Swimming & Diving Advisory Committee

Minutes
November 27, 2001 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Office
Gainesville, Florida


The meeting was called to order by Cecelia S. Jackson. The following committee members were in attendance: Clay Parnell, Joseph Solak, Duffy Dillon, Bruce Follensbee and Tom Fagley. FHSAA Staff members present: Cecelia S. Jackson, Denarvise Thornton and Ronald Allen.

Ms. Jackson welcomed the committee members and explained the procedure for completing the expense vouchers. The committee members were given a general overview of the purpose of the committee. The agenda was adopted and Duffy Dillon was selected as chairman.

Recommendation #1: Qualifying for state meet: Change the qualifying procedures so that only the first and second place finish in each swimming event automatically qualify for the state meet. The next 20 fastest times from places 3-6 would qualify for the state meet. The number of qualifiers would remain the same at 40. Diving: At-large qualifiers from places 5-6.

Rationale: Allows the fastest swimmers in each class to advance to the state meets. The
change would increase the at-large qualifiers currently from 10 to 20.

SWAC: Vote: 6-0
Second Vote: 5-0
ADAC: Vote: 8-1 Disapproved. Comments: Implement regions meets which will meet the needs and the intent of the original recommendation. Do not lengthen the season.

Recommendation #2: Remove the Disqualification Penalty-FHSAA Manual 18.031 & 18.032. To adopt the National Federation Rule 3, Article 3, Penalty 3. In summary: A swimmer who is entered and/or qualifies for an event and does not show for the event will be disqualified for that event and any remaining events in the meet, but will be allowed to swim in the final(s) of any previous event(s) for which he/she qualified earlier.

Rationale: When a swimmer does not show for an event, the change in the rules would allow the swimmer to continue swimming in the meet in the events he/she qualified for earlier in the meet. The penalty of disqualification of the swimmer for the remainder of the meet would be eliminated.

SWAC: Vote: 6-0
Second Vote: 5-0
ADAC: Vote: 9-0 Approval. Adopt National Federation rule and delete FHSAA rule.

Recommendation #3: Reclassification of swimming from 3 to 4 classes. (a) Recommend that an additional class be added to swimming (4A, 3A, 2A, A) consisting of eight (8) districts.
From district the top 2 qualifiers (16) advance with the at-large(16) from places 3-6 that will comprise 32 qualifiers.
(b) Change the number from 8 to 6 in determining how many swimmers comprise a team for the purpose of re-classification. This change may allow swimming to increase to four classes.

Rationale: An additional class will increase the total number of individuals and teams participating in the state swimming and diving championships. State meets would be more manageable for all concerned. Currently, conditions are overcrowded for swimmers as well as spectators. Smaller meets will allow more rest between the preliminaries and the finals.

SWAC: Vote: 6-0
Second Vote: Voted 5-0 to withdraw (a). Voted 5-0 for (b).
ADAC: Vote: Tabled until after February 5, 2001 Board Meeting when classifications method will be determined for the next two years.

Recommendation #4: Delete the required total degree of difficulty (11.0 for girls, 12.0 for
boys) from the FHSAA Swimming Manual – Item 6.050. Delete the degree of difficulty for optional dives. Divers will continue to do the same number of required dives and optional dives and must have the 280.00 points that are required to qualify for state meets.

Rationale: By deleting the degree of difficulty for optional dives, more divers may participate at district meets. This change would allow divers to do less difficult dives that meet their skills level. Again, coaches need to be sure that divers are proficient at the dives listed on the dive sheets to assure that participation is at a safe level.

SWAC: Vote 6-0
Second Vote: 5-0
ADAC: Vote: 8-1 Approval.

Recommendation #5: To allow alternates to swim in the consolation finals at district meets only. FHSAA Manual 18.031. When a swimmer or relay team does not show up for the consolation finals at a district meet allow an alternate to swim in the consolation heat. List two alternates for each individual and relay event. If the first alternate is not available, allow the second alternate to swim.

Rationale: Allows other swimmers to participate in the evening finals. This provision is used in some other states and USS swim meets.

SWAC: Vote: 6-0
Second Vote: 5-0
ADAC: Vote: 9-0 Disapproved.

Recommendation #1 for 2003: Require at least one registered FHSAA certified swimming official at regular season meets. Require 2 or more for invitational meets. Motion by Parnell, Second by Dillon.

Discussion: Committee recommend the host school have one swimming official at regular season meet to assist with the application of swimming rules starting with the 2002 season. The credibility of the meet is often questioned when decisions are not made according to the rules or ignored by host school. Requiring an official at the meet will help to give credibility to the decisions made and rules would not be ignored. Request that the staff contact swimming officials group and get their input on becoming FHSAA certified officials by 2003 season.

Rationale: A registered official at a meet would assure that rule violations would be called so that the host school coach/parent would not have the responsibility. A certified official would enforce the rules regarding false starts, illegal strokes and turns, and violations when an individual exceeds the 4 events limit.

SWAC: Vote 5-0

Discussion of the 2001 State Swim Meets: The following were some concerns expressed by the committee in regards site and facility: the clarity of the scoreboard, bus parking, hotel rates, outdoor facility and location of the meet. Everyone agreed that the meet was well run, the souvenir program with the heat sheets posting of the qualifiers on Sunday was excellent. The committee also suggested that the schedule for diving be adjusted to accommodate the 40 qualifiers since that was not done when the 10 extra at-large qualifiers were added to each group. First session start at 9:00 and the second session at 1:30 p.m.

Discussion of region level to state swim series 2003: The addition of the region level was placed on the agenda for input from the committee members. The committee discussed those concerns they had in adding another level based on length of season, number of meets in a week, number of districts to be added, cost/travel, loss of school time, and advancement of qualifiers. The general consensus of the committee regarding the region proposal was to include choices on the memorandum when presented to the schools. (1) Keep the current qualifying procedure; (2) all time-based qualifying from district to region to state; and (3) allow the district winner in each event and the next set of fastest times to advance to the region and the next set of fastest times from region to state. The number advancing would be determined on the number of districts and regions set.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

PROCEDURE: The above recommendations approved by the swimming committee for 2003 will be posted on the FHSAA web-site for one year to allow coaches input from the entire state. These recommendations will be reviewed by the swimming committee in November 2002 for submission to the FHSAA Board of Directors for its’ February 2003 meeting.

We wish to thank all the committee members for taking time away from their busy schedules to serve the students of this association.