USMS final decision on tech suits for masters

USMS has made their ruling. Tech suits okay until 6/1 for SCY, banned immediately for SCM and LCM. One hour postal swims not affected by this ruling. See home page under "what's new at USMS" for details.

i'm thinking the same thing as allen is thinking. i know i've seen a generic statement somewhere (generic in the sense that it wasn't written pertaining to tech suits) that says, unless otherwise stated or voted upon, we follow both USA-S and FINA when they make rulings... but in this case, does that statement overrule the prior rulings on tech suits made by USMS??? and i'm with muppet too- if the HOD said ban them on 1 october, then they need to be banned immediately. otherwise, the HOD has been totally undermined... I thought there was no official vote on SCY at convention. And did HOD actually officially "vote" on all courses or just debate? I thought there was just a ruling straight from committee with recommendations for FINA for men and women? (For example, USMS suggested zippers should be OK.) Thanks Karlene.

Karlene said 6/1, that's June 1st, after SC Nationals. I'm not sure why Jim mentioned tapered meets until March? I'm thinking I missed something? Looking at all of this: It sounds reasonable to me, myself, and I (all 3 of us) that if people have already swum SCY meets in these suits this year, that you need to keep them until the end of the SCY season. Then ban them. Karen - I was just suggesting that a ban now (or retro to 1 January) for SCY wouldn't be such an issue, since most people will not have raced a rested SCY meet since Clovis, and probably won't until March...

EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE Due to the change in Masters swimwear rules published by FINA January 16, 2010, and pursuant to Article 601.4.8, the USMS Rules Committee and the USMS Executive Committee have approved the following emergency changes to the USMS swimwear rules. These changes are effective immediately for short course meters and long course meters competition. The changes are effective June 1, 2010 for short course yards competition. Note that the new swimwear rules no longer allow modesty/privacy wear underneath the competition suit nor zippers or fasteners of any kind except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer. The new swimwear rules will not govern the One Hour Swim being conducted January 2010. Changes to the swimwear rules are underlined below. 102.14 SWIMWEAR 102.14.1 Design—The swimsuits worn for competition shall be nontransparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule. 102.14.2 Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles (a nose clip and ear plugs are allowed). Arm bands or leg bands shall not be regarded as parts of the swimsuit and are not allowed. 102.14.3 In swimming competitions, the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials. Except for open water competitions, for men, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the knees. 102.14.4 Only swimsuits complying with FINA swimsuit specifications may be worn in any US Masters Swimming sanctioned or recognized competition. 102.14.5 Exemptions to the foregoing restrictions may be granted to a swimmer, on a case by case basis, by the Chair of the Rules Committee or designee. Exemptions will be granted only for conflicts due to the swimmer’s verified religious beliefs or verified medical conditions. A Procedures for applying for an exemption will be established by the Rules Committee and posted on the US Masters Swimming website. B No exemption to these restrictions will be granted for a swimsuit that will give the swimmer a competitive advantage. C The decision of the Rules Chair may be appealed only to the entire Rules Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties. 102.14.6 Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance or swimsuit to help their speed, pace, buoyancy or endurance during a race (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, etc.). Goggles may be worn, and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the Referee. Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by the Referee. 102.14.7 Advertising—Products involving tobacco, alcohol or pharmaceuticals containing drugs banned under IOC or FINA rules may not be advertised, but the advertiser’s name only may be used. Offenders may be barred from competition until they comply with this rule. For any questions contact: Kathy Casey, Chair USMS Rules Committee rules@usms.org From: www.usms.org/.../20100119swimsuits.pdf

I've been waiting for this decision to buy a new suit, now I can't find a B70 or Jaked anywhere. Anyone have any leads they can PM me?

The SCY season is more halfway done, it started June 1st 2009 & ends May 31st 2010. many people already swam in SCY meets this season wearing body suits. This rule is reasonable and fair. Complaining won't change it.

I thought there was no official vote on SCY at convention. And did HOD actually officially "vote" on all courses or just debate? I thought there was just a ruling straight from committee with recommendations for FINA for men and women? (For example, USMS suggested zippers should be OK.) There was a vote, as Wookie said, but it was to "just get a sense of the house" on the matter. It was not to pass a resolution. In looking at the minutes from the HOD at convention, they voted on 3 options. 1) To ban suits immdediatly. 2) Don't remember 3) To ban suits scm/lcm once fina made a decision and allow bodysuits through the scy season. The voting broke down to something like 1)101 2)3 3)93 The Rules Committee did not consider the vote was binding because (a) it was close and (b) there was a sense that the HOD thought that action from FINA (one way or another) was imminent and that the vote would be different if taken today, with the SCY season halfway done. But there was a long debate in the Rules Committee on this very issue; the conference call on Sunday night lasted 2.5 hours. (As an aside: for those who think USMS was "doing nothing" after FINA issued their ruling: just because you don't hear anything doesn't mean nothing was happening. It has been less four days since FINA's ruling, and two committees had to meet to get this emergency rule change passed. FINA, on the other hand, sat on the Technical Committee's recommendation for months before passing it.) Personally, it should come as no surprise that I agree with those who said we should have stopped using the suits immediately. I think there has been plenty of time if someone wanted to get in SCY swims in the cheatin' suits, and there is now the issue of availability. But -- as someone on the Rules Committee pointed out -- neither way will be completely fair to someone, and a majority felt that going through May 31 was better than stopping now. Reasonable people can differ on the matter. I'm just glad this is all done, at least for now. Though the forums will be a quieter place. And now I have nothing to distract me from the woeful play of my favorite basketball team...

This rule is reasonable and fair. Complaining won't change it. Agreed. Plus, as I've not really competed much in LCM as a masters' swimmer, I can start fresh in June in jammers and never know the difference. SCM will be a different beast, but I'll just aim to be in better shape by next fall to overcome the suit affect.

IMHO, either you follow FINA period and ban the suits effective 01-01-10 Making the suits retroactively illegal was one of the dumbest things that FINA has done, and it has to beat some whoppers to claim that distinction. Think about it: meets in the first two weeks of the year were presumably run according to the rules current at the time. Official results will contain a mix of swims done in suits that are currently legal, and some that are now illegal. How to tell which was which? So do you not allow any records from that meet, nor submit any times for top ten consideration? The Rules Committee specifically chose "effective immediately" (for SCM and LCM) instead of Jan 1, and it makes a heck of a lot more sense. As far as SCY: obviously people's opinions differ on the matter, but it is hard to change course mid-season. USA-Swimming implemented FINA's rules early for just this reason. But they KNEW that the suits were going to be banned, and USMS didn't: at the time, remember, FINA said the rule didn't apply to masters; the Technical Committee hadn't even made a recommendation to ban yet.

Sure, the SCY season is half over, but how many people swim their best times in the beginning of the season? True: that's why I think banning them immediately would have been okay, because the most important part of the season (LMSC champs, zones, nationals) is still to come. But whatever. Maybe the grace period is good psychologically, going cold turkey to beat addition can be a tough. :)