Committee on Dual Meet Reform
Recommendations
Purpose: The goal of the CODMR is
to take efforts to streamline WCSC dual meets so that they may wherever and
whenever possible be completed in three hours or less. When executed, the
committee feels that this will enhance the competitive meet experience for
swimmers, divers and parents alike and ultimately will continue to promote our
sport and participants.
The committee believes there are several areas to modify WCSC dual meet operations:
1. The committee proposes that in order
to achieve these goals there are several new Administrative Procedures that must
be implemented to enhance the achievement of these goals:
► No extra heats of 100-yard events are permitted
► Each team is limited to 2 divers per age group in dual meet competition. “Filling the field is no longer permitted by either team”
► Coaches must turn in completed diving sheets no later than 20 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
►Head Coaches must be in contact with each other prior to the dual meet to verify a variety of details including; but, not limited to:
● Choosing and discussing the specific extra heats for that meet, including freestyle and one of the other 3 strokes for that day within the new dual meet format for conduct of extra heats (see below!)
● Choosing and discussing specific racing lanes
● Reviewing meet distances
● Detailing Warm-up procedures and times
●
Detailing Timer and volunteer needs and assignments
Specific conduct for extra swimming
heats:
● Meets will begin with 6/u freestyle; one for girls and one for boys, combine if possible.
● The next race will be the official heat of 8/u girls freestyle, followed by 8/u boys freestyle.
● Upon the conclusion of the official 8 girls and boy heat, the next races will be the non-scoring 8’s girls then boys heats. Coaches should try to have the non-scoring heats go fastest to slowest, filling lanes with girls, then boys as possible.
● Repeat this pattern with the 10/u.
● The official 12/u girls heat will race, followed by the official boys 12/u heat. At the conclusion of the 12&u official boys heat; non-scoring 50 heats will be run and designated as 11/overs
● At the conclusion of the non-scoring
11&over you begin your official 14/u girls, then boy and finish the stroke
with the 17&u girl then boy. Coaches should note they must/can combine heats
as much as possible, combining sexes to fill lanes when possible and needed.
Combining relays is a must; coaches and officials can designate which lanes are
for 13/u and which lanes are for 17/u. When possible this information should be
shared by coaches in advance with the official.
2. Recommended Meet Conduct
Guidelines
● All meet supplies should be available at warm-up
● All meet entry/time cards should be completed pre-meet
● extra meet time cards should be available on every timer clipboard
● the new order of dual meet events should be explained in detail to timers and swimmers
● in all cases a coach should be available behind the blocks to ensure quick placement of swimmers in proper lanes
● Coaches must touch bases with officials immediately upon there arrival to review format
● Horn start systems should be available
● When practical and agreed on in advance 8/u can start at far side to eliminate timer movement.
● Coaches are encouraged to use Hy-Tek software to manage their team and generate meet card labels. This will also assist them in post-season entries.
● Diving announcing must be crisp and announcers must know less is best.
● Combine and Merge wherever possible, always only if it doesn’t cost time
● Encourage teams to be creative to solve
their logistical problems
3. Referee & Starter
Procedures
Suggestions for Officials to aid in
shortening WSCS Dual Meet Competition Time
It is the recommendation of the Committee
that the chairman (DMH) put together and distributes an information sheet to all
referee and starters who will work 2008 WCSC events that detail these
items.
This information should also be shared
with all coaches and chairpersons to ensure implementation.
Administrative
Procedures:
● Officials must record the start and
finish times for both diving and swimming as well as count the number of extra
heats conducted. This information should be noted on the official score sheet at
the completion of the meet and noted on your meet result cards.
● Officials should be at the competition
venue at least ½ hour prior to the scheduled start time fully equipped and ready
to begin.
● Coaches have been instructed to turn in completed dive sheets NLT 20 minutes before meet start.
Failure to do so shall result in
divers not being allowed to compete.
● Each team is allowed a maximum of two
divers in each age group for a maximum of 12 divers per team and 24 total diving
competitors. Should both teams have 12 divers, no additional divers will be
permitted under any circumstance. Should one team have less than 12 divers,
the other team may not add unofficial divers.
● Meet with desk personnel and discuss
with the announcer the proper method of announcing dives. Remind the announcer
that the diving competition runs quickly and efficiently based on the pace the
announcer sets.
● In pre-meet comments urge the coaches
and the divers to head to the on deck readiness area when announced in order to
keep the meet moving. Coaches should discuss this during practices sessions as
well.
● At completion of the diving, review the
score sheets. Take a quick look at the score by age group. If the results aren’t
close no formal review is needed. That is if the scores are 59.25- 51.45-44.00 –
record the order of finish and move on. Remember clerical errors may be
corrected up to 48 hours after the completion of a meet.
SWIMMING
● Prior to the diving request both
coaches to get their timers assigned and ready to go immediately after the
diving is completed.
● Have a quick pre-meet discussion with
both coaches to make sure they agree on lanes, strokes, etc. Verify that they
have shared the approximate number of extra heat swimmers they have and are
prepared with a behind blocks coach to keep extra heats running smoothly and
maximizing the efficient use of all available lanes.
● Be congenial but please keep the meet
moving. Keep any unnecessary conversations with Coaches, timers and spectators
to a minimum.
● Only submit rundown sheets for official
heats. Walking the deck for extra heats in unnecessary – use the time to rest
and review the overall meet situation.
● This is an outdoor summer competition
where peripheral noise is constant. Bringing the facility to complete quiet
prior to the start of each race is difficult and unrealistic. As long as the
timers and swimmers can hear your commands, allow moderate background noise and
keep the meet moving.
● Develop a time efficient pattern to
starting. Call the next heat to the blocks as the last swimmer in the current
race finishes. Watch the timers in that lane and begin commands for the next
race when those volunteers appear to be nearing readiness. 15-20 seconds between
heats should be a goal.
● It is okay for clubs to time their own
swimmers.
● Don’t recall extra heats – let them go
even if someone is moving on the start.
● At the proper time, politely request
the timers to move to the opposite end of the pool as expeditiously as
possible.
●Assure the timers that they don’t need
cards for extra heats at the race start – coaches will provide them by the
finish.
● DQ’s are indicated by raising your arm
and are recorded on the run down sheet. A coach need only be notified if the DQ
is of a competitor touching the wall in the top three spots.
● At some point during the butterfly or
prior to the relays, request each coach to provide the number of relays they
have in each age group. Compare these lists to see if combination of relay
events can be done. Typically the opportunity to combine heats would be in the
older age group events. In a close meet, all relay events should be run
separately.
The goal is to conduct a time efficient
but fair competition between member teams. This can be done if all parties
cooperate and adhere to the meet guidelines and rules. Know what you’re supposed
to do and be ready to do it.
Submitted: Dave Heller, Sr (Chair of CODMR & chair of R+R WCSC); Paul McClintock (Officials chair); Kevin Carolan, Nick Cavataro, Maura Foster, Dom Galami, Bill Natlo, Cathleen O’Connor, Kevin Stone