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.
This wasn’t technically an emergency; the USMS proposal was a timely submission to the Legislation Committee, in July. The FINA proposal was published in April and approved at the FINA Congress in July.
while somewhat true, consider that
Top Ten for Long Course Meters is Oct 1 till Sep 30
and USMS convention was held in mid-Sep.
how much more time was there? barely 3 weeks.
and without a FINA approved "club Unat" allowance for USMS all swims starting Oct 1 for lcm *could* (key word) have been thrown out by FINA. as well as the already on going season for scm with similar repercussions.
yes there were months of lead up, but in the end, it was just 3 weeks.
knelson, i'm pretty sure fina already is the Empire. without fina's blessing you cannot be recognized in *any* human only water sport competition.
yes there were months of lead up, but in the end, it was just 3 weeks. True, but this is the typical situation with FINA. FINA holds a general congress every 4 years, usually in July, depending on when the World Championships are held. And USMS has from the time FINA proposals are published until they are acted upon by the congress to figure out if we need to make rules changes to align with FINA rules.
We have a bigger annual fire-drill dealing with USA Swimming Amendments That Affect USMS Rules.
knelson, i'm pretty sure fina already is the Empire.The title of “World Governing Body for Aquatic Sports” may also be a clue.
I believe the new rule states that club Unattached members cannot swim on relays or score points. I think that probably means they can't enter Worlds without a full club.
I think it is interesting that Europe allows swimmers to switch teams or sometimes represent a different team/club if their home club is not entered. That would probably be chaos here.
I think it is interesting that Europe allows swimmers to switch teams or sometimes represent a different team/club if their home club is not entered. That would probably be chaos here.
It's strange. They force you to be on a club, but you don't need to show even a modicum of allegiance to that club. It's a cherry picker's paradise!
I guess I don’t understand all the fuss.
From a swimmer’s perspective:
1) If I’m a member of a USMS club and I swim in a USMS sanctioned event
A) my times can be counted for USMS and FINA (for meters) top 10 and records,
B) I can swim on relays for my club,
C) I can score points for my club
2) If I’m unattached and I swim in a USMS sanctioned event
A) my times can be counted for USMS and FINA (for meters) top 10 and records,
B) I don’t get to swim on relays
Isn’t this exactly what happens in USMS sanctioned events today?
I'm piping in now after reading the entire forum. Like Rich A., I was baffled by the rule change and naively read it to mean that anyone entering a meet as UNAT would result in all participants' times not being able to qualify for Top Ten consideration. I immediately contacted a friend who was joining USMS for the first time but who practices on her own to find a club to join so she could enter meets without affecting the rest of us. So, I like Rob's summary but it would be clearer if he modified 2A) to say "all swimmers' times, including my own, can be counted for .... Top Ten ...
Now I can tell my new swimming friend she can be UNAT, compete in meets, and not affect others' ability to be counted for Top Ten and records.
What does europe have against unattached swimmers?
I have no idea. And it can be a real pain. You wind up paying ASA (similar to USAS) fees - which you have to pay through a club - AND you have to pay club dues for your affiliation. Neither of these equate to being able to actually *train* with a club, which requires not only additional fees, but also finding a club that has a Masters squad and trains at times you can actually attend (9-10pm on a Sunday night? Really?). I'm lucky that the club I found in Southampton was great and, now that I'm living 140 miles away, I can pay a nominal fee every month to maintain my affiliation, and if I can make it to a training session with them, they don't ask for extra money. However, I probably wouldn't bother doing it if it weren't for my boyfriend still living down there and also swimming for the club.
