IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2007-08

Boys/Girls Swimming/Diving Advisory Committee

April 16, 2008

The IHSA Swimming/Diving Advisory Committee met at the IHSA Office, Bloomington, Illinois on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Committee Members present were: Jennifer Hamilton, Associate Principal, Normal (Community); Joe Plack, Official, Deerfield; Greg Pohlman, Athletic Director, Carrolton; Josh Runkle, Coach, Northbrook (Glenbrook North); David Perry, Coach, Oak Park (Fenwick); Paul Biersdorf, Coach, Peoria (H.S.); Jason Roberts, Coach, Chicago (Kenwood). Others in attendance, Ron McGraw, IHSA Asst. Executive Director; Chris Livatino, Athletic Director, Evanston (Twp.); Randy Oberembt, Athletic Director, Winnetka (New Trier); Deb Ofcky, Assistant Athletic Director, Winnetka (New Trier).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.         Item VII-C – Advancement of Winners
Recommendation:  To adopt the following qualifying standards. 
As of last year all Sectional Qualifying Standards for the Boy’s and Girls State Finals will be determined in the following manner (for 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 by the advisory committee after the two year trial period ending after the 08-09 seasons.

Using this process, the proposed qualifying standards for the 08-09 seasons are:

* 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 system.  The 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.            V-C – Eliminate Required Attendance at Swim/Dive Seeding Meetings

Recommendation:  This recommendation eliminates the current requirement for the head coach to attend the sectional seed meeting.  It will remain highly recommended that each team send a coach to represent the athletes from their school. 

Rationale:  Currently the only sport that continues to require the head coaches attendance at the sectional seed meeting is track and field (this will be reviewed at the September advisory meeting).  There is no reason to require attendance anymore.  In years past it was necessary for a coach to attend the meeting in order for the meet manager to acquire all of the entries (including relay cards) from each school.  With online entries, this is no longer necessary.

approved

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. IX-A-1 State Final Ticket Distribution Policy: The two tickets available to each school entered in the State Series will no longer be mailed to the schools ordering them.  Instead, they will be held at the State Championship venue for pick up, just as the qualifiers tickets are currently held.  The ordering school will continue to use the appropriate order form and they will continue to pre-pay for these tickets.   Computer generated copies have surfaced in recent years and there simply is no longer any reason to go to the trouble and expense of mailing these two tickets.  This recommendation is supported by the advisory committee.

2. IX-M  Air Horn Required: In the Swimming/Diving State Series, an air horn will be used in place of the starters pistol for all applications.  This recommendation is supported by the advisory committee.

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION

1. The committee discussed the following topics:

*Supported the suggestion that a by-law be proposed in the fall changing the current season limitation by-laws 5.120 and 5.250, to read DATES and not MEETS.
*Filling empty lanes at the State Finals
*Move both meets to UIC
*Coaches wrist band procedures
*Scoring the State Finals to 16 places
*Coaches on the diving panel
*Eliminate seeding meetings
*Starting the girl’s season earlier
*Confirmation of sectional online entries (use the Activity Tracker in School Center)
*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
*Relay alternates
* Meet management at both venues worked to develop a system and provide everyone an equal opportunity to enter the pool area at the same time. 

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