Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #9 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair January 25, 2008 Fly Splits from the IM Situation: I was told that the 50 fly split and the 100 fly split from the 400 IM would not count as official times for butterfly because the event is called “IM” instead of butterfly and the rule book says, “An official time for an event or stroke can only be achieved…in an initial distance of such event or stroke.” (103.13.2) Answer: That is the correct rule, but the interpretation was wrong. The rule book describes the first one-fourth of the IM as butterfly (101.6). Therefore, the 50 fly split and the 100 fly split of the 400 IM would both count as official times for butterfly. Quoting 103.13.2 above along with the language of 101.6 (in parentheses), “an initial distance” (first one-fourth) “of such event or stroke” (individual medley) means the butterfly (first one-fourth of the IM). Swimmers with Disabilities Question: If a swimmer has severe damage to the rotator cuff in the left shoulder, is she allowed to swim one length of butterfly with the right arm only and the next length with the left arm only? Answer: No. The general rule is: if a part of the body cannot be used, it is not judged; if it is used during the stroke or kick, it should be judged in accordance with the USMS rules (108.5.2). In this case, the injured arm was used every other length in that race and must be judged according to the stroke rules for butterfly (101.3.2). Referees have the authority to modify rules for swimmers with disabilities (103.6.7 and 108.1.1). Article 108 contains guidelines and suggestions for modifying the rules for swimmers with disabilities. Article 108 cannot list the modifications for every disability that exists, so each case is handled on its own merits. The swimmer (or a representative of the swimmer) must notify the referee of the swimmer’s disability prior to the competition. Recognized Meets: Question: How do we get times from a recognized meet to count for USMS? Answer: These steps must be followed (1, 2, and 3 are not required for meets sanctioned by USA Swimming, 202.2): 1. Apply to the LMSC where the meet is to be held for recognition and get a recognition number for that meet. (202.2.1A) 2. A USMS observer must be assigned to the recognized meet. (202.2) 3. The USMS observer must submit a written report to the LMSC verifying whether the relevant USMS rules were followed or not. (202.2) 4. The swimmer(s) must submit the times and documentation for those times to the appropriate LMSC Top 10 recorder. (202.2) 5. The pool length certification must be on file with USMS or USA-S or must be measured and submitted if such certification is not on file or if there have been structural changes to the pool (for a bulkhead pool, the length of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the end of each session). (105.1.6 & .7) Note: Caution! World record applications are accepted only from meets sanctioned by USMS or a FINA member federation and will not be accepted from recognized meets. (Instructions on the “Application for USMS and/or World Record”, Appendix B) For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.

RULES CORNER #9 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair January 25, 2008 Fly Splits from the IM Situation: I was told that the 50 fly split and the 100 fly split from the 400 IM would not count as official times for butterfly because the event is called “IM” instead of butterfly and the rule book says, “An official time for an event or stroke can only be achieved…in an initial distance of such event or stroke.” (103.13.2) Answer: That is the correct rule, but the interpretation was wrong. The rule book describes the first one-fourth of the IM as butterfly (101.6). Therefore, the 50 fly split and the 100 fly split of the 400 IM would both count as official times for butterfly. Quoting 103.13.2 above along with the language of 101.6 (in parentheses), “an initial distance” (first one-fourth) “of such event or stroke” (individual medley) means the butterfly (first one-fourth of the IM). Swimmers with Disabilities Question: If a swimmer has severe damage to the rotator cuff in the left shoulder, is she allowed to swim one length of butterfly with the right arm only and the next length with the left arm only? Answer: No. The general rule is: if a part of the body cannot be used, it is not judged; if it is used during the stroke or kick, it should be judged in accordance with the USMS rules (108.5.2). In this case, the injured arm was used every other length in that race and must be judged according to the stroke rules for butterfly (101.3.2). Referees have the authority to modify rules for swimmers with disabilities (103.6.7 and 108.1.1). Article 108 contains guidelines and suggestions for modifying the rules for swimmers with disabilities. Article 108 cannot list the modifications for every disability that exists, so each case is handled on its own merits. The swimmer (or a representative of the swimmer) must notify the referee of the swimmer’s disability prior to the competition. Recognized Meets: Question: How do we get times from a recognized meet to count for USMS? Answer: These steps must be followed (1, 2, and 3 are not required for meets sanctioned by USA Swimming, 202.2): 1. Apply to the LMSC where the meet is to be held for recognition and get a recognition number for that meet. (202.2.1A) 2. A USMS observer must be assigned to the recognized meet. (202.2) 3. The USMS observer must submit a written report to the LMSC verifying whether the relevant USMS rules were followed or not. (202.2) 4. The swimmer(s) must submit the times and documentation for those times to the appropriate LMSC Top 10 recorder. (202.2) 5. The pool length certification must be on file with USMS or USA-S or must be measured and submitted if such certification is not on file or if there have been structural changes to the pool (for a bulkhead pool, the length of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the end of each session). (105.1.6 & .7) Note: Caution! World record applications are accepted only from meets sanctioned by USMS or a FINA member federation and will not be accepted from recognized meets. (Instructions on the “Application for USMS and/or World Record”, Appendix B) For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.