I just saw an article about the new FINA swim rules and I'm confused about the one relating to swimming unattached in a SCM or LCM meet. The new rule states that if a swimmer does enter a meet as unattached not only will his or her time not count for FINA top ten or a record, but that everyone in the meet will also have their times be unrecognized. Sounds a bit harsh.
Also, backstrokers can no longer finish underwater. How will that be judged? What if your entire body is submerged on the final lunge except for the toes of one foot completing a final kick?
Clarification from our rule gurus please.
Since you seem more interested in proving your point than understanding the rule, please go right ahead and enter Worlds using Club Unattached.
I believe that FINA has been apprised of our solution to the rule and are satisfied with it.
Well, I suppose that's one way of shutting down a dialogue.... I happen to be 'attached', so the situation does not apply to me. As you stated earlier, "much as we would like to think, USMS is not the center of the world, nor does it dictate rules to FINA". USMS cannot 'apprise' FINA of anything. To the contrary, if I'm reading between your lines correctly, it's really FINA that is allowing USMS to change this rule for a limited FINA purpose. My suggestion and hope is that in the future, when USMS rule language is changed for a narrow purpose, it's crafted it in such a way that mitigates potential confusion... both the broadness of this language and the timing of the change might lead one (logically) to assume it has to do with World entries, not for protecting the elites that might set a world record at a home meet. It would truly be a shame if 'club Unat' swimmers enter Worlds and miss the opportunity to compete on the basis of this overly broad language. You have the power to prevent this. And that is my point.
Since you seem more interested in proving your point than understanding the rule, please go right ahead and enter Worlds using Club Unattached.
I believe that FINA has been apprised of our solution to the rule and are satisfied with it.
Well, I suppose that's one way of shutting down a dialogue.... I happen to be 'attached', so the situation does not apply to me. As you stated earlier, "much as we would like to think, USMS is not the center of the world, nor does it dictate rules to FINA". USMS cannot 'apprise' FINA of anything. To the contrary, if I'm reading between your lines correctly, it's really FINA that is allowing USMS to change this rule for a limited FINA purpose. My suggestion and hope is that in the future, when USMS rule language is changed for a narrow purpose, it's crafted it in such a way that mitigates potential confusion... both the broadness of this language and the timing of the change might lead one (logically) to assume it has to do with World entries, not for protecting the elites that might set a world record at a home meet. It would truly be a shame if 'club Unat' swimmers enter Worlds and miss the opportunity to compete on the basis of this overly broad language. You have the power to prevent this. And that is my point.
