| On the Same Page The E-Newsletter of the USA Swimming Officials Committee March 2008 |
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Maxwell Award
Congratulations to Al Kurth of Ohio Swimming as the March recipient of the Maxwell Excellence Award for service to local swimming. To learn more about the award and to see a list of previous recipients, click here.
On-Line Testing Subcommittee
Don Hougardy (IE) and Bruce Ludwig (OR) have been added to the On-Line Testing Subcommittee. Congratulations to both of them on their appointments.
FINA News
Mary Jo Swalley will be representing USA Swimming as a judge at the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships in Manchester, UK, April 9-13.
There will be a FINA Extraordinary Congress in Manchester immediately after the Championships. Representatives of the over 190 member federations will meet to consider certain rule change proposals. For more FINA news, click here.
Officials Tracking System
Last call for all officials who were “grandfathered” at the N2 or N3 certification level: these certifications expired on December 31, 2007. If you have not recertified by March 31, you will be dropped one level.
Swimposiums
April 12-Midwestern Swimming (Lincoln, NE)—Officials presenter is Jim Sheehan. April 19—Iowa Swimming (Cedar Rapids, IA)—Officials presenter is John Wilson. April 19-Kentucky Swimming (Louisville, KY)—Officials presenter is Frank Ching. April 26-Border Swimming (El Paso, TX)—Officials presenter is Dan McAllen.
Certification Updates
A number of documents on the Certification pages of the Officials section of the USA Swimming Web site, have been revised to better reflect the use of the online Officials Tracking System (OTS). In particular, the FAQ's have been edited to include some additions and some no longer relevant questions and answers have been deleted.
So far this year 65 meets have been approved as "Officials Qualifying Meets" while over 700 applications for recertification in and, or, advancement to N2 and N3 positions have been submitted and processed though the OTS. Please remember that it may take a week or two for the approval to be processed into the membership database and for a card to be mailed.
Situation
During the Girls 10& Under 200-Yard Medley Relay Final at a Championship Meet the breaststroke swimmer completes her leg, exits, and then sits on the edge of the pool with her feet dangling in the water. In the excitement of cheering her team to an upset win she inadvertently kicks the finish pad resulting in a timing error of several seconds. The Stroke and Turn Judge did not observe this conduct, but the Relay Take-Off Judge on that side of the pool did, and immediately raised his hand. Upon investigation, the Deck Referee is told of the “reentry” violation by the swimmer that the Relay Take-Off Judge observed. The Deck Referee does not accept the call. Correct ruling? For answer, click here.