The Invisible Officials I use the term "invisible" in two ways: 1) the positive sense that officials are not the center of attention, and 2) the negative sense of officials who cannot be found on the deck at all. I consider it a job well done when people will comment that they hadn't noticed I was at a meet, even through I was the referee, starter or stroke/turn judge. Coaches and swimmers should remember each other and their performances, not the officials who worked hard to insure that they had the type of competition they could fondly remember. In the second sense of invisible, I regret that some of our officials do not come out more often to work, particularly to the smaller novice meets. We do encourage the meet directors to call around, but if you don't get a call, come anyway. If the deck is full, start training for another position, or volunteer to relieve people. The novice meets are your opportunity to see all sorts of interesting techniques and brush up on your communication skills with the swimmers. Hope to see you there ! |
Officials Clinic July 25th at UH Manoa Pool 8:00am to 3:30 pm Starters and Stroke/Turn Judges will have their summer clinic. The day will begin with a session on "Professionalism and USS Oficials," followed by some application of the rules at poolside and practice stars for new and old starters.
Clinic Schedule: 8:00 Professionalism and USS Officals 9:15 Break and head to the pool 9:30 Applying the rules
11:45 Bring your own lunch, Juice and soda will be provided 12:30 Situation discussion 1:00 Test Taking 2:30 (or so) correction and discussion 4:00 Pau! | ||||||||||||||||
Meet Schedule July / August 1998
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News from the Net: Peter Carney, USS Rules Committee Chairman comments on the new protocol for starting. When FINA informed us that foot position prior to assuming a starting position was not relevant at the start anymore, we announced the same as well. ...When stepping onto the block, a swimmer may stand at the front, back or middle of the block, with feet uneven or even. Upon the command 'take your marks', the only foot placement requirement is to have at least one foot at the front of the block after assuming a starting position. The swimmer may have already been at the front, stepped forward, or even given the appearance of stepping back (initially both feet at the front, placing one foot back into a track start). All are perfectly acceptable. This interpretation is official. We will not be changing the wording again in 1998. The Rules Committee may change the actual wording slightly for 1999. Interpretations are a valid means of explanation and clarification. There is nothing in the backstroke turn that explicitly precludes a glide once past vertical, but this is the official and understood interpretation of the back turn. ...The practical reality is that, as Rules Chairman, I, after consultation with some of those mentioned previously, plus members of the Rules Committee, issue official interpretations. We have changed the starting rule to conform to FINA and, subsequently, after FINA clarified its intent, issued an interpretation, both in accordance with USS rules. You don't have to like everything we have done, but you need to accept it. If this is still unclear, I will be happy to discuss the 'what', but not the 'why' or 'when'.
Peter Carney, Chairman USS rules and legislation committees pcarney@charlotte.infi.net |