It's time to start thinking about high school swim & dive!
The clinics in our area will be held on October 28 and November 18, both at 7:00 PM at Oakton High School. If you cannot come to either of these, but wish to be a certified high school swim/dive officials, you should check the Virginia High School League Web site for additional dates in other parts of the state.
In order to be a certified judge, you must attend a clinic AND take the test. The fee this year is $30. The amount the association will be sending to the Virginia High School League is higher, but since the association still has a healthy balance, we will not charge the entire amount this year.
I have been advised by the Virginia High School League that they no longer obtain insurance through the National High School Federation since they were able to obtain less costly insurance on their own. You will not be covered by the VHSL insurance, however, unless you return your test and become certified.
I implore you to send your test in as soon as possible. The swim/dive officials have increased in numbers at a tremendous rate (in the Northern Region, we now have over 200!!) and it takes quite a period of time for the tests to be graded by the VHSL. As we found last year, if you returned your test even as early as the beginning of January, it was not returned in time for you to be considered to work at the regional meet.
If you did not receive a name tag last year, we will provide one for you when you return your test this year. I believe that everyone who was certified last year received a name tag
I have attached the application form to this e-mail. If you wish to obtain your book, test and answer sheet prior to attending the clinic, you may send it in and they will be sent to you. [WEBMASTER'S NOTE: In at least one prior year they ran out of booklets at the clinics. So it's a good insurance policy to send in your form and get your copy in advance.]
Kellee Wattanbarger and I will be coordinating the Northern Region officials together this year. Kellee's children attend Annandale High School and her husband, Bob, has been on deck for many years for USA Swim, NVSL and high school swim.
If you have any questions, please call me at 703-725-7065 (cell) or 703-560-0181 (home).Kellee's e-mail is kawg8rxer@aol.com and her phone is 703-455-0027.
If you know of anyone who may be new to high school swim who is interested in becoming an official, feel free to forward this e-mail.
Both Kellee and I look forward to seeing you at the clinics at Oakton High School.
Chris Loeser
Virginia High School League Officials Clinics
TO:
Swim and Dive Officials
FROM:
Bruce Patrick, Assistant Director
RE:
Swim and Dive Requirements, Registration Procedures, Examination Requirements,
Swim and Dive Clinics
DATE:
August 2003
I. SWIM AND DIVE OFFICIALS REQUIREMENTS - Applications have been sent to all VHSL swim and dive officials who registered last year and to all VHSL member schools.
II. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES - Swim and dive officials are required to register with the VHSL each year - Registration Fee - $27.50 per year. You will receive a registration form, 2003/04 Swim and Dive Rule Book and the Swim and Dive Exam at the clinic site. Please have your registration fee with you.
Ill. EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS - In order to complete your registration requirements, you must take the 2003-2004 Swim and Dive Examination (with an open book, if desired). Return answer sheet only to your VHSL Clinician. Retain the exam (questions) for further study. If you pass the examination with a score of 70% or above and attend a VHSL sponsored rules clinic you will receive a 2003-2004 VHSL registration card, an emblem and will be certified to conduct VHSL swim and dive meets. On the answer sheet, please fill in your name, social security number and the association or group you work with, if you have no association write independent in the space provided for the association.
IV. 2003-2004 MANDATORY SWIM AND DIVE RULES CLINICS - The VHSL will conduct swim and dive rules clinics for the current 2003-2004 season. Swim and Dive Rules Clinics will be as follows:
2003/2004 Mandatory Swim and Dive Clinic Schedule at Oakton High School
|
DATE |
SITE |
TIME |
CLINICIAN |
|
October 28 |
7:00 PM |
Alice Gooley |
|
|
November 18 |
7:00 PM |
Alice Gooley |
2003/04
NFHS Swimming/Diving Rules Changes
4-3-1c Sound a warning signal for the lead swimmer during the 500 yard/meter freestyle event when that swimmer has two lengths plus 5 yards remaining to swim in race.
Rationale: The sounding device shall signal when the lead swimmer is near the end of the race.
6-3-3 The use of automatic relay judging equipment during high school meets is permissible. Rationale: Changes that incorporate new technology decrease the chance for human error.
8-1-1 The swimmer shall step into the water feet-first, be motionless and have at least one hand in
Note: contact with the starting platform or end wall.
8-1-3d Rationale: Reinforce the correct method of entering a pool.
8-1-2 For the backstroke start, the swimmer shall step into the water feet-first and line up in the water facing the starting end with both hands in contact with the end of the pool or the starting platform. Rationale: Reinforce the correct way to enter the pool.
9-3-4 A competitor may withdraw from a preliminary or final round of diving by giving notice to the referee at a specific time, without being disqualified from other events in the meet.
Rationale: Allowing a swimmer to declare a false start, and allowing a diver to opt out of the event, is consistent with the framework of a swim meet.
9-4 Diving changes include: 103A 2.0; 104A 2.6; 106B 3.2; 304A 2.9; 402A 2.0; 404B 3.0; 413B 2.9; 5111C 1.6.
Rationale: NFHS dive table reflects USA Diving's degree of difficulty
9-6-3b The award given the dive by each judge shall be announced and/or displayed.
Rationale: Some pools now have a scoreboard capable of providing a visual score from each dive judge. For these pools, announcing the score becomes unnecessary.
9-8-3c A diver shall be disqualified if, he/she fails two dives.
Rationale: To minimize risk, divers must demonstrate a minimum amount of proficiency.
Editorial Changes: 2-7-4, 2-7 PEN 2 3-2-1, 3-2-2, 4-2-3, 9-5-6, 9-7-5e, 5-1-2b
Points of Emphasis
1. Enter
the Water
2.
Finishing the Race
3.
Minimizing Risk
4.
Integrated Timing Systems
5.
Automatic Relay and Timing and Judging Equipment
