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MVS Related Rules, Regulations and Information
Sections 10 through 18
Section 10 -- Short Course Division II "Bonus" Swim Rule
In order to allow swimmers who qualify for the Missouri Valley Division II Short Course Championship Meet to swim up to two "Bonus Swims," the following rule is applicable to that meet only:
A. Every swimmer entered in the Missouri Valley Division II Short Course Championship Meet must have at least one individual qualifying time to be eligible to enter the meet;
B. Every swimmer eligible to enter the short course meet may swim up to two "bonus events." "Bonus events" are defined as events of 200 yards or less in which the swimmer has not achieved the Division II qualifying time in the swimmer's own age group. A swimmer under the age of 15 may not enter any senior event as a bonus event [including senior events more than 200 yards];
C. When entering an event as a "bonus event," the swimmer's entry should clearly indicate that the entry is a "bonus event entry." The entry time for all "bonus events" shall be the slowest qualifying time for entry into the event followed by a "B" to indicate the swim is a "bonus swim." The word "Bonus" must also clearly appear where proof of time information would otherwise be entered.
D. All "bonus" entries will be seeded behind all other entries in the event.
E. Proof of time rules apply to all entries not specifically designated as "Bonus" swims. Thus, if a swimmer has not designated the event as a "bonus" swim, does not swim the qualifying time standard for the event at the meet, and cannot prove attainment of the qualifying time, the swimmer cannot then designate the swim as a "bonus" swim.
F. There are no "Bonus" Swims at the Long Course Division II meet.
In order to allow athletes who qualify for the Missouri Valley Level II meet, held in December, to swim additional events, the following "bonus" swim rule is in effect for that meet:
A swimmer who qualifies for a backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly event at any distance in his/her age group may enter the same stroke at any other distance. The swimmer shall enter the "bonus" event at the slowest yard entry time in those distances in which he/she has not actually achieved the qualifying time.
Occasionally, a swimmer previously qualified for the Division I or Level I Championship meet ages-up between the time of the Division II or Level II meet and the corresponding Division I or Level I meet. If the swimmer does not have Division I or Level I times in the new age group, the swimmer would be left without a Championship meet only because of the date of their birthday. To correct that potential unfairness, the following rule is applicable.
If a swimmer has Division I or Level I times in their current age group, but the swimmer's 11th, 13th or 15th birthday falls on or after the Division II or Level II championship meet, but before the corresponding Division I or Level I championship meet, and the swimmer does not qualify for the Division I or Level I meet in their next older age group, that swimmer may enter the Division II or Level II meet in the next older age group in any event in which the swimmer has achieved the
Division II or Level II qualifying time in the next older age group. The swimmer may, however, compete in only one age group in the Division II or Level II meet. Any such entries must be clearly marked and explained in the space provided for proof of time on the entry sheet or noted on the Hy-Tek print-out.
Missouri Valley Scholarship assistance may be available to athlete members of USA Swimming who are in good standing with MVS and their own swim club. The intent of this scholarship is to provide financial aid to those swimmers who consistently demonstrate a sincere commitment to maximizing their swimming potential. Funds are awarded by the Missouri Valley Scholarship Committee, a group consisting of 5 members appointed by the General Chair.
Scholarship assistance may be used for, but are not limited to:
- Club fees
- Entry fees
- Travel expenses for meets beyond the local level;
- Swim apparel/gear for meets beyond the local level;
Club assistance should be provided before application is made for Scholarship funds.
Application for scholarship funds should be made by the swimmer, or the swimmer's Coach or Club to the Missouri Valley Scholarship Committee. The committee will use the following criteria in awarding Scholarship Funds:
- Financial need
- Sincere interest in and commitment to competitive swimming
- Faithfulness in practice and meet participation
- Coach/Club recommendation
A swimmer may reapply for Scholarship assistance as long as the above criteria are met. No Club/Swimmer will be awarded an amount that exceeds 10% of the budgeted Scholarship funds for any fiscal year. Scholarship funds will be paid to the Club for distribution to the swimmer. For audit purposes, swimmers must submit receipts to the Scholarship Committee within one month of receipt of Scholarship funds.
An Application for Scholarship Assistance is contained in the "E-Forms" Section of this website.
The Missouri Valley Office has a guide to help Missouri Valley Meet Directors plan, operate, and report meets held in Missouri Valley. The Guide contains details on when and what to put into a Meet Information, as well as how and when to file required reports.
Each club receives one (1) guide and all updates free of charge. Additional copies may be purchased from the MVS Office.
A. General -- (This information is presented as an Overview only. Official information about the duties of each USA Swimming official should be obtained from the Official USA Swimming Handbook.)
Missouri Valley swimming officials are volunteers, often parents of current or former MVS athletes. They must be trained in the rules of swimming and must be certified by examination before being allowed to work on the deck of a meet. They must also be re-certified by examination every
two years. The purpose of a swimming official is to assure that all swimmers are offered the opportunity for fair and equitable competition.
At any meet, one official, the Referee or Head Referee, will have overall responsibility for the operation of the meet within the rules of USA Swimming. All questions concerning swimming activities, enforcement of rules, and possible errors in timing or placing of competitors should be directed to the Referee. Generally, the Referee will not discuss such questions with a parent, but the Referee will always entertain such questions from a swimmer's coach.
At most meets, another official or officials is designated as Starter(s) or recall Starter(s). These officials take control of an individual heat upon clearance from the Referee on the deck. It is these officials who decide if a fair start has occurred.
At least one official will be designated as the Head Timing Judge, and will have the responsibility of determining the official time of each swimmer in each event.
The other officials dressed in "blue" and "white" working the pool deck are normally Stroke, Turn, or Stroke and Turn Judges. Where a pool is configured so that an official can walk along the side and see approximately one-half the swimmers, and where there are enough officials, the Stroke Judge walks between the "flags" judging the swimmers' technical compliance with the rules of swimming
from wall to wall. The Turn Judges take jurisdiction of the swimmers approximately at the "flags" and
watch for compliance with the swimming rules from the time swimmers cross under the "flags" on their way into the wall until the swimmer passes the "flags" on their way to the other end of the pool. In most meets, these two positions are combined into Stroke and Turn Judges who judge the swimmers compliance with the rules of swimming from the ends of the pool.
B. False Starts -- A "false start" takes place when the starter and either the recall starter or the deck referee both determine that a swimmer either failed to respond promptly to the command "Take your mark," or was in motion prior to the starting signal. The recall starter or the starter will discharge a recall device (such as a gun or the starting horn) repeatedly to indicate that a possible false start has been observed. Both officials will then confer, usually behind the
starting blocks. If they are in agreement that a false start occurred, they will notify the swimmer and fill out a disqualification slip. The swimmer will not be allowed to swim the race and the official results will list the swimmer as "disqualified."
If it is observed that one or more swimmers did not properly assume the starting position upon the command "Take your mark," the starter may instruct the swimmers to "stand up." A swimmer who falls into the water on this command need not be charged with a false start. However, if the starter and the recall starter or deck referee both determine that the swimmer deliberately entered the pool, the swimmer will be charged with a false start.
In a relay race, dual confirmation of false starts is often done by stroke and turn judges at the end of the pool where swimmers are starting and either the starter, the recall starter, or the referee. Stroke and turn judges do not raise their hands, as in §C. below, because the "false start" cannot be called until both the officials watching the relay take-off agree.
Any questions about a false start should be directed, through the swimmer's coach, to the referee.
C. Stroke and Turn Disqualification -- A stroke or turn disqualification takes place when a Stroke, Turn, or Stroke and Turn Judge, or the Referee observes a swimmer violating one or more of the technical rules governing the type of race the swimmer is swimming. The official will raise their hand at the time an infraction is observed, then complete a form explaining the violation. The official will then attempt to speak with the swimmer after the race to explain what the
swimmer did incorrectly. Where the swimmer has not been notified, the Referee will speak with the coach. The form completed by the official will be turned into the referee or the chief timing judge. It will be reviewed by the referee and, if approved by the referee, will result in the posting of a disqualification, "DQ," instead of a time for the swimmer. When a swimmer is disqualified, there is no official time for the race.
When a coach questions a disqualification, the coach takes the concern to the referee. The referee will normally ask the stroke and turn judge who called the disqualification three questions:
- What did you observe?
- Was it within your area of jurisdiction?
- What rule was broken?
If the judge cannot satisfactorily answer each of those questions, the referee may overrule the disqualification and the swimmer's time will be allowed to stand.
A disqualification is clearly a disquieting experience for a swimmer. It is not, however, a punishment. It alerts the swimmer and coach to what portions of the swimmer's stroke or turn technique that needs to be corrected.
D. Official Time and Placing -- The "Official Time" a swimmer receives in a race is the time which determines the swimmer's placing and which is ultimately published in the final results. The way the "Official Time" is calculated depends, in part, on the type of timing equipment used in the meet.
1. If a fully automatic (touch pad) timing system is used -- Under a fully automatic timing system, the clock begins automatically when the starter pushes the starting button and stops automatically when the swimmer makes contact with the touch pad at the end of the race. Because this system is fully automatic, it is generally the most accurate time. Unless the system malfunctions, a fully automatic timing system takes precedence over any other timing system used as a
backup.
2. If a semi-automatic (button) timing system is used -- Under a semi-automatic timing system, the clock begins automatically when the starter pushes the starting button and stops when the timers press buttons upon observing the swimmer touch the end of the pool at the finish of the race.
3. If a stop watch timing system is used -- Under a stop watch timing system, timers start their watches upon seeing the starting signal given by the starter and stop their watches upon observing the swimmer touch the wall at the end of the race. The times of all timers on the lane are recorded on a card, even though there are differences in those times.
4. Role of the Timing Judge
a) If a fully automatic timing system is used -- The Timing Judge is generally the person operating the console of the timing equipment and is normally in a place to see all the finishes. When a swimmer touches the pad too softly or misses the pad, the Timing Judge can make an adjustment by using the time recorded by the semi-automatic button pushes of the timers. If there is a general malfunction in the timing system, the Timing Judge can determine all of the times from
the back-up buttons or the tertiary watch times by use of a specific formula. If no adjustments to the fully automatic timing system need be made, the "Official Time" is the time produced by the touch pad.
b) If a semi-automatic timing system is used -- The Timing Judge will compare the button times with the order of placing of swimmers by across the board place judges who sit at the finish end of the pool, observe, and then record their visual perceptions of the order of finish of each race. If all across the board judges agree on the order of finish, that order will prevail even if the semi-automatic timing system produces a different result by time. Unless there is a
malfunction in the semi-automatic timing system, at which point watch times will be used, the "Official Time" is the machine-calculated average of the button times.
c) If a stop watch timing system is used -- The Timing Judge will first determine an "Official Time" for each swimmer:
i) If two watches are used: The "Official Time" is the average of the two watch times;
ii) If three watches are used: The "Official Time" is the median time.
The Timing Judge will then compare the watch times with the order of placing of swimmers by across the board place judges who sit at the finish end of the pool, observe, and then record their visual perceptions of the order of finish of each race. If all across the board judges agree on the order of finish, that order will prevail even if the "official time" from the watches produces a different result by time.
5. Problem Areas
a) Faster times given by the Timers -- Most swimmers' first question after getting out of the pool is to the timers: "What was my time?" If one of the timers answers that question, as the preceding sections have demonstrated, the swimmer is receiving, at best, a tertiary time. When swimmers report this time to coaches and parents, it should be received only as advisory, not as conclusive;
b) Scoreboard times significantly different -- When a swimmer touches the pad too softly or misses the pad, any scoreboard will generally keep running until the pad is touched, at which point the displayed time will vary significantly from coach/parent perception of actual time. The scoreboard is not the "Official Time," and may be adjusted;
c) "Heat winner" awards given the wrong swimmer -- In meets where "heat winner" awards are used, there is normally one person watching the end of each race and awarding the "heat winner" prize to the swimmer they perceive to be the winner. Normally, this person is not an official and their determination of the "heat winner" is not conclusive.
6. Questioning Times or Placing at a Meet -- It is not unusual to see posted times that state "corrected" or "revised." In addition, posted results may show one swimmer with a faster time finishing below a swimmer with a slower time, with the notation "JD" or "Judge's decision."
a) "Corrected" or "revised" posting arise when a coach questions a time for a swimmer and the referee directs the Timing Judge to review the available information to determine if a time needs to be "corrected" or the order of placing needs to be "revised;"
b) A Judge's decision can arise, among other times, when non-automatic timing systems are used and the across the board judges agree on an order of finish that differs from the order produced by the "Official Times" of the swimmers.
c) Any question about a time or place order finish at a meet should be directed through the coach to the referee.
7. Use of multiple timing systems -- Most meets use all three of the timing systems mentioned in this section. This provides the best opportunity to produce an "Official Time" that is accurate. It allows for inevitable timing system failure and provides back-up for it.
(Revised and Approved April 17, 2010)
The requirements for Missouri Valley Officials are as follows:
- All Referees, Stroke & Turn Judges, Starters, Chief Judges, and Summer League Head Officials must be current members of USA Swimming AND meet the additional, appropriate requirements as set
forth below.
- Summer League Referees, Head Officials, Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters must attend a training clinic annually, and satisfactorily complete an online exam initially and bi-annually
thereafter for their appropriate level of certification.
New Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters:
- Training Clinic: All New Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters must attend a training clinic, authorized by the Officials Chair, at which instruction is given in the various swimming rules and
questions concerning the online exams are reviewed. The MVS official conducting the training clinic will provide a list of all clinic attendees, with each attendee's level of certification
training to the MVS Office within 20 days of the clinic. New Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters are encouraged to complete the appropriate online USA Swimming Officials Exam found on the
USA Swimming website prior to attending a training clinic. Results from the examination are promptly returned to the prospective trainee official and
the MVS Officials Chair. Following satisfactory completion of the clinic and exam, the person will become a Stroke & Turn or Starter Trainee upon receipt of an Official's Certification Card
from the MVS Officials Chair.
- Starter Trainees: Any person wishing to become a Starter Trainee must have served as a Stroke & Turn Judge for one year prior to Starter training.
- Officials' Exam: Tests are available online at any level that the Officials are being certified, with guidelines showing which tests are to be taken. Guidelines may be found on the
officials' page at http://www.usaswimming.org. To be certified at any level of officiating, a person must score an 80% or better on the exam for the
level he/she is being examined. An Official's Certification Card will then be sent to the Official when their registration in USA Swimming has been confirmed by the MVS Office.
- On-Deck Experience: The Stroke & Turn and/or Starter Trainee is required to work with a full status official for a total of six meet sessions (not including Time Trials). In order to
provide the trainee with the opportunity to work with a number of experienced officials, these six meet sessions must be worked at a minimum of TWO DIFFERENT MEETS. These work sessions shall be
recorded on the Official's Tracking System database via the USA Swimming officials website by the meet referee.
- Full Status: When the six sessions have been completed, and if the meet referee of the 6th session and trainee are both confident of his/her ability to be a competent MVS swimming official,
the Official's Certification Card is presented to the meet referee who lines out the trainee designation, marks the full status designation and initials the card, which shall be kept by the
trainee until a revised certification card is received.
Full Status Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters:
- Each Full Status Stroke & Turn Judge and Starter must bi-annually attend a re-certification clinic for each position and take the online USA Swimming Officials Exams for his/her level of
certification, which can be found on the USA Swimming website prior to attending a training clinic. When all requirements are met and registration with
USA Swimming is confirmed, a new Official's Certification Card will be issued by the MVS Officials Chair.
- Officials' Exam: Tests are available online for each level that the Official is being re-certified, with guidelines showing which tests are to be taken. Guidelines may be found on the
official's page at http://www.usaswimming.org. To be re-certified at any level of officiating, a person must score an 80% or better on the exam at
the level he/she is re-certifying. The exam should be taken at least bi-annually, prior to the expiration of the official's current certification.
- On-Deck Experience: All on-deck experience of Full Status Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters shall be recorded in the Official's Tracking System database via the USA Swimming officials
website by the meet referee.
- The on-deck experience requirements for Full Status Stroke & Turn Judge and Starters depend on whether the official works the full year or in a seasonal league:
- Full Year Officials: A year-round Full Status Stroke & Turn Judge/Starter must work a minimum of six sessions at any level USA Swimming sanctioned meet, annually. No more
than four sessions can be earned at the same meet.
- Seasonal League Officials: A Full Status Stroke & Turn Judge/Starter, who works as a seasonal official, must work a minimum of six sessions at any level USA Swimming
sanctioned meet, annually.
- In the event the Official fails to meet the on-deck experience or other re-certification requirements, the Official must return to trainee status.
- An Official's Certification Card will then be sent to the re-certifying Official when his/her test scores and on-deck experience have been received by the MVS Officials Chair.
New Referees:
- To qualify for the position of Referee, a person must have worked as a Stroke & Turn Judge for two years and Starter for one year. Although a person may have more experience in one capacity
or the other, it is necessary that experience be demonstrated in both positions, as a Referee may be required to take over in any capacity while refereeing a meet. In addition, MVS Referees
should be able to instruct Stroke & Turn Judges and Starters.
- To become a Trainee Referee, the individual must notify the MVS Officials Chair of his/her intention to become a Referee, and then take the online examinations that apply. The examination
results should be printed and brought to the training clinic. These clinics are held twice annually at the fall and spring MVS meetings, or a pre-designated clinic announced by the MVS
Officials Chair. These clinics for new Referees will address any questions arising from the submission of this examination as well as reviewing all areas that a Referee is required to be
knowledgeable. Once the person has passed the exams with an 80% or better score and successfully completed the Referee Clinic, the person will receive an Officials Certification Card as a
Trainee Referee. Thereafter, the Trainee Referee must, within one year, work six sessions of any level USA Swimming sanctioned meet as a "shadow" to the Head Meet Referee at a minimum of TWO
DIFFERENT MEETS. When these sessions are completed and the Officials Chair has been notified that the Referee Trainee has received a satisfactory evaluation from his/her final Meet Referee, the
Officials Chair shall send a new LSC Official Certification Card indicating the change in status.
Full Status Referee:
Re-certification: Each Full Status Referee must bi-annually attend a re-certification clinic.
- These clinics are held regularly at the MVS fall and spring meetings or at other times specified by the MVS Officials Chair. Prior to attending a re-certification clinic, re-certifying Full
Status Referees must pass the Referee's Recertification online exam with a score of 90% or better. When all requirements are met, the MVS Office will issue a new Official's Certification card.
- On-Deck Experience: Each Full Status Referee must work four sessions of an MVS Championship meet (Level II, Level I, Division II, Division I) or USAS Zone, Sectional, Grand Prix (or higher)
level meet when hosted within MVS, as a referee, chief judge, starter or stroke/turn judge, AND work at least two sessions of any level USA Swimming sanctioned meet as a referee. These
requirements must be fulfilled each year.
Upon application to the Officials Chair for good reason, the Officials Chair may grant exceptions to experience requirements for Referees and Starters.
Training Officials and Clinics:
Each Training Official must be a current MVS Full Status Referee meeting the above-described requirements. In addition the Training Official must be a member of the MVS Officials Committee,
and the MVS Officials Chair must certify him/her as a Training Official. Upon approval of the MVS Officials Chair (i.e. checking the completion of the above requirements, checking previous
year's clinic completion, etc.), the Training Official will be approved to hold training clinics, for the levels approved, during that calendar year. Each training clinic must have prior
approval from the Officials Chair at least two weeks in advance. This will allow MVS to get the training clinic listed in the calendar of events on the MVS website to make it available to
others interested in (re)certifying.
Note: Each new Training Official (an official who has not given a clinic before) will have a certified Training Official in attendance at
their first clinic for support and observation. Missouri Valley Swimming will provide all Training Officials with their initial training videos to be used in conjunction with clinics they
present.
Missouri Valley Swimming strives for excellence in our Officials by keeping them up to date with new rules and interpretations from USA Swimming. This is the primary objective of the MVS
Officials Committee. Regularly scheduled training clinics will be announced on the MVS website at pre-designated times and places throughout Missouri Valley.
Missouri Valley referees are available to help any club conduct a clinic, either to help parents understand the role of swimming officials or to train:
- timers;
- stroke and turn judges;
- other meet officials.
For more information, or to set up such a clinic, contact either the Missouri Valley Officials Chair listed on the "Officials and Committee Chairs" page of this website, or the MVS Office.
The Missouri Valley Board of Review is created by the MVS By-Laws. It exists for the express purpose of hearing complaints, protests and appeals regarding the administration and conduct (including acts and failures to act) of the sport of swimming within Missouri Valley Swimming, conduct that may violate the USA Swimming Code of Conduct or otherwise violate the policies, procedures, rules and regulations adopted by USA Swimming or Missouri Valley Swimming or conduct that may bring USA
Swimming, Missouri Valley Swimming, or the sport of swimming into disrepute. The Board of Review provides a uniform method of appeal from many decisions, acts, or failures to act to which a member of MVS or, where the conduct occurred within the Missouri Valley LSC, another LSC, takes exception and to provide a fair hearing before a group of impartial people. Review does not include judgment calls by an official of a meet, which can only be appealed to the meet referee. The current members
of the MVS Board of Review are listed on the "MVS Board of Review" page of this website.
In the event any person or organization seeks review by the Board of Review, the Missouri Valley By-Laws provide that such person or organization:
- Shall submit to the Chair of the Board of Review (whose address is listed on the "MVS Board of Review" page of this site) a written statement setting forth a description of the action, inaction or conduct that is believed to have been improper or incorrect, and the name of the person or group believed to have acted improperly or the circumstances believed to require answers, explanation or clarification.
Reviewing Part Four, Hearings and Appeals, of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations will provide any person or organization an overview of the practices used by the Board of Review. Additional information can be obtained in "Article 11" of the Missouri Valley By-Laws, or a copy can be obtained from the MVS Office.
A filing fee may be required before the Board of Review proceeds with any matter.
Any appeal from a decision by the Missouri Valley Board of Review would be made, under the Missouri Valley and USA Swimming By-Laws, to the USA Swimming National Board of Review, whose rules are contained in §401.1 et seq. of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations.
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