As new timing technology has become available the way high school swimming and diving events are officiated must adapt to the change. With this in mind, the National Federation of State High Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee adjusted officiating duties among rules changes for the sport at its annual meeting April 8-9 in Indianapolis.
    "Technology has changed the sport," said Cynthia Doyle, assistant director of the NFHS and liaison to the NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee. "With that, the role of the referee must change well."
Addressing Rule 6-2-2, the committee determined that, when timing an event, the digits representing thousandths of a second shall be dropped without rounding. The rationale behind this change is that modern timing systems are set to report scores by dropping that digit and not rounding.
    An addition to Rule 4-2-2e now requires referees, or someone designated by the referee, to confirm that no athlete violates the individual entry limitation, which could cost a team points in competition.
    "Intentional or not, this is one of most-violated rules," Doyle said "It needed to he safeguarded this is just another check."
    Another rule defining the role of the referee during a meet is Rule 4-2-2d. Referees determine disqualifications and notify coaches of infractions, the phrase "immediately following the event question and prior to the start of the next race been deleted.
With regard to the sport of diving, the committee modified Rule 9-1 to be consistent with national international diving rules codes. The skill of the beginner diver and the experienced diver are taken into consideration, and progression reflected in the degree of difficulty. "This change was important so high schools could be in line with national and international comp-etition and progression reflected in the degree of difficulty.
     "This change was important so high schools could be in line with national and international competition and progression reflected in the degree of difficulty of the dive," Doyle said. 
With a revision to Rule 3-3-1, a competitor shall not be permitted to compete in attire (suit or cap) which includes advertising or a name other than the name and/or number of the competitor, school or mascot except one visible logo/trade name not exceeding 2 1/4 square inches and not exceeding 2 1/4 inches in any dimension and one American flag not exceeding 2x3 inches. This revision of Rule 3-3-1, which previously did not address the competitor's number in attire, will make swimmers more visible to spectators and make inventory easier.
    With a clarification to Rule 3-3-4, hair-restraint devices are considered legal, provided they are func-tioning and are being worn in the hair during the event. If worn anywhere else, they are considered ornamental and not appropriate attire. This rule also stipulates that a competitor shall not wear jewelry (except religious/medical medals, which must be taped to the body) or objectionable attire.
     Although no specific changes were made, the committee discussed risk minimization during pre-meet warm-ups and the importance of adhering to NFHS Guidelines for Meet Warm-up during this time in addition to precautions during the meet.
     The NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Com-mittee also addressed the following two rules that now identify infractions as well as false starts:
 

• Rule 8-1-3:... Subject to the discretion of the ref-eree/starter, (referee and starter in championship meets), a false start/infraction occurs when a swimmer: ...

• Rule 8-1: Penalty for one false start/infraction:

Swimming and diving is the eighth-most popular sport for girls with 138,475 participants and ranks 10th for boys with 86,640 competitors, according to the 2000 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS.
 

CORRECTIONS: Swimming Diving Exam Corrections #3 and #14 False, #35 and #81 True Transparency Corrections: #4 A visual lap counting system must be provided; #16 b) the position of the dive should be a 2.2; c) Delete "Disqualification"; d) Penalty if not caught prior to start of competition, correction is made after competition.

Situation 1. The water depth of a diving well 10 feet from the end of the board is nine feet deep, gradually sloping to 13 feet. Rather than move the board, the school decides to make diving an optional event and does not score diving during invitational meets. RULING: Illegal. 
COMMENT: Water depth, starting plat-form height, distance from platform to surface of the water and use of a recall device and backstroke flags may not be waived by prior mutual consent. (2-1-1)

SITUATION 2: Prior to hosting an invitational meet, an aquatic director noticed several visual lap-counting devices missing. After calling several schools, the director notified every school to bring its own lap-counting equipment. The school that did not bring equipment was allowed to a) swim against time at the end of the meet, b) use the equipment of the home team, c) report the inci-dent to the appropriate authority. RULING: a), b) and c) Illegal. COMMENT: The home school must provide visual lap-counting equipment. All necessary equipment shall be provided by the host team or institution and be maintained in proper working condi-tion throughout the competition. (2-5-1)

SITUATION 3: In a relay event, the first swimmer enters the water. An official then notices that another member of the team has a drag suit on over the swimsuit. There is an illegal logo on the drag suit. The swimmer takes off the drag suit before entering the water but after the relay has begun. RULING: Legal. 
COM-MENT: Competitors shall not be allowed to compete in illegal attire. (3-34)

SITUATION 4: During an exhibition swim, the swimmer reports to the blocks and swims with an international flag on the swimsuit. RULING: The swimmer is disqualified from the event. 
COMMENT: A competitor shall be disqualified from the event unless properly attired. The rule applies to all events, whether scoring or non-scoring. (3-3-1)

SITUATION 5: A diver uses chalk on the shins prior to the start of the competition. In the opinion of the official, the chalk is exces-sive. The official a) disqualifies the competitor; b) asks the athlete to remove any excessive chalk, c) takes a towel and wipes off the athlete's excessive chalk. RULING: a) and c) Incorrect Procedure b) Correct Procedure. (3-3-2)

SITUATION 6: A diver attempts a reverse somersault and lands feet first on the diving board. After losing balance, the diver falls/jumps feet first into the pool. The dive is judged: a) failed dive for violation of the forward approach; b) failed dive for doing the wrong dive and one that is not executed properly and at a safe distance from the board; c) maximum of two points for hitting the board. RULING: a) and c) Incorrect Procedure; b) Correct Proce-dure. (9-5-9)

SITUATION 7: Through the preliminary and semi-final rounds, a diver has failed to exhibit the ability to do a reverse dive. The div-ing referee does not allow the diver to perform the dive. RULING: Correct Procedure. COMMENT: The diving referee has the authority to prevent a diver from performing any dive that, in the opinion of the referee, is not safe or at the skill level of the diver. (9-7-5)

SITUATION 8: A diver does a back 1½ SS with 1½ twist (listed in the free position) in open pike. In the process of descending toward entry the diver pikes down, and then slightly bends at the knees prior to entry. Points are deducted because of the slight flex at the knees. RULING: Legal. 
COMMENT: The dive is deficient and should be scored accordingly. (9-7-3)

SITUATION 9: At a qualifying meet prior to the state meet, a swimmer qualifies in four events, including two individual events, the 200 Medley and 200 Free Relay. The swimmer's name also appears on the school's qualifying 400 Free Relay card. At the state meet, the coach decides to swim the athlete on the 400 Free Relay rather than the 200 Free Relay. RULING: Legal. 
COM-MENT: Each meet is considered a separate meet unless the state association specifically organizes the championship season differ-ently. (1.3.10 note)

SITUATION 10: In a two-day championship with finals on the sec-ond day, a swimmer unsuccessfully attempts to qualify for the finals in the 100 Butterfly The same swimmer qualifies for the finals in the 100 Breaststroke, 200 Medley and 200 Free Relay. The swim-mer's name is listed in the 400 Free Relay although the athlete did not swim the relay. The coach has the athlete swim the finals in the 400 Free Relay. RULING: Illegal. 
COMMENT: Although prelims and finals are on different days, they are considered one meet, and entries shall be limited accordingly. (1.3.10 Note)
 
 

 SITUATION 11: A diving competition originally had a five-judge panel. A conflict occurred when one of the diver's parents was scheduled to judge her own child. The host school decided continue the event using a three-judge panel; b) ignore if that a judge is the parent of one of the divers. RULING: Legal 
COMMENT: The decision to use a three- or five-judge pan the composition of the panel is the host school's responsibility. However, whenever possible, meet management should against parents judging their children.

SITUATION 12: A swimmer is on deck before the meet begins in a cap that has three manufacturers' logos on each side of the hat. The swimmer is asked to remove the hat or to turn the cap inside out while competing. RULING: Correct Procedure 
COMMENT: An athlete can remove illegal attire prior to the event or be asked to make specific adjustments by an official. If the swimmer reports to the block in illegal attire, the swimmer is subject to disqualification. (3-3-la)

SITUATION 13: Several days after a meet, a coach noticed that an athlete from an opposing team competed in too many events at a championship meet. When the meet host is notified, it is pointed out that the referee has already signed the results, and the meet is official. RULING: Legal. 
COMMENT: Disqualification can be enforced within one hour after the conclusion of the meet and prior to the referee signing the score sheet (4-2-3).

SITUATION 14: A swim cap has the following information: swim club name, name of the school a drawing of the "mascot" (Bron-co), and the word "swimming". The referee informs a competitor that he/she cannot compete wearing a cap with: a) a local swim club logo; b) a college insignia or logo; c) numbers; d) advertise-ment 1½ inches square in size; e) 2" x 3" American Flag; f) manu-facturer's logo or trademark 1½ inches square; g) his/her school logo/mascot/name. RULING: a), b) and c) are illegal; d), e), f) and g) are legal. (3.3A(a))

SITUATION 15: A swimmer is using a butterfly stroke during the 400 Free Relay. The time in the first 100 yards would quality the swimmer for a national record. RULING: Legal. 
COMMENT: Only the first swimmer of a relay team may be recognized for a record-breaking performance, provided that swimmer is leading at the end of the first quarter of the event and has made prior arrangements to have a sufficient number of timers clocking the split

SITUATION 16: A diver lists a position for the dive on the dive score sheet. The announcer reads exactly what is listed on the sheet The diver stops and informs the referee of a change in the position of a dive. The referee permits the change in position since the change has the same degree of difficulty as originally listed on the sheet. RULING: Legal (9-34c) 
COMMENT: A diver may be allowed to change the position of a dive on the dive sheet.

SITUATION 17: A diver performs a dive in the straight position. The diver's hips do not bend, but the knees do bend somewhat. The dive is deficient, and each judge scores it appropriately. RUL-ING: Correct Procedure COMMENT: (9-6-1-d)

SITUATION 18: A diver executes a reverse 2½ somersault with a ½ twist. This dive is not listed in the NFHS Rules Book. The div-ing referee declares a failed dive. RULING: Correct Procedure. 
COMMENT: The high school diving list limits dives performed by high school students, and dives are limited to those listed in the NFHS Rules Book.

SITUATION 19: In the 500 Free, the lap counter loses track of the laps swum, and the swimmer finishes the event two laps short of completing the race. When the swimmer stops swimming, the coach notifies the swimmer that there are two laps remaining and that the timers had not stopped their watches. RULING: Legal (4-8-2) COMMENT: The head timer keeps the official count on the number of laps swum during a swimming event.