Swimming & Diving Advisory Committee

Minutes
December 12, 2005 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida

I. Purpose and Introduction
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. by Tamara Wilsey. Ms. Wilsey noted the purpose of the meeting and those in attendance proceeded with a brief introduction of themselves. In attendance were: Lisa Allgeyer, Satellite HS (Satellite Beach); Mike Curley, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando)/FACA Representative; Jay Fitzgerald, Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale); Gil Gonzalez, Plant HS (Tampa); Carl Kolling, Lely HS (Naples); Jeff Poppell, Bolles (Jacksonville); and Dale Porter, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park). FHSAA staff members present were Tamara Wilsey, Associate Director of Athletics and Sonny Hester, Senior Director of Athletics.

II. Committee members completed their travel expense vouchers.

III. The committee selected Mike Curley as the chairperson.

IV. The minutes from the previous meeting and the agenda were reviewed and adopted.

V. Review of the 2005-06 FHSAA Swimming & Diving Manual included clarifications for the following:
1. The 2006-05 Manual will contain more verbiage about the FHSAA policies and stance on declared false starts, full compliment of finalists, and timed finals.
2. A clarification on the calendar of voluntary dives.
3. A swim-off shall be conducted when there is a tie for the last qualifying spot at the district and region meet.
Review items for the 2006 Online Video Rules Presentation:
1. What are the definitions of unsportsmanlike conduct in regards to exiting the pool prior to other competitors completing the heat, swimming a cool down in own lane after a 500, and coaches’ responsibility during a dual meet with no registered FHSAA officials.

VI. Review of the 2005 State Meet in Fort Lauderdale including the following discussion items:
1. Again, this year’s schedule was severely affected by hurricanes at the state series district and regional levels and especially the Finals.
2. Due to the time change and lack of lighting for evening sessions, there was a large concern about the heat and sun on Saturday for Finals. The group requested the use of large tents supplied by the host for the future if the same circumstances prevailed.
3. Divers wanted to know who they were actually competing against in their class. Posting of diver name and class requested.
4. Most coaches polled by committee members would like to go back to a one-day format to highlight their classification.

VII. Old Business
The committee discussed the philosophy and direction of the state series and some of the perceptions of what each level means to their student athletes and coaches.

A. 2004 FACA Recommendations (Effective 2006-07)
RECOMMENDATION # 1
Eliminate Region Meet
Qualify 32 individuals and 24 teams directly to states from districts. Each district champion would advance automatically, and the at-large remainder will be from places 2-8.
Motion to Remove from Table by Porter/ 2nd Allgeyer (6-0 Approve)
Motion to Deny by Allgeyer/ 2nd Fitzgerald (7-0 Deny)

B. 2004 SDAC Recommendations (Effective 2006-07)
RECOMMENDATION # 1
Increase Region qualifiers to 24
Qualify top 8 from districts to regions and include consolation finals.
Motion to Remove from Table by Allgeyer/ 2nd Fitzgerald (7-0 Approve)
Modified to read:
205.05 Advancement of Teams & Individuals
(1) District to Regionals.
(a) Swimming Events. Sixteen (16) Twenty-four (24) contestants shall advance from district meets to the correlating regional meets in each individual event in swimming competition as follows: the top finisher in each swimming event from each district meet as well as the next 13 overall best times at-large for a field of 24 from the remaining best times among top six eight finishers in the three district meets comprising the region.
(b) Relay events. Sixteen (16) teams shall advance from district meets to the correlating regional meets in each relay event in swimming competition as follows: the top finisher in each relay event from each district meet as well as the next overall best times at-large for a field of 16 from the remaining best times among top eight finishers in the district meets comprising the region.
(b) (c) Diving Competition. Sixteen (16) Twenty-four (24) contestants may advance from district meets to the correlating regional meets in diving competition as follows: the first two (2) places in diving competition, provided the diver has a minimum qualifying score of 280.0 points in district competition. Any remaining available spaces shall be filled on an at-large basis from all competing divers who placed in the top six eight in their respective district meets comprising the region and met the minimum qualifying score of 280.0 points, for a field of 24.
(2) Regionals to FHSAA Finals.
(a) Swimming Events. Sixteen (16) Twenty-four (24) contestants shall advance from regional meets to the FHSAA Finals in each individual event in swimming competition as follows: the top finisher in each swimming event from each district meet as well as the next 12 overall best times at-large for a field of 24 from the remaining best times among top six eight finishers in the four regional meets.
(b) Relay events. Sixteen (16) teams shall advance from regional meets to the FHSAA Finals in each relay event in swimming competition as follows: the top finisher in each relay event from each regional meet as well as the next overall best times at-large for a field of 16 from the remaining best times among top eight finishers in the regional meets.
(b) (c) Diving Competition. Sixteen (16) Twenty-four (24) contestants may advance from regional meets to the FHSAA Finals in diving competition as follows: the first two (2) places in diving competition, provided the diver has a minimum qualifying score of 280.0 points in district competition. Any remaining available spaces shall be filled on an at-large basis from all competing divers who placed in the top six eight in their respective regional meets and met the minimum qualifying score of 280.0 points, for a field of 24.
207.06 Scoring. State series meets shall be scored in accordance with NFHS Rule 7. Eight (8) Sixteen (16) places shall be scored at district meets, regional meets and the FHSAA Finals.
State meet format as determined by the host.
Motion to Accept Modification by Fitzgerald/ 2nd Gonzalez (7-0 Approve)
Motion to FAST TRACK by Fitzgerald/ 2nd Poppell (7-0 Approve)

RECOMMENDATION # 2
Change State Meet Format
Top 2 advance from region to states with at-large from places 3-8 for a total of 24 per event. Add consolation finals at states. Return to one class per day.
Motion to Remove from Table by Allgeyer/ 2nd Fitzgerald (7-0 Approve)
NO ACTION

VIII. New Business
A. 2005 FACA Recommendations (Effective 2007-08)
RECOMMENDATION # 1
Increase to 4 classifications. Top 8 advance from districts to regions, and top 16 overall from regions to states, in individual events for a total of 24, and top 16 in relays. Open up advancement to top 8 finalists at all levels. Also, stagger the seasons to allow for championships on two different weekends (2 classes each weekend with 1 per day).
Motion to Table by Allgeyer/ 2nd Porter (7-0 Approve)

B. 2005 SDAC Recommendation (Effective 2007-08)
RECOMMENDATION # 1
Change district formats to timed finals.
Motion to Deny by Gonzalez/ 2nd Fitzgerald (7-0 Deny)

IX. Sportsmanship Update
Staff commended coaches for a job well done this season. A reminder for coaches to act on any unsportsmanlike conduct by reporting it to their AD and sending in an USLC report form. Now, FHSAA registered swimming & diving officials have the responsibility to report these incidents as well.

X. Roundtable/Discussion Items
1. 2005 Numbers-A copy of the participation numbers was distributed to the group for information purposes.
2. Amendment to Policy 30-The committee endorsed the policy change on gross unsportsmanlike conduct and probation levels with a 5-0 vote and 2 abstentions.
3. NFHS Experiment on Whistle Starts-The committee endorsed the asking of the NFHS for permission to experiment during the 2006-07 swimming season with whistle starts at all meets. Vote 7-0 Approved.
4. NFHS Experiment on No Recall False Starts-The committee endorsed the asking of the NFHS for permission to experiment again during the 2006-07 swimming season with no recall false starts at all meets. Vote 7-0 Approved.
5. Committee members asked that NO results be posted until the last district or region meet has been completed in each classification. The information was considered to be a benefit for the coaches and athletes who swim after the posted results are up.
6. There is still a concern with trying to move the swimming and diving season back to the winter or spring or even two weeks from its current calendar. The FACA would be the group to gather survey information for future agenda items.
7. There has also become an increasing problem with the manufacturer’s logo on some of the racing suits that are exceeding the NFHS rules. The committee would like to ask the NFHS to be aware of the changes in size and to look at the current requirements.

Mr. Curley adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m.