Swimmers,
Use this thread to share information, blogs, personal results and stories from the 2014 World Championships in Montreal.
Those posting blogs specifically should make sure the are posted to the following link:
forums.usms.org/blog.php
Below and attached you will find the first email letter from Tim Waud regarding the World Championships in Montreal, Canada.
Dear Worlds Swimmers,
The World Team coaches are excited to represent United States Masters Swimming at the 2014 FINA World Championship. Coaches are Tim Waud (Oregon), Dean Hawks (Indiana), Andrew LeVasseur (Colorado) and Jennifer Catucci-Crowther (Virginia). Head Coach Tim Waud can be reached by email: Twaud@aol.com
COMMUNICATION:
Social Media:
Join our Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/.../
This page will continue to be updated preceding and throughout the event.
Venue:
The World Team coaches intend on identifying two locations, one just outside of each competition pool in Montreal, where we can post daily messages for all the USA swimmers. Please be on the lookout for “TEAM MESSAGES” at the meet.
Look for the USMS logo on the message board.
Coaches:
The World Team coaches will be highly visible on the pool deck(s). Coaches will be wearing USMS Polo Shirts and be in area represented by a United States Masters Swimming banner.
RELAYS:
Relay Cards: Relay sheets or cards indicating the names of the pre-registered swimmers will be given to the team representative on arrival at registration. These competitors must be verified or amended and the relay sheets or cards returned to the designated point by Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 1:00 PM. Changes to team age groups, swimmers or times will be accepted until Tuesday, 15th July 2014 by the coach or a team representative. All relay team members must be affiliated with the same swimming club. A swimmer may not swim for more than one team per relay event.
TEAM DINNER:
Check the team message board and Facebook daily for information regarding team dinners and social events.
Places to swim in Montreal:
These are links to swimming pools in Montreal; some of these facilities do not open until this summer.
www.montrealgazette.com/.../pools.htmlville.montreal.qc.ca/.../pagewww.yelp.com/searchwww.google.com/.../data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!2m4!3m3!1spublic swimming pools!2sMontreal, QC, Canada!3s0x4cc91a541c64b70d:0x654e3138211fefefswim.isport.com/.../
What Rule is THAT?!
Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, answers your questions
The Coach Asks: What are the differences between USMS rules and FINA rules that our swimmers might face at the World Championships in Montreal?
Answer: The World Championship is run according to FINA rules and policies, so it will not be like a USMS meet. Some of the rules differences are:
The minimum age for competitors is 25 (FINA rule MSW 1.1).
The 1500 free is not offered at this meet (FINA rule BL 10.2.2).
FINA qualifying times are different than USMS national qualifying times (FINA rule BL 10.2.1).
A swimmer may not enter more than 5 individual events (FINA rule BL 10.2.5). Swimmers could be required to swim 2-to-a-lane in freestyle events 400 meters and longer (FINA rule MSW 3.7).
All swimmers must report to the clerk of course (marshaling area) at least 15 minutes before their designated races. Report earlier than that for the 800 free in case the 800 is seeded as the swimmers arrive for marshaling as was done in Italy (2012).
FINA officials count laps for swimmers in the 800 individual freestyle and show the remaining number of lengths to be completed (descending order rather than ascending order). Officials only count from the turn end of the pool, not from the sides of the pool (FINA rule SW 2.6.3), and they do not put the numbers in the water when touchpads are in place at the turn end of the pool.
Officials will give each swimmer in each heat of the 800 free a warning signal (bell or whistle) when there are 2 lengths plus 5 meters left for each swimmer (FINA rule SW 2.6.4).
For backstroke starts, when the "FINA high walls" are in place with touchpads extending 0.3 meter above the water surface, the toes can be placed above the surface of the water because there are no gutters on which the toes can be placed (FINA rules FR 2.4.3 and SW 6.1).
FINA requires notification of disqualifications only via posted code in the meet results (FINA rule MSW 3.10).
Times achieved at Worlds which are slower than the qualifying times will not be posted in the results but will be shown instead as NT (no time).
Filing a protest costs money (100 Swiss francs or its equivalent, which is refunded if the protest is upheld; FINA rule GR 9.2.2).
For a more complete list of FINA rules differences, see pages 154 -156 in Appendix B of the 2014 USMS Rule Book which can be viewed or downloaded at usms.org.
FINA rules and regulations can be viewed at fina.org.
All rule references are from the 2014 USMS Rule Book. For any questions about competition rules in Part 1, contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair.
What Rule is THAT?!
Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, answers your questions
The Coach Asks: What are the differences between USMS rules and FINA rules that our swimmers might face at the World Championships in Montreal?
Answer: The World Championship is run according to FINA rules and policies, so it will not be like a USMS meet. Some of the rules differences are:
The minimum age for competitors is 25 (FINA rule MSW 1.1).
The 1500 free is not offered at this meet (FINA rule BL 10.2.2).
FINA qualifying times are different than USMS national qualifying times (FINA rule BL 10.2.1).
A swimmer may not enter more than 5 individual events (FINA rule BL 10.2.5). Swimmers could be required to swim 2-to-a-lane in freestyle events 400 meters and longer (FINA rule MSW 3.7).
All swimmers must report to the clerk of course (marshaling area) at least 15 minutes before their designated races. Report earlier than that for the 800 free in case the 800 is seeded as the swimmers arrive for marshaling as was done in Italy (2012).
FINA officials count laps for swimmers in the 800 individual freestyle and show the remaining number of lengths to be completed (descending order rather than ascending order). Officials only count from the turn end of the pool, not from the sides of the pool (FINA rule SW 2.6.3), and they do not put the numbers in the water when touchpads are in place at the turn end of the pool.
Officials will give each swimmer in each heat of the 800 free a warning signal (bell or whistle) when there are 2 lengths plus 5 meters left for each swimmer (FINA rule SW 2.6.4).
For backstroke starts, when the "FINA high walls" are in place with touchpads extending 0.3 meter above the water surface, the toes can be placed above the surface of the water because there are no gutters on which the toes can be placed (FINA rules FR 2.4.3 and SW 6.1).
FINA requires notification of disqualifications only via posted code in the meet results (FINA rule MSW 3.10).
Times achieved at Worlds which are slower than the qualifying times will not be posted in the results but will be shown instead as NT (no time).
Filing a protest costs money (100 Swiss francs or its equivalent, which is refunded if the protest is upheld; FINA rule GR 9.2.2).
For a more complete list of FINA rules differences, see pages 154 -156 in Appendix B of the 2014 USMS Rule Book which can be viewed or downloaded at usms.org.
FINA rules and regulations can be viewed at fina.org.
All rule references are from the 2014 USMS Rule Book. For any questions about competition rules in Part 1, contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair.
