Rules

Introduction:

The South Shore Swim League is an association of Summer Swim Teams formed with the intent to offer swimmers of participating clubs an opportunity to compete with swimmers in their age group in an atmosphere of congeniality and good sportsmanship. While competitive spirit is encouraged, the foremost goals should be swimmer participation, fair play, and friendliness between participants and teams.

Scope:

The policies and rules stated herein shall apply to all participating swimmers and teams in all dual meets and championship meets sanctioned by the South Shore Swim League.

League Membership:

League membership shall be established by majority vote at a SSSL meeting in which ¾ of the representatives of member teams are present. Member teams shall pay the stipulated annual fee to cover the cost of awards for the championship.

Team Qualifications:

Any active swim team, under the sponsorship of a municipal program or active club, having swimmers between the ages of 6 and 17 years and meeting on a regular schedule during the summer may qualify to apply for membership in the SSSL.

Team Responsibilities:

1. Each participating team shall name a representative to act in their behalf at all SSSL meetings and to maintain liaison between their team, sponsoring organizations and the SSSL.

2. Each participating team shall compete with each of the other teams within the league on a schedule as determined by the league representatives at the beginning of the season.

3. Each SSSL team must provide a pool to host at least 2 home meets per swim season as determined by a league approved schedule. In the event a team is unable or unwilling to provide a pool for any home meets a pool usage fee of $500 per meet* will be assessed said team. The pool usage fee is due and payable to the SSSL at the same time as yearly dues.

Dual Meet Schedule:

Prior to the start of each season, a dual meet schedule shall be established and each participating team shall be informed of this schedule by the league representative.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEAGUE OFFICIALS

Below is a brief outline of the basic responsibilities for each of the meet officials. Differences between dual meets and the championship meet are identified. A copy of these Responsibilities should be available to and reviewed by each person functioning as an official.

Coaches:

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their swimmers. Make sure the swimmer reports two races before his/her event. They will then move on to the on-deck area.

Remind the swimmers to remain in the lane until all officials have decided on the times and places of that event.

Enclosed with this packet is a copy of the rules concerning the strokes, starts, turns and relays. Please make your swimmers aware of these rules and inform them that they will be strictly upheld.

Entries are to be complete on TM and emailed to the home team, no later than 5:00 PM of the night before the meet.

Meet Referee:

The Meet Referee will have total control over the meet. The responsibilities of the Referee are as follows:

a. Organize lane assignment: visitors-odd, home team-even

b. Conduct meeting with the officials so that they understand their duties

c. Review with the scorers how to split points in case of a tie

d. During the diving meet, the referee shall blow a whistle to call for the scores so that all marks are presented at the same time. The referee also has authority to declare a failed dive to be re-done

e. Should any judge(s) disagree and cannot come to a satisfactory conclusion, the referee shall make the final decision

f. The referee shall watch the finish of each race and mote the places. The referee interferes ONLY when there is a disagreement on the finish

Starter:

Responsibilities of the Starter:

a. Announce the event number and the event

b. Make known the call he/she will use. “Swimmers step up” followed by “Swimmers take your mark” or “Backstrokers in the water.” He/she will say, “stand up” or shoot the gun twice on a false start.

c. Make sure all the timers are ready before starting the race. Announce, “Watches back to zero.”

d. Call a false start if a swimmer is off balance or not motionless on the start or is slow to assume the starting position.

Stroke and Turn Judges:

For the championship meet there will be two officials. During the event two officials will remain on the sides of the pool for starts and turns and to follow the swimmers to judge their strokes.

Judges are responsible for reporting any disqualification on the places judge. The stroke and turn judge should also notify the swimmer of the infraction, keeping in mind this can be a “teachable moment.” The stoke judge must raise his/her hand as soon as he/she sees an infraction. He/she does not have to indicate which lane until the race is finished.

Any stroke and turn judge from your club should be familiar with the rules included in this handout. The Meet Referee will meet with all judges to insure fair consistent ruling throughout the meet.

Timers:

ALL TIMERS MUST BRING A STOP WATCH!

There will be one timer in each lane. There should also be back-up timers on deck. The timer will record the event, name of the swimmer, the time and the place on the timer’s slips.

Place Judges:

There will be one place judge from the home team. Judges should position themselves at the side of the finish end of the pool so they can see all the lanes.

Judges do not concern themselves with starts, turn or disqualification. They simply judge the finish of the race. Should there be a disqualification, they will be informed after the race along with the referee. This is why it is very important to hold the swimmers until all judges are in agreement and it is clear there are no disqualifications.

REMEMBER!

As far as you are concerned, the swimmer may finish with any part of his body, above, on, or below the surface of the water. Please do not be deceived by an underwater touch or the swimmers head. Watch the wall closely

Runner:

The runner collects the slips from the timers and delivers them to the scorer’s table along with the place judge sheet.

Scorers:

The head scorer will be from the home team. There will be one scorer form each club scoring. In case of a tie, the point credited to the place and the place below are added and divided by two. This eliminates the lower place.

Diving Judges:

For league meets there will be three diving judges. For the championship meet there will be five diving judges, but the high and low scores will be discarded before determining final score. Judges will be seated on either side of the pool. The angle from which they will view the dives will vary somewhat. After each dive, judges should not raise their card until the Referee calls for the scores with a whistle. Judges should then listen carefully to the dives announced and make sure the divers perform the dive as described.

BE CONSISTENT! If you feel you made a mistake on one dive, do not make up for it later. The scoring system will equal of any serious errors.

You judge the dive by considering the following points:

1) The approach

2) The takeoff

3) The form and floe of the dive in the air

4) The entry into the water

REMEMBER!

A. The approach to the starting position is not considered in your judgment.

B. The forward approach shall be smooth and consistent of not less than three steps.

C. The hurdle should be at the end of the board with the force moving upward.

D. The takeoff must be with two feet. A diver may not bounce on the board more than once before takeoff.

E. Make sure the dive is done in the position called for by the announcer, i.e., pike, tuck, straight or free.

F. The dive should be executed above the level of the board, not too far away and not too close. The dive should be completed before entry is begun.

G. Entry should be vertical with as little splash as possible. Feet first entries must be with arms by the side and not overhead

NOTE: Lack of form, extension, sloppy approach and entry should be considered as subtracting from a dive even though the dive may be difficult or performed correctly. Well-defined dives should be rewarded.

INDIVIDUAL STROKES AND RELAYS

Breaststroke:

1. Start The forward start shall be used.

2. Stroke From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast and both shoulders shall be in line with the water surfaces. The arms shall move simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane without any altering movement. The hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast, and shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not be brought beyond the hipline, except during the first stroke after start and each turn. Some part of the swimmer’s head shall break the surface of the water at least once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while wholly submerged. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.

3. Kick All vertical and lateral movements of the legs shall be simultaneous. The feet must be turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick movement. A scissors, flutter, or downward butterfly kick is not permitted. Breaking the surface with the feet shall not merit disqualification unless followed by a downward butterfly kick.

4. Turns At each turn, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface, and the shoulders shall be in line with the water surface. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during any part of the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch. Once a touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the feet leave the wall and the form prescribed in 2 above must be attained from the beginning of the first arm stroke.

5. Finish At the finish the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface. The body shall be on the breast and shoulders in line with the water surface. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during any part of the last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding the touch

Butterfly:

1. Start The forward start shall be used.

2. Stroke After the start and after each turn, the swimmer must remain on the breast and is permitted one or more leg kicks, but only one arm pull under the water, which must bring him/her to the surface. Both arms must be brought forward over the water and pulled back simultaneously. The shoulders must be in line with the water surface from the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn.

3. Kick All up and down movements of the legs and feet must be simultaneous. The positions of the legs or feet need not to be on the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A scissor or breaststroke kicking movement is not permitted.

4. Turns At each turn, the body shall be on the breast and the shoulders in line with the water surface. The touch shall be mace with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the surface of the water. Once a touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired.

5. Finish At the finish, the touch shall be mace with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface. The body shall be on the breast and the shoulders in line with the water surface.

Backstroke:

1. Start

a. The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips.

b. Prior to the command “take your mark” and until the feet leave the wall at the starting signal, the swimmer’s feet, including the toes, shall be placed under the surface of the water. Standing in or on the gutter is not permitted at any time before or after the start. A backstroke starting block may not be used.

2. Stroke The swimmer shall push off on his back and continue swimming on the back throughout the race.

3. Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn, the shoulders may turn past the vertical toward the breast. If the swimmer turns past the vertical, such motion must be a part of a continuous turning action and swimmer must return to a position on the back before the fee leave the wall. After the upper shoulder rotates beyond the vertical toward the breast, an immediate single arm pull or immediate, simultaneous double-arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. After the arm pull kicking and gliding actions are permitted.

Freestyle:

1. Stroke The forward start shall be used

2. Stroke Freestyle means that in an event so designated, the swimmer may swim any style; except that in the medley relay or individual medley even. Freestyle means any stroke other than the Butterfly, Breaststroke or Backstroke.

3. Turn Upon completion of each length, the swimmer must touch the solid wall or pad at the end of the course with some part of his body.

4. Finish The swimmer shall have finished the race when any part of his person touches the solid wall or pad at the end of the pool.

Individual Medley:

The swimmer shall swim the prescribe distance in the following order: the first one-fourth, Butterfly, the second one-fourth, Backstroke, the third fourth, Breaststroke, and the last fourth, the Crawl.

1. The stroke and turns for each stroke shall follow the prescribe rules for each stroke.

2. The turns from one stroke to another shall be considered turns, not finished, and are as followed:

a. Butterfly to Backstroke. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The swimmer must have returned to a position where the shoulders are at or past the vertical toward the back before the feet have left the wall.

b. Backstroke to Breaststroke. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. Backstroke flip is not allowed. The shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the feet leave the wall. The prescribed stroke must be attained prior to the first arm stroke.

c. Breaststroke to Crawl. Once a legal touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desire

3. Finish The swimmer shall have finished the race when any part of his person touches the solid wall or pad at the end of the pool.

Relays:

1. Freestyle Relay. Four swimmers on each team, each to swim one fourth of the prescribed distance using any desired stroke(s), Freestyle finish rules apply.

2. Medley Relay. Four swimmers on each team, each to swim one-fourth of the prescribed distance continuously in the following order: first, Backstroke, second,-Breaststroke, third-Butterfly, fourth-Crawl. Rules pertaining to each stroke shall govern where applicable. At the end of each leg, the finish rule for each stroke applies in each case.

3. Rules Pertaining to Relay Races

a) No swimmer shall swim more than one leg in any relay event.

b) On the takeoff, the second, third and fourth swimmers on a relay team may bin in motion before the previous swimmer finished. The swimmers shall remain in contact with the starting block/pool deck until the previous swimmer has finished.

c) Any relay team member and his relay team shall be disqualified from a race if a team member other than the swimmer designated to swim that leg shall jump into or enter the pool area where the race is being conducted before all swimmers of all teams have finished the race.

d) The first three members of the relay team shall leave the water by the finish end of their lane after finishing their quarter or the race.

e) On relay races, the team of a swimmer whose feet have lost touch with the starting platform (ground or deck) before his preceding teammate touches the wall shall be disqualified.

f) If the shallow end of the pool is four feet or below in depth, all relay swimmers starting at that end of the pool must start in the water, with one hand and both feet on the wall until the previous swimmer touches.

Specific Ruling:

1. Point Awards:

Dual meets-Individual Swimming and Diving Events:

First= 5, Second= 3, Third= 1

Relays- Only one team may score from each club:

First= 8, Second= 4

Championship- Individual Swimming and Diving Events:

20,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,9,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

Relays-40,34,32,30,28,26,24,22,18,14

2. In dual meets each team is allowed 2 official entries in a 4-lane pool and 3 official entries in a 6-lane pool in each individual event and in each relay event. You may swim unofficially in extra lanes. The Home Team supplies ribbons for 6 places in dual meets

3. We are competing in age groups from 8 years and under to 17 years, inclusive; the cutoff date being 12:01A.M. June 30th. (If a swimmer has his 13th birthday prior to the cutoff date, he must swim as a 14-year-old and under.) “Swimming Up” in a higher age group is allowed at the discretion of the coach.

4. An individual may complete in four official swimming events. An individual cannot exceed three individual swimming events. Thus, a swimmer may be entered in two individual events and two relays or three individual events and one relay. Swimmers must swim in at least one individual event in order to swim on a relay

5. A diver may only dive in one diving event (9 years and under, 10-12, or 17 and under).

6. If your team has 6 dual meets to be eligible to swim at championship, you must swim in at least 3 dual meets. If 5 dual meets, you must swim in 2. Home team must send an electronic copy of the meet results to SSSL Commissioner Christian Cipolletti (ssswimleague@gmail.com). She will determine eligibility for championship.

7. There will be no disqualification for the 8 years old and under age group in dual meets unless they gain a significant advantage (as long as the swimmer is attempting to swim the designed stroke.) They CAN BE DQ'd at Championships if they do any illegal swims.

8. The dual meets are run by the Home Team, with the visiting team supplying some of the officials. Generally, warm-ups are at 12:30PM with meet starting at 1:00PM Meets at ERBC and DYC warm up at 8:30AM and starts at 9:00AM on Fridays.

9. The rules and regulations upheld by the United States Swimming Handbook will apply to the South Shore Swim League, with exception of the no false start rule. SSSL allows one false start.

10. The Host Team determines the number of heats. The visiting team’s coach must contact and request/discuss the additional heats needed no later than 2 days prior to the meet. Any heats are considered unofficial. Team entry is due to host by 8pm the night before the meet, heat sheets will be finalized at start of warmup. Teams can discuss this as well if ready earlier.

11. Eligibility report should be run for every dual meet and will be run and enforced at championships - this should not be an issue if set up is followed when doing entry - eligibility report stands and results cannot be changed to include swimmers on the list.

12. If someone is NOT entered in the meet and shows up you can put them in but they swim EXHIBITION and it does not count toward the score of that meet or toward eligibility for champs (basically swimmer is not considered having swum the meet)

13. If someone is sick you can move a swimmer already in the event from 2nd heat to first heat to fill spot. YOU CANNOT add a swimmer to the event

Team Responsibilities for Dual Meets:

1. Timers: 3 timers are needed by each team. Each team should provide their own watches.

2. Diving Judges: Home Team- 2 Visiting Team- 1. Each entrant should have filed three entry sheets. One goes to the announcer and two go to the Scorer’s Table. Please make sure these are filled out correctly. The divers are expected to complete the dive announced or it is failed dive. Score cards showing the number from 0-10 should be provided for judges.

3. Place Judges: Each team will provide 1 place judge.

4. Runners: The Home Team provides a Runner for bringing the results to the Scorer’s Table.

5. Scorekeeper: Each team provides one Scorekeeper.

6. Ribbons should be given out as swimmers exit the pool.

7. Each event must have an official lane slip filled out prior to the meet. The event number, lane number and team name can be filled out prior to the meet. The timers will fill in each name, place and time. These slips are then picked up by the runner to be brought to the Scorer’s Table.

8. Each team will provide one stroke and turn judge. They will cover either lanes 1,2,3, or lane 4,5, and 6.

9. The Home Team will provide a Meet Referee, Starter, and an Announcer.

Hot Weather Policy

If the coaches determine it to be very hot, they may take a 3 minute break at the end of event 32 to allow everyone to jump in the pool and cool off

Cancellation

Cancellation of meets should only occur due to Thunder and Lightning! If bad weather occurs, and a meet is cancelled before event #32 it IS NOT an official meet. A meet is considered official when 32 events have been completed.

Coaches:

Please only take LEGAL Swimmers to championship. While we encourage participation, swimmers at championship should be legal and know their strokes