MVS Related Rules, Regulations and Information

Section 5

Section 5 -- Missouri Valley Swimming Rules

A.  Meet Schedule -- A calendar of meets for Missouri Valley Swimming, including championship meets, is drawn up and approved at the Spring Meeting each year from applications received from those seeking to host meets. Subject to conflict with the approved calendar of meets, and other applications for sanction, sanctions are granted to member clubs to sponsor a competition or exhibition (meet) within the territorial jurisdiction of Missouri Valley Swimming in accordance with USA Swimming regulations and the following requirements:

B.  Meet Sanction Application and Sanction Fees -- Swimmers' performances will be accepted as valid for records, awards, and to meet qualifying standards, only when achieved in competition or exhibitions sanctioned by USA Swimming, or when specifically granted such acceptance without sanction by USA Swimming rules. All competition and exhibitions in which MVS registered athletes perform shall be sanctioned unless exempt in accordance with USA Swimming rules.

1.  Application -- To obtain a Sanction, an application by a member club in good standing, must be submitted to the General Chair 45 days in advance of the meet, unless the time is shortened or waived by the MVS General Chair. This requirement allows review, approval, and issuance of meet information 30 days prior to the scheduled meet. The application, contained in the MVS Meet Director's Guide, and the "E-Forms" section of this site, is submitted to the General Chair whose address appears on the "Officers and Committee Chairs" page of this site -- see Section 4 below for fees;

a)  The Application must be accompanied by a copy of the proposed meet information;

b)  The meet information must be in accord with the MVS Meet Director's Guide and must contain the following:

i)  the name and address of the certified Referee, Safety Marshall, and Meet Director, all of whom shall be current members of USA Swimming;

ii)  a statement that no entries will be accepted unless the entrant is registered in accordance with USA Swimming and MVS regulations and that competitors' registration numbers appear on the entry form;

iii)  the classification(s) of competition and the limit on entrants and/or entries;

iv)  all qualifying time standards;

2.  Conduct of Meet -- All events and conduct of the meet must conform with the current USA Swimming Rules, and be in accordance with the MVS Meet Director's Guide. All meet invitations, advertising, and the program must contain the statement: "Sanctioned by Missouri Valley of USA Swimming, Inc.";

a)  Use of Hy-Tek Meet Manager Software: Teams seeking to host Missouri Valley Swimming meets must use the current version of Hy-Tek's "Meet Manager" software to run the meet.

3.  Reports

a)  Detailed results of heats and finals must be submitted to the Missouri Valley Office, the Meet Procedures Chair, and the Records Chair within 21 days after the close of the meet. In addition, the Records Chair must also receive a Hy-Tek disk of meet results;

4.  Meet Fees

a)  Before a meet can be held: an application for sanction fee of $15.00 must be paid with the application for sanction, discussed in Section 1. above;

b)  After the meet:

i)  a financial report, as contained in the "E-Forms" section of this site, must be filed with the Missouri Valley Treasurer. This report, and all accompanying fees, are due 21 days following the meet. The financial report must include:

(a)  The financial report including the name and date of the meet, the sanction number and the name, address and phone number of a contact person;

(b)  An "Entry Fee Summary" report from Meet Manager showing the total number of entries from each team, including individual entries and relay entries;

(c)  A check from the host club made payable to Missouri Valley Swimming for the total amount listed on the financial report;

ii)  a copy of the final results of the meet must be sent to all clubs attending the meet, regardless of the number of swimmers attending from a club.

iii)  a copy of the final results of the meet must also be sent to the Missouri Valley Office, the Missouri Valley Meet Procedures Chair and the Missouri Valley Records Chair, all of whose addresses are on the "Officers and Committee Chairs" page. In addition, the Missouri Valley Records Chair must also receive a disk containing Meet Manager results from the meet. Further, the Meet Procedures Chair must receive a printed copy of the Meet Manager Meet Summary Report for the meet.

iv)  All reports required herein must be filed not later than 21 days following the meet.

c)  Fees are as follows:

i)  For all Sanctioned meets -- $15.00 or 15% of the total entry fees, whichever is greater. These fees are in addition to the Sanction application fee of $15.00 paid before the meet.

ii)  For all Sanctioned Inter-Squad Meets -- A sanction fee of $15.00 is payable after the meet, provided no entry fees are charged.

(a)  This fee is in addition to the Sanction application fee of $15.00 paid before the meet.

iii)  For all Approved Meets -- Both the Sanction application fee of $15.00 and the Sanction fee of $15.00 are due and payable at the time the application for sanction is submitted. No fees are due following the meet.

iv)  For all Blanket Sanctions

(a)  If the League charges no entry fees for any dual meet, the League receiving a blanket sanction will pay a sanction fee of $15.00 within 21 days of the first meet held under the blanket sanction. This fee is in addition to the Sanction application fee of $15.00 paid before any meets are held. These fees cover all meets held under the blanket sanction (provided no entry fees are charged for any such dual meet) except they do not cover League Championship Meets.

(b)  If the League charges any entry fee for any dual meet, the League receiving a blanket sanction will pay $15.00 or 15% of the total meet entry fees (whichever is greater) for each dual meet in which entry fees are charged. Any fee charged in this paragraph is in addition to the Sanction application fee of $15.00 paid before any meets are held. All fees due under this paragraph must be paid within 21 days of the completion of the dual meet at which entry fees are charged.

(c)  League Championship Meets -- League Championship meets must be sanctioned separately from the League's Blanket Sanction;

1.  A $15.00 sanction application fee is due upon submission of the application for sanction for the League Championship meet;

2.  After the meet, the League must pay:

a.  $15.00 if no entry fees are charged;

b.  $15.00 or 15% of the total entry fees (whichever is greater).

d)  Late Payment of Fees Policy:

i)  All meet fees, sanction application fees, overage fees, and participation fees are due not later than 21 days following the completion of the last day of competition in any MVS sanctioned or approved meets. After 21 days, the host club is considered delinquent.

ii)  In the event these fees are not paid within 30 days following the last day of the meet, the MVS treasurer will send a payment due notice to the host club.

iii)  In the event these fees are not paid within 45 days following the last day of the meet, the MVS treasurer will advise the host club that after 60 days, the matter will be referred to the MVS Board of Review.

iv)  In the event these fees are not paid within 60 days following the last day of the meet, the MVS treasurer shall refer the matter to the MVS Board of Review.

v)  During any period following the 21 days after the last day of the meet, the delinquent host club shall be ineligible to receive a further swimming sanction or approval from Missouri Valley Swimming.

vi)  If the sanction for which a host club is delinquent is any MVS Championship, Level II or All-Star Meet, and more than 60 days have passed since the last day of the meet, the host club shall be ineligible to bid to host any future, not-yet-awarded MVS Championship, Level II or All-Star Meet or Championship for the next two succeeding bid cycles.

5.  Overage Fees -- In addition to any fees mentioned in this section, additional "overage" fees will be assessed in the event of violation of the USA Swimming 4-Hour Rule. Any such fees must be self-reported by the host club and are due to Missouri Valley Swimming at the same time as all other fees under this section.  These "overage fees" are discussed in Section VIII, paragraph B(9) of this Section dealing with the Four Hour Rule.

6.  Voiding of Granted Sanctions -- Any sanction granted under these rules may be voided by the Missouri Valley General Chair with concurrence of a majority of the Executive Board, if any condition of the sanction is violated or if the host has failed to comply with any of these rules, including submission of results and fees. In addition, future sanctions may be denied by the General Chair to a club failing to fulfill any condition of any sanction or if a club has failed to comply with any of these rules, including submission of results and fees..

C.  The Classified Age Group Swimming Program -- Basic Policy: The classified swimming program is designed to create an incentive in Age Group swimming, balance the size of meets, and offer the fairest progressive type of competition possible. Large meets with numerous entries in certain classifications tend to restrict the growth of Age Group programs. Classifications are "A," "B," and "C."

1.  A Class "A" swimmer is one who, in sanctioned or approved competition equals or betters the "A" time set for the stroke and distance by the USA Swimming Age Group Committee. A Class "B" swimmer is one who equals or betters the "B" times established by the USA Swimming Age Group Committee, but has not reached the "A" time. A class "C" swimmer is one who has not equaled or bettered the "B" times as established by the USA Swimming Age Group Committee. When "A" or "B" times standards are changed, those swimmers who have bettered the new standard are "A" or "B" in the stroke or strokes as appropriate.

2.  In a Class "B" meet, a swimmer may not enter any event in which an "A" time has been achieved, but may enter all other events. A swimmer in a "B" meet relay may not swim a stroke in which the swimmer has achieved an "A" time at the distance, except as permitted in Rule 5 of this paragraph. In addition, 13-14, 15-18, and senior swimmers who have an "A" time in the 100 back, breast or butterfly may not swim that stroke in a 200 "B" meet medley relay. Further, a swimmer with an "A" time in the freestyle may not swim in any "B" meet freestyle relay team. "B" swimmers are eligible to swim relays in "A" meets. A Class "C" meet has the same relationship and rules as a "B" meet.

3.  A swimmer who equals or betters an "A" or "B" time in a particular stroke at a recognized distance is an "A" or "B" swimmer in that stroke and for that distance and time. A swimmer who achieves an "A" time in yards must also achieve an "A" time in meters. For example, a "B" swimmer who achieves an "A" time in 50 yard freestyle is not automatically an "A" swimmer in 50 meters freestyle, nor is this swimmer an "A" swimmer in the 100, 200 or other yard or meter freestyle.

4.  Changing age groups will necessitate qualifying in the older age group according to the established time for that group. A swimmer who has, however, made an "A" or "B" time for an older age group, while still in the younger age group, will be Class "A" or "B" after changing age.

5.  A swimmer who makes an "A" time in a stroke and distance must scratch this stroke and distance from all future "B" meets already entered. When a swimmer achieves an "A" time after mailing an entry for a "B" event in an upcoming "A"/"B" meet, the swimmer must be entered in the equivalent "A" event, and may be assigned a heat and lane position by the Meet Director or Meet Referee in the most convenient spot. The same is true in "C" meets. The "A," "B," "C" classification does not change during a meet after a swimmer makes an "A" or "B" time.

6.  Patches designating Missouri Valley Class "A" swimmers as well as age group stripes and stars to indicate additional "A" times are available from the Missouri Valley Office. The patch and an age group stripe indicate the swimmer has achieved one "A" time. The first star on the age group stripe indicates two "A" times. A swimmer who earned a patch and stars in the past may continue to wear the award, even though the "A" times are changed. A swimmer may wear a patch or star to represent each stroke only. While it is possible to achieve multiple "A" times in the same strokes, such as the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, only one star or patch may represent all the "A" times achieved in that particular stroke. Patches designating Missouri Valley Class "B" swimmers are also available from the Missouri Valley Office. A swimmer is eligible for the patch on achieving the first "B" time. Patch Order Forms are contained in the "E-Forms" section of this site.

7.  Meets in which more than one classification of competition is provided for any age group must use the qualifying time standards as provided by the USA Swimming "A," "B," "C" classifications. Meets which provide only one classification of competition in an age group may establish minimum qualifying times for the meet, but may not define the meet in "A," "B," or "C" classification terms. Any meet using only MVS time standards for any classification may be so termed.

8.  Entry cards showing "No Time" are acceptable only in 8 and under events, unless a Meet Information specifically provides otherwise.

9.  The 8 and under classification will be a separate and distinct age category in all meets where the 8 and under division is offered. The 8 and under category is not a part of the 10 and under category. An 8 and under may enter 8 and under or 10 and under competition providing the swimmer has achieved any minimum classification time required by the meet, as long as the day's maximum number of events allowed is not exceeded. No individual or team points will be offered for 8 and under categories in Open competition. 8 and under swimmers may score individual and team points in Closed competition. 8 and under swimmers who achieve points in 10 and under events are eligible to receive points in 10 and under events.

10.  Awards shall comply with the USA Swimming National Swimming Rules.

11.  A coach may declare a swimmer to be an "A" or "B" swimmer without that swimmer having made the particular time by declaring the swimmer to be an "A" swimmer on any hard copy of entries sent to the host club. This should be done by writing "Declared Swimmer" next to the appropriate entry. Once a swimmer has been declared an "A" or "B" swimmer and competes in the event, the swimmer will remain so classified until moving out of the particular age group, however, the swimmer may not receive the Age Group patch, group stripe, or star until actually achieving the time. A swimmer may not compete in Missouri Valley Division I or II championship meets or the Level II Championship as a "Declared Swimmer."

12.  The policy of Missouri Valley Swimming is to use USA Swimming National Top 16-based "A," "B," and "C" time standards.

D.  Amateur Standing of Athletes -- Extreme care should be exercised in protecting Amateur standing and eligibility. All coaches, athletes, and parents are governed by the swimming rules of USA Swimming and Missouri Valley Swimming. Where there is any doubt about a rule, a written clarification can be sought to protect against misunderstanding produced by verbal information. All athletes should retain their USA Swimming registration card as it can be asked for at any meet. Coaches should retain a list of current USA Swimming numbers for all team members. Information regarding travel to another country to compete, train or demonstrate and information about invitations to foreign clubs or swimmers to train in the United States can be obtained from the Missouri Valley Office.