IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2006-07

Boys/Girls Swimming/Diving Advisory Committee

April 23, 2007

The IHSA Swimming/Diving Advisory Committee met at the IHSA Office, Bloomington, Illinois on Monday, April 23, 2007, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Committee Members present were: Jennifer Hamilton, Associate Principal, Normal (Community); Joe Plack, Official, Deerfield; David Ribbens, Athletic Director, Chicago (University); Josh Runkle, Coach, Northbrook (Glenbrook North); David Perry, Coach, Oak Park (Fenwick); Paul Biersdorf, Coach, Peoria H.S.; Others in attendance, Ron McGraw, IHSA Asst. Executive Director; Chuck Fargo, Coach, Evanston (Twp.); Chris Livatino, Athletic Director, Evanston (Twp.); Jim Bloch, Athletic Director, Winnetka (New Trier); Deb Ofcky, Assistant Athletic Director, Winnetka (New Trier); Randy Oberembt, Athletic Director, Winnetka (New Trier) for 07-08.
Committee members not in attendance: Brian Rogers, Coach, Springfield (Southeast); Andy Weinberg, Coach, Pekin

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Item VII-C – Advancement of Winners
Recommendation: All Sectional Qualifying Standards for the Boy’s and Girls State Finals will be determined in the following manner (for the next two years, 07-08, 08-09): The Qualifying Standards for each individual swimming event will be calculated by averaging the 30th place time from all sectionals. Then that average time will be used to obtain an average of the last three years average times in each event. In relay events the same process will be implemented but the average of the 24th sectional place time will be used to make the calculations. Any time calculated to be slower than the existing qualifying time would not be used in that event. The existing time would remain. This procedure will be evaluated after the two year trial period.
Using this process, the proposed qualifying standards for the 07-08 seasons are:

BOYS STANDARDS 2008                            GIRLS STANDARDS 2007
200 MR                       1:40.46                        200 MR                       1:51.92
200 Free                      1:47.26                        200 Free                      1:57.14
200 IM                        2:01.57                        200 IM                         2:12.69
50 Free                        22.26                           50 Free                        24.84
100 Butterfly                53.93                           100 Butterfly                1:00.14
100 Free                      48.73                           100 Free                      53.99*
500 Free                      4:52.13                        500 Free                      5:13.93
200 FR                        1:29.84                        200 FR                        1:40.19*
100 Back                     55.47                           100 Back                     1:0082
100 Breast                   1:02.46                        100 Breast                   1:08.59*
400 Free Relay             3:17.83                        400 Free Relay            3:40.03
                   * Indicates the use of last year’s qualifying standard

Rationale: In the past the advisory committee has used a subjective method for determining the qualifying standards for the following seasons. Other associations and swim organizations use a method similar to the objective method proposed in this recommendation. The proposed system was compared to the results we would have obtained by using the old method. The results were surprisingly similar. Using an objective system is easier to use, easier to defend and provides fair standards for competitors. If necessary, the system is adjustable by using a different average sectional time. The Assistant Executive Director has reserved the right to make changes during this initial testing period if it is obvious that this would be necessary in order to protect the integrity of the meet. The committee reviewed adequate information to believe that this will not become necessary.

Approved

2. VIII-J – Uniforms

Recommendation: This recommendation serves as a clarification to the IHSA Uniform Rule. Specifically it is intended to interpret the “One-Piece Suit” language found in the T&C as well as the Swimming and Diving Rules Bulletin.
The interpretation of this rule should be that a uniform is legal if:

There is only one (1) clearly visible logo
The uniform is school approved
The uniform is whole and in good taste

It is not necessarily illegal to wear two suits. If the suits meet the three criteria listed above then it is not an illegal uniform.

Rationale: The uniform rule came into question last year when officials were concerned that in some cases they could seeing two logos. This was because competitors in some programs were wearing two uniforms. The NFHS allows only one logo to be visible. Consequently the situation was reviewed and it was determined at that time that the swimmers would only be allowed to wear a single suit. This would eliminate the problem.

Last year’s interpretation was reviewed by the advisory committee and concluded the following. The NFHS has not (yet) addressed the issue of swimmers wearing more than one suit. Nor has the NFHS spoke on the issue of the legality of drag suits. This recommendation is intended to clarify for coaches and officials what is a legal suit in Illinois. There are several reasons why a swimmer would wear more than one suit. Sometimes the reasons for wearing two suits are related to modesty and support. Sometimes the athlete wears the second suit as a drag suit (which at this time is not illegal by NFHS standards). The rule in Illinois states that a “One Piece Suit” must be worn by girls in swimming and diving. In other words, no two piece suits. This language does not specifically disallow two suits being worn at the same time. It is considered prudent at this time to provide the criteria above and wait for an answer from the NFHS to answer questions relative to two suits, drag suits, etc.

Approved

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Coaches Wristbands: In an effort to ensure that only approved personnel are on the pool deck, meet management and/or IHSA officials will secure the required wristband on coaches as they enter the facility. Any band that appears to be tampered with at anytime during the championships will be confiscated and the individual in possession will not be allowed entrance without the purchase of a ticket. If no tickets are available for purchase the individual will not be allowed admittance. There have been numerous instances in the past two years involving coaches providing an extra coaches’ band to individuals other than the certified coach for which the band was approved and intended. Schools involved in the transfer of coaches’ bands will have their program placed on probation for the following year. Eliminate the diving coach’s pass from the number of allowable coaches’ passes as calculated by the number of qualifying swimmers and divers. The qualifying divers will be removed from the list of qualifiers used to determine the number of coaches passes. In other words, the swimming coaches’ passes will be determined by using only the number of swimmers qualifying from each team.

Hy-Tek Software Required by State Final Sites: It will become a requirement beginning in 2007-2008 that all hosts for Swimming and Diving State Finals will be capable of using the Hy-Tek software for managing the meet. It has become important that there is continuity between the sites relative to this process.

Assign the Meet Management Software Operator from our list of IHSA Swimming/Diving Officials: This position is listed as one recommended as per NFHS Rule 4-Section 10. The IHSA administrator responsible for swimming and diving will have greater access to this individual prior to and during the competition if he/she is an IHSA official. This will make initially setting up the meet, confirming that it is aligned with the official heat sheet (IHSA Program), and making necessary changes an easier process.

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION

The committee discussed the following topics:

*Filling empty lanes at the State Finals
*Scoring the State Finals to 16 places
*Dive off for 12th place ties in the prelims
*Coaches on the diving panel
*Allow sectional entries through Hy-Tek
*Eliminate seeding meetings
*Starting the girl’s season one week earlier (must be a By-Law Proposal)
*Confirmation of sectional online entries (use the Activity Tracker in School Center)
*Award 4 team trophies
*Girls bathroom facilities on or near the deck
*Diving Rule Change
*Allowing electronic qualification at anytime during the season
*Allowing 1st and 2nd place sectional finishers to qualify for the State Finals
*Allowing a lead off swimmer in a relay to qualify in an individual event
*Allow changes to be made at seed meetings (you already can make some changes in individual events)
* The variety of food made available in the coaches’ hospitality will be reviewed
* Consider providing a number of heat sheets equal to the number of approved coaches for each school.
* Meet management will continue to work to provide everyone an equal opportunity to enter the pool area at the same time