Attendees:  Don Riedlinger, Chair; Janet Auger, PVS; Jim Garner, PVS; John Hirschmann, PVS; Bill Marlin, PVS;  Bill Stephens, PVS; Jim Thompson, PVS, Ronald Whalen, PVS; Evan Stiles, AAC; Denise Adams, ASA; Bob Walker, ASA; Kerry Reed Ellett, CUBU; Tim Kelly, CUBU; Pete Morgan, CUBU; Yuri Suguiyama, CUBU; Manga Dalizu, FAST; Mike Kraeuter, FISH; Kerstin Severin, HACC; Dan Jacobs, MACH,: Paris Jacobs, MACH; Niels Moore, MAKO; Heather Coulson Moore, MAKO; Chris Huott, MSSC; John Cyganiewicz, OCCS; Dave Kraft, RMSC; Scott Vekeman, RMSC; Peter Karl, SDS; Mike Pliuskaitis, SNOW; Erik Major, YORK; Shelley Gesker, YORK

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order by Competition Committee Chairman, Don Riedlinger at 10:07AM at Montgomery Aquatic Center, Rockville, Maryland.

Agenda:  Don Riedlinger provided an agenda for use at the meeting.

Approval of Minutes:  The minutes of the May 16, 2006 Competition Committee meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.  They had been posted on the pvswim.org website and copies were available at the meeting for review.

PVS Board action on items from May Competition Committee Meeting:  Riedlinger reported on the PVS Board’s actions on recommendations made by the Competition Committee at its May 16, 2006 meeting:

1.      All seven club sanction requests were approved.

2.      The selection process for 2006 (and future) Eastern Zone Long Course assistant coaches was approved.  The recommendation that a 2-year term limit (i.e., 4 meets total) be instituted was not approved. (Don explained that while Board agreed that turnover was desirable, the Board was concerned given the history of receiving limited applications, this might unduly limit PVS’s options and that the coaches could provide the limit through the nomination/voting process.)

3.      The criteria for receiving travel assistance for the 2006 USA Swimming Open Meet was approved.

4.      The proposed 2007 PVS sponsored Long Course meet schedule was approved

5.      The proposed entry times and criteria for PVS distance meets / events was approved.

2005-06 Outstanding Athlete Awards:  Janet Auger had prepared a ballot of athletes who had been nominated.  As no nominees had been received for one age gender’s group, Riedlinger opened nominations up to the floor for this one group.  All holding a vote at Competition were provided an opportunity to vote by paper ballot.

Later in the meeting, Riedlinger announced the results of the voting.  The winners are as follows:

A motion was made, seconded and approved to destroy the ballots.

Dan Jacobs requested the opportunity to discuss his committee’s attempt to develop an objective method by which future PVS Outstanding Athletes of the Year would be selected using a points system.  He elaborated that the goal was to establish objective criteria so as to prevent the awards from being perceived as being potentially subjective or a popularity contest.  A test of one gender’s age group revealed that the currently developed criteria took approximately 4 to 5 hours to complete.  Bill Marlin, a member of the committee, explained that they planned to beta test their criteria on this year’s and last year’s nominations also using the Hy-Tek or ASCA power points scale as an alternative.  If successful, this would be much less labor intensive to implement than the original proposal.

Selection of 2005-2006 PVS Distance Awards:  The Committee was advised of the apparent winners of this award and best times known to PVS.    The apparent winners were listed as:

Riedlinger asked if anyone had knowledge of anyone who had been overlooked. No names were submitted.  The Committee voted to approve these awards.  [The award to Judes Guilaume was recognized as having been overlooked subsequent to the meeting and added to the publicized list with the concurrence of the PVS Senior Chairman.]

PVS Criteria for Swimmer with a Disability Award:  Riedlinger presented to the Committee a draft of the “PVS Criteria for Swimmer with a Disability Award.”   He explained that the criteria had been developed with the assistance of Julie O’Neil, Swimming Program Manager, US Paralympics.  He highlighted that points would be assigned for qualifying (as opposed to participating) for Can-Am Series Meets because he did not wish to require the financial burden of travel.  Additionally, he pointed out that some of the points could be earned in able-bodied meets communicating that a record had been set previously at an able-bodied PVS meet.   Receiving no questions on the draft, Riedlinger stated that he would present the draft to the PVS Board of Directors.

Participation Requirements for PVS Travel Assistance:  The meet participation requirements to receive PVS travel assistance were reviewed and Competition made the following recommendations.  No changes from 2006 were proposed.

USA Swimming 2007 Spring Championships - 9 swims in PVS sanctioned meets - at least 6 of which must be in PVS sponsored meets - after 9/1/06 and prior to date of meet.

2007 US Paralympics Spring Can-Am Meet-- 9 swims in PVS sanctioned meets - at least 6 of which must be in PVS sponsored meets - after 9/1/06 and prior to date of meet.

USA Swimming 2007 C-P National Championships -- 4 swims in PVS sanctioned meets - at least 2 of which must be in PVS sponsored meets - after 4/15/07 and prior to date of meet.

USA Swimming 2007 Junior Championships-- 4 swims in PVS sanctioned meets - at least 2 of which must be in PVS sponsored meets - after 4/15/07 and prior to date of meet. 

(Note:  The same athlete may not receive funding for both the 2007 C-P National Championships and the 2007 USA-S Junior Championships.)

2007 US Paralympics Summer Can-Am Meet-- 4 swims in PVS sanctioned meets - at least 2 of which must be in PVS sponsored meets - after 4/15/07 and prior to date of meet.

A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved without discussion to endorse the travel assistance requirements

Dive-Over Starts:  Riedlinger informed the Committee that the Board had asked the Officials Committee and the Safety Chairman to investigate the adoption of the use of Dive-Over Starts in PVS.  He then introduced Jim Thompson, PVS Officials Committee member, who gave a PowerPoint presentation  (and two handouts:  one for coaches and one for officials) created by the Officials Committee that was provided to the attendees. [These attachments have been slightly revised following the meeting based upon input from the Competition Committee and Board of Directors.]   Highlights of the presentation included:

·         Rationale for adoption of Dive-Over Starts

·         Background on Dive-Over Starts

·         Dive-Over Starting Procedure

·         Considerations for use of Dive-Over Starts

·         Responsibilities for using Dive-Over Starts

·         Current Status of Dive-Over Starts

Concluding his presentation, Thompson stated that the Officials Committee is recommending the adoption of Dive-over Starts to the PVS Board.  Two members of the PVS Board, John Hirschmann and Ronald Whalen, made the Committee aware that the Board had yet to make a decision and was also awaiting input from the Safety Chairman.  At Garner’s request, a straw poll was taken resulting in a unanimous vote of endorsement from Competition to adopt Dive-over starts as outlined by the Officials Committee.

Eastern Zone Meet Developments: Hirschmann briefed on decisions made by the Eastern Zone at the recent USA Swimming convention.  He reported that no additional changes to the Spring 2007 Sectionals were discussed. Competition was advised that the Zone will return to its prior practice of allowing each LSC to only enter two swimmers in an event at Spring Short Course Zones.  The alternative qualifying times adopted in May will not be used.  Hirschmann added that the change in order of events and the adding of some relays to the program that were approved in May will remain in effect.   As regards Summer 2007 Long Course Zones, he indicated that the summer time standards were being reworked so that there were no more than seven heats in any event that had more in 2006, and that a limited number of events having very few entries will be reviewed to see if entry times should be relaxed modestly.  The order of events was modified to flip the 200 medley relay (previously day 2) and the 400 medley relay (previously day 4) for 10 & Unders only.

The new order of events for summer Sectionals which is a full 4 day format is:
Thursday - 200 IM., 100 free, 100 breast, 1500W/800M free
Friday - 200 free, 100 fly, 400 IM, 400 free relay
Saturday - 200 fly, 100 back, 400 free, 800 free relay
Sunday - 200 back, 50 free, 200 breast, 800W/1500M free, 400 medley relay

The Zone also reaffirmed the goal previously established in May to have 50's and 100's with ten heats, 200's and 400's with eight heats, 800 and 1500 - six/seven heats. Approximately 70% of swims with conforming time (LCM) 30% from non-conforming (SCM-SCY) SCM QT's will be consistent with LCM after adjusting for additional turns.

Meet awarded by the Eastern Zone were as follows:

            March 6-9, 2008

EZ Northern Sectional (LC), Nassau County Aquatic Center, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, LI, NY.  Hosted by Metropolitan Swimming

March 13-16, 2008

EZ Southern Sectional (LC), University of Maryland, College Park, MD.  Hosted by Curl-Burke Swimming.

April 3-5, 2008

            EZ Short Course Championship Meet, Location and Host – Date established Location and meet host TBD

            July 17-20, 2008

EZ Super Sectional (LC), McCoy Natatorium, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.  Hosted by Big Cat Aquatics and Penn State University

August 6-9, 2008

EZ Long Course Zone Meet, George Mason University pools, Fairfax & Manassas, VA.  Hosted by Potomac Valley and Virginia Swimming.           

PVS Zone Team Coordinator Assistance/Turn-over:  Paris Jacobs, Zone Team Coordinator, explained to the Committee that she had given the PVS Board notice in July that she will step down from her position at the conclusion of the 2007 EZ SC meet.   Ideally, she would like her replacement to be in place for this meet so that she can provide training.    It was suggested we publicize on the PVS website this vacancy. The coaches were also encouraged to be proactive with their swimmers’ parents in finding candidates for the position, since they are likely to know qualified candidates who might need a little personal encouragement in order to get them to apply.  On behalf of all of the coaches, Pete Morgan thanked Paris for her years of hard work.

Athlete Selection Requirements for PVS 2007 SC Zone Team:  Riedlinger reiterated that the Zone had reversed its May decision of adopting qualifying times and that it was returning to its prior practice of allowing each LSC to only enter two swimmers in an event.  During the discussion it was clarified that (1) relay lead-off split times qualify for consideration (including those occurring later the primary swim during meets occurring on the final weekend of the selection period) and that (2) times from time trials do not qualify for consideration. 

A motion was made and seconded that the team continue to be selected as it was in 2006 – i.e., based on the two fastest times (limited to those swimmers eligible to represent PVS on the zone team and who apply to be on the team).  The selection period would start September 1, 2006 and end for 15-18 athletes at the conclusion of PVS Senior Champs (March 11, 2007) and for 14/Under athletes at the conclusion of PVS 14/U Age Group JO Champs (March 4, 2007).  The motion passed with one dissent. 

Election of PVS Eastern Zone 2007 SC Coaches: It was announced that John Cyganiewicz and Mike Kraeuter were running for Head Coach.  The election for Head Coach was conducted first so that the defeated candidate could be considered for Assistant Head Coach.

Elections were held by paper ballot resulting in John Cyganiewicz’s election.  A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to destroy the ballots. 

It was then announced that Mike Kraeuter, Petra Martin and Yuri Suguiyama were running for Assistant Head Coach.  Elections were held by paper ballot resulting in the need for a run-off election between Petra Martin and Yuri Suguiyama.  Following this vote, it was announced that Petra Martin was elected as Assistant Head Coach.  A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to destroy the ballots.

Bill Marlin indicated he hoped the defeated candidates would consider applying to be zone coaches   He also said he had received two other expressions of interest to serve as zone coaches.  He hoped more would express interest prior to time the selection is finalized.

Club Sponsored Meet Sanction Requests from January 2007 through April 2007:  Hirschmann sought and accepted for discussion four bids for the time frame.  Four bids had been submitted prior to the meeting.  They were in calendar order:

·         MSSC, February Challenger, February 3-4, 2007, Fairland (meet same as last year)

·         FISH, 2007 FISH Qualifier, February 10-11, 2007, Spring Hill, open, age group meet with NFT’s

·         MAKO, 2007 Spring Blast Invitational Championship, March 24-25, 2007, GMU-FFX, age group, invitational, prelim and finals, NFT’s

·         MACH, LC Classic, April 21-22, 2007, Takoma, age group format, open

An opportunity was provided for the meet hosts (all of whom were present) to answer questions as to how their meets would be conducted.

RMSC indicated that it would likely be requesting sanction for a tri-meet to be held most likely February 17-18, 2007.  It was noted that P&P did not require a tri-meet to be addressed at this meeting.

The Competition Committee voted to endorse sanctioning of the four meets to the PVS Board.

Noting that currently PVS P&P states that meet bids for the period September 1 to April 30 are presented at the Fall Competition Committee meeting, Hirschmann asked for opinions on amending P&P to indicate a closing date of April 1.  The Competition Committee voted to endorse to the Board that this modification to P&P be adopted.

Report on PVS 2006 Eastern Zone LC Team:  At Riedlinger’s request, Mark Faherty reported on the recently concluded meet.  He stated that 116 swimmers attended—twice as many as in 2005—resulting in the ability to enter two relays in most events.  PVS placed 5^th overall after finishing in 9^th in 2005.  He attributed the increased attendance to the clubs having encouraged their swimmers to attend as well as early publication of the fact all swimmers would be traveling as part of the team, the cost per swimmer, and other relevant information.   

Mark stated that PVS had sent an excellent coaching staff in John Cyganiewicz, Mike Kraeuter, Petra Martin, Blair Piddington and Yuri Suguiyama.  Concluding that this had been his 6^th Zone trip, Mark thanked all of the coaches for their support.

A motion was made, seconded and approved to unanimously recommend to the Board that PVS continue the team concept for the 2007 PVS LC Zone Team. 

Possibility of PVS SC Junior Championship Meet:   Riedlinger explained to the Committee that interest had been expressed for a preliminary/finals meet be added to the short course schedule for athletes who do not now have a good season culminating meet.  While the schedule for the 2007 SC season is already established, he indicated that such a meet could perhaps be added in 2008.  In discussing the merits of such a meet, Pete Morgan explained that PVS used to host three championship meets all in a prelim/finals format:  SC Junior Champs, SC Senior Champs and 12/U Champs.  It was also noted by John Hirschmann that the introduction of Sectional meets and the impact it had on available weekends for another meet to be held was a factor in removing Junior Champs from the schedule.  With this meet eliminated, it was extremely difficult for 13-14 year old swimmers to make finals, so the decision was made to increase the age cut-off of the 12/U Championship meet to 14/Under.  The PVS Junior Championships were eliminated. As result of dropping Juniors, a decision was made to soften the cut-times for Senior Champs.   Key points discussed were:

·         Many members did not wish to see 13-14 year olds removed from the Junior Olympic (14/U Championship) meet.

·         Senior Champs cuts would need to be tightened if Juniors returned.

·         The preferred scheduling date for Junior Champs would be prior to Senior Champs so swimmers making Senior cuts could progress to this meet.

·         Club teams are now making efforts to hold meets that provide such preliminary/finals opportunities for athletes who do not qualify for Senior Champs.

Since the next item on the agenda called for the establishment of the 2007-08 PVS Sponsored SC Meet Schedule, Riedlinger asked to separate the question into two parts:  (1)  Should a SC Junior Championship meet be re-instated in the 2007-08 schedule? and (2) Should a SC Junior Championship meet be re-instated in the 2006-07 schedule?  (Given pool availability the 2007 Junior meet might have to be a timed final meet held between prelim and finals of PVS Seniors – similar to how it is currently done during the LC season.)

The second question was addressed first.  Since many March club meets for the 06-07 season are planning to use Senior Champs cuts as NFT’s in their meet announcements.  The general consensus of the committee was that a SC Junior Championship meet should not be re-instated in 2006-07.  Action on the first question was deferred until discussion of the 2007-08 PVS SC Meet Schedule.

Establish the 2007-08 PVS Sponsored SC Meet Schedule:  Hirschmann provided a calendar of already scheduled USA Swimming and Eastern Zone meets during this timeframe.  Included on the calendar where the prior year’s PVS meets scheduled as were scheduled for 2006-07.  Noting that these dates were in no way a recommendation, he opened the floor for discussion. 

Paris Jacobs stated that she would like to schedule a Swimposium on Columbus Day Weekend (October 6-8, 2007) and requested that the October Open be moved back one week from October 12-14, 2007 to October 19-21, 2007. (Since the USA Swimming convention will be late next year (September 25-30) it is not practical to hold the Swimposium earlier.) This would allow the RMSC Kickoff Meet and the HACC Harvest Moon Meet – which traditionally have preceded the PVS October Open to be held on October 12-14, 2007. Noting that changing the date might impact the scheduling of traditionally run club meets, both HACC and RMSC coaches stated that the Symposium was an important event and that they had no objection to the change.

Thereafter followed a discussion on the merits of PVS continuing to sponsor Open meets.  Bill Stephens pointed out that while PVS’ athlete registrations have increased by 60%, no additional Opens have been added to the schedule—only club meets have been added.  Others agreed that we need more meets—not less—and removing the Opens from the schedule would harm smaller teams.

A motion was made and seconded to change the date of the October Open and also schedule the remaining Opens and Distance meets as indicated on the proposed calendar.  Other than the October Open, these meets would be on the same weekends as they were in 2006-07. Without further discussion, the motion was unanimously approved. 

Turning to the championship season, Hirschmann explained that the sectional meet schedule had been established the prior week by the Eastern Zone.  Due to the fact that Easter is quite early in 2008 (March 23), the schedule is quite tight.  Highlights of the discussion that followed are:

• Some members expressed an interest in resurrecting Junior Champs.  The question was raised as to the necessity of PVS sponsoring the meet as opposed to a club.  During the discussion it was pointed out that earlier in the meeting MAKO had requested a sanction for a prelim/finals meet for swimmers who did not qualify for PVS Seniors or PVS 14/U Age Group Champs.  Other members pointed out that this Club meet could unfortunately not accommodate all of these PVS athletes.
• Some members expressed interest in flipping Senior Champs and 14/U JO’s such that Seniors occurred the week prior to 14/U JO’s.  Riedlinger reminded the Committee of its recommendation last year that 14/U JO’s occur before Senior Champs to allow athletes the ability to qualify for Sectionals.  It was also noted that this shift had been made to allow for better placing of PVS Senior Championships between the end of the high school championship season and Sectionals.
• One member suggested moving JO’s one week earlier to February 21-24, 2007.  It was noted that such a change would mean that JO’s would be scheduled for the same weekend as METROS and the anticipated date for Maryland State High School Championship.  In response to a question regarding the number of 13-14 year olds that would be affected, Jim Garner provided statistics as to the number of freshmen competing in last year’s METROS.  Another objection voiced to this change was in holding a season-culminating meet so early would negatively impact these swimmers’ training by ending their season early and leave a long gap for the fastest swimmers who would be going to Zone on April 3-5.

A motion was made to resurrect PVS Junior Championship, schedule it for February 28-March 2, 2008; schedule PVS Senior Championships for March 6-9, 2008, and schedule PVS 14/Under Junior Olympic Championships for March 13-16, 2008.  One vote per club was permitted.  The vote resulted in a tie and defeating the motion.

A second motion was made to accept the tentative schedule as presented so that  PVS 14/Under JO Championship, would be  February 28, 2008 – March 2, 2008 and PVS Senior Championship, March 6-9, 2008.  This motion was seconded, and without further discussion, approved.

In summary, the 2007-08 Short Course PVS Sponsored Meet Schedule endorsed to the Board is as follows:

• PVS October Open, October 19-21, 2007 (1 week later than in 2006)
• PVS November Open, November 9-11, 2007
• PVS January Distance, January 5-6, 2008
• PVS January Open, January 19-20, 2008
• PVS February Distance, February 17-18, 2008
• PVS 14/Under JO Championship, February 28, 2008 – March 2, 2008
• PVS Senior Championship, March 6-9, 2008

Other USA-S Convention Reports:  Jim Garner reported two items to the committee: 

·         When swimmers attend an approved meet and all swimmers and coaches are registered with USA-S, everyone is insured.

·         Wristwatches, when being used as wristwatches, are allowed to be worn by swimmers.  Swimmers are only to be disqualified if the device is being used as a pacing device.

Riedlinger then reviewed the following items (for which he had provided handouts):

• The newly implemented USA-S Background Screening Program for coaches
• USA-S Swimming National 2006-2008 Quadrennial Plan (updated 10/3/06)
• USA-S Swimming Time Standards for USA Swimming Championship level meets during 2007  (dated September 14, 2006)
• USA-S Incentive Program for Inclusion of Swimmers with a Disability in Sanctioned Competition at the LSC Level.

During the discussion of the USA-S Background Screening Program, a motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to request that  that Competition recommend to the PVS Board that PVS pay on behalf of its coaches (or reimburse), the cost of the newly implemented Background Screening Program (currently $20 per individual).

Bill Marlin reported that Open-Water swimming was emphasized at Convention, including a request that more age-group meets be held.  Noting that the 10K has been added as an Olympic event, as well as the fact that the 2008 LC Zones will be held in our territory (with the expectation that an Open Water meet be held in conjunction with it), he asked for assistance in promoting the event.

Paris Jacobs reported that she had attended a Camps Seminar at the recent USAS Convention.  Of the 59 LSC’s, only 13 are holding camps and PVS has not held one since 2001 – except for some Mini camps.  She stressed that camps are LSC run—not club run—and that USA-S now provides the blueprint for how they should be held.  LSC’s still have discretion which camps to hold, for how long and what topics to include during the camp.  It was stressed that coaches instructing at the camps would be provided with specific shirts to wear, the wearing of any clothing indicating their team affiliation or recruiting was strictly prohibited and would be grounds for being barred from future camps. Bill Marlin provided the members with a PVS Camp Survey and encouraged them to complete it.  He also noted that Kerry Ellett had asked to step down as Camps Coordinator and that his wife, Terri Marlin, had agreed to fill the position.

Old Business:  There was none.

New Business:  Mark Faherty spoke to the possibility of modifying P&P regarding the selection of Zone Head and Assistant Head Coaches. He stated that he saw no benefit from the early selection and delaying the vote might cause other coaches to volunteer to serve as it became clearer which swimmers would likely qualify to be on the team. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to recommend to the Board that P&P be modified so that Eastern Zone Long Course Head and Assistant Head coaches are selected at the Spring Competition Committee meeting (rather than Winter CCM) and that the Eastern Zone Short Course Head and Assistant Head coaches are selected at the Winter Competition Committee meeting (rather than Fall CCM).  If approved by the Board, it would go into effect for selecting the Head Coaches for the 2007 PVS LC Zone team.

Bill Marlin asked to publicly congratulate Marilyn Mangels (CUBU) for her selection as 2005-06 PVS Age Group Coach of the Year.

Marlin then announced that the Time Standards for the 2007 14/U SC Junior Olympics Championships had been developed and were ready to be posted on the website.   He explained the rationale for the changes that had been made (which were highlighted) and noted a few times had been tightened and a few relaxed.  Several coaches expressed their gratitude for his early release of this information.

Next Meeting:  The date and time of the next meeting were discussed.  It was agreed that the next meeting will be held on January 14, 2007 at 8:00AM.  The location will be announced at a later date.  [Subsequent to the meeting, the location was announced as Army-Navy Country Club.]

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:06PM.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Janet Auger

PVS Administrative Assistant