2h
ART. 2 . . . The Breaststroke:

h.   The finish requires completion of the required distance and contact with the touchpad finish pad (when automatic timing is used) or finish end with both hands simultaneously, not necessarily on the same plane.

pg 63   8-2-3g
ART. 3 . . . The Butterfly:

g.     The finish requires completion of the required distance and contact with the touchpad finish pad (when automatic timing is used) or finish end with both hands simultaneously, not necessarily on the same plane.

pg 64   8-2-4e
ART. 4 . . . The Freestyle:

e.     The finish requires completion of the required distance and contact with the touchpad finish pad (when automatic timing is used) or the finish end by any part of the swimmer.

pg 68   8-3-5
ART. 5 . . . Each swimmer of a relay team must contact the finish end at the conclusion of his or her leg of the relay in accordance with the finish rule applicable to such stroke. however, only the final swimmer is required to contact the touchpad finish pad and in accordance with Rule 8-1-7.

Rationale:
Rescind changes made in these six articles and replace with language used in the 2018-19 rules book.  The changes made in these six articles fundamentally altered the nature of high school swimming competition and undermined a number of other areas of the rules book that address matters related to competition outcomes.  The important values of competitive equity and personal responsibility were both eliminated by these changes.  Results of competition, rather than being based upon a common and highly accurate system of automatic timing, are, by these changes, now subject to manipulation and unreliable outcomes.  Where swimmers previously bore the personal responsibility of finishing in a manner that assured reliable results, they now are permitted to finish in any convenient manner with no discernible consequences.

Returning to the expectation that swimmers must finish by contacting the touchpad will significantly eliminate most efforts to manipulate results and assure accurate and technically reliable outcomes for ALL participants.

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* 13. pg 62   8-2-2d
ART. 2 . . . The Breaststroke:
d.  There shall be no sculling with the hands at the end of the first arm stroke following
      the start or turn;

Re-letter e – h.

Rationale:
There appears to be no advantage gained as a result of inadvertent sculling.

Question Title

* 14. pg 62   8-2-2f
ART. 2 . . . The Breaststroke:
f.   The kick requires the feet be drawn up with the knees bent. The feet must be turned outward
     during the propulsive part of the kick. All movement of the legs and feet shall be simultaneous
      and in the same horizontal plane. No scissors, flutter, or downward butterfly kick (developed
     from a flexing and extending of the knee) is permitted except as provided in 8-2-2c above;

Rationale:
This change brings the language of the NFHS rule into congruence with NCAA/USA Swimming/FINA language for the breaststroke kick.  It also eliminates the misperception that has arisen in some areas that the only vertical leg movement that can be sanctioned is one involving both flexion and extension of the knees.  The result has been non-enforcement of the prohibition on vertical movements of the legs (after the initial permitted single downward butterfly kick), with swimmers gaining unfair advantage as a result.  The change also eliminates the unfair advantage gained, and inappropriate tactic employed in some coaching strategies, of teaching the swimmer to utilize vertical leg movements developed from other than knee flexion/extension.

Question Title

* 15. pg 74   9-3-3  
ART. 3 . . . Entries by Individuals - A diver officially becomes a participant when:
a.    in championship meets, the official entry card/scoresheet bearing that diver's first and last
       name, event and school affiliation is submitted to the meet manager;
b.    in other meets, the scoresheet, signed by the coach and the diver, bearing the diver's first
        and last name and school affiliation is submitted to the referee or designee at the time and
        place specified by the referee;
c.     in all meets, the diving scoresheet is signed by the coach and diver, and if not signed by both
        shall not be accepted for review.

ART. 5 . . . Diving Scoresheets - Each diver shall submit a diving scoresheet, signed by both the contestant and the coach on the lines provided for those signatures, which includes the number, written description, position, degree of difficulty (with the number and degree of difficulty of the voluntary dive(s) circled or otherwise clearly identified), and order in which the dives will be attempted for all levels of the competition, preliminaries through finals. The dive number and position shall be the . . .

Rationale: Headings were added to Rules 9-3-3 and 9-3-5 to help delineate the two-step process for a diver participating a championship meet.  Rule 9-3-3 defines how a diver is entered into the contest and Rule 9-3-5 defines the protocol for submission of the diving scoresheet.  The diving scoresheet is separate from the participant entry and continues to have its own deadline and penalties.

Question Title

* 16. pg 77   9-4-1 NOTE (new)
SECTION 4 CHOICE OF DIVES
ART. 1 . . . In championship meets, the competition shall consist of five voluntary dives and six optional dives.
NOTE: By state association adoption, the number of voluntary and optional dives performed may be modified.

Question Title

* 17. SECTION 4 CHOICE OF DIVES
ART. 6 . . . In championship meets, the host school may elect to add a Three Meter event to the competition.  The competition shall consist of one voluntary dive and five optional dives, coming from four of the five groups and which may include any of the dives other than the voluntary dive. Any dive from a group may be designated as a voluntary dive.  It will receive its assigned d.d. through 1.9. Any designated voluntary dive with a dd greater than 1.9 will be assigned a dd of 1.9.

Renumber Articles 6-8.

Rationale:
This is not a rule change it is an addition.  At this time divers have only one event (unless they also swim, which is not common.) This will allow them to participate in another event, making them more a part of their swimming and diving team. This is an option and not required, thus if the pool has a three-meter diving board they may run this event.  If they do not, they are not required to do so. The host school may select the time and day to run the three-meter event, just as they already do for the one-meter championship competitions.  If divers have a solid one-meter list, adding a six dive three-meter event is not that difficult.  The dual meet format allows the divers to execute very basic dives if needed.  Three-meter only enhances their one meter.  Three meter is a college and Olympic event and is a natural next step for high school.  There are states that already run three-meter events at their invitationals. USA Diving has a three-meter dive list that can be used to select dives. The adding of this as an elective event will open the door for athletic directors to add this to their state championships.  Athletic Directors normally want to see that the NFHS allows the event before making it part of their championship meet.

Question Title

* 18. pg 89   9-8-3c
SECTION 8 MANDATORY DEDUCTIONS
ART. 3 . . . A diver shall be disqualified and shall perform no further dives if he/she fails two dives. A diver shall be disqualified if in the judgment of the diving referee:

c.   the diver unnecessarily delays the performance of a dive by: ;
      1. by not reporting to the diving board in a timely manner; or
      2. by standing on the board too long.

pg 89   9-8-3 NOTE
NOTE: After an appropriate length of time (as defined by each state association) the referee shall (1) instruct the table to issue a fail dive or (2) issue a warning to the diver saying that he/she has (an additional) 10 seconds to complete the dive. If the dive is not completed in this time frame, the referee shall instruct the diver to step down and instruct the table to issue a fail dive.

Rationale:
Simply stating that a referee can disqualify an athlete for unnecessary delays is arbitrary and difficult for most officials to enforce. Creating a procedure to be followed is better both for the diver (who is mentally stuck or too scared to go) and for the referee (who will most likely have to deal with the decision when the diving event ends). Additionally, this procedure will assist a referee with the diver who oscillates too many times.  Note: This change should be covered in the meeting between the diving referee and the divers prior to the beginning of diving.

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