FREDERICK SUMMER SWIM LEAGUE

RULES AND REGULATIONS 2006-0227

MISSION STATEMENT:

            The goal of the Frederick Summer Swim League is to encourage informal, friendly team competition at the neighborhood pool level while providing the youth of Frederick County the opportunity to develop athletic skills, positive sportsmanship, an understanding of teamwork, and an appreciation for the relationship between effort and success in a wholesome and fair atmosphere.

RULES OF COMPETITION & MEET PROCEDURES:

ARTICLE 1 - General rules

All persons associated with the Frederick Summer Swim League (FSSL) are to comply with the FSSL Rules of Competition and Meet Procedures as published by the League Committee.  Appendix B contains definitions for many of the terms used in these rules.

SECTION 1: Registration

A.)    Each team must provide, to the league Chair, a final roster of male and female members.  Listing must include age group and sex, the name and birth date (not simply the age) of each eligible swimmer.  Swimmers will not be added to the roster after 7/1/05.   A check for registration of all swimmers and final roster are due to the League Chair by the Friday preceeding the first meet.  Fees should be estimated and sent earlier if possible.

B.)    Each team shall pay a fee for each swimmer to obtain membership in the FSSL.  All membership fees collected will be sent with a complete roster to the league chair.  The membership fee includes entry fees for the Divisional meets and League insurance.

SECTION 2 - General Swimming Rules

A.)    Competition will be governed by the current FSSL rules.

B.)    As per Frederick County Health Department regulations, a pool operator and Lifeguard must be present during all meets.  The lifeguard must be in lifeguard chair.  A team coach may not serve as the lifeguard and it is preferred that a coach not perform the pool operator duties.

SECTION 3 - League Divisions

The teams in the FSSL will be divided into divisions based on the results from a computer-generated mock meet using each swimmer’s seasonal best time from the previous season.  Divisions will be designated One, Two, and Three (I, II, and III), etc with a maximum of 5 teams per division based on the current schedule of 4 meets, Divisional Championship meet, and All Star Qualifying meet.

SECTION 4 - The Meet Season

The competition season will follow a seven-week schedule.  All meets are to be held on Saturday mornings beginning at 8:00am unless otherwise arranged and agreed upon prior to the start of the season.  The visiting team always warms up second.  If there is a conflict, the home team has the right to reschedule a meet before the season starts.  Both home and visiting teams involved must agree upon schedule changes. Rescheduled meets may be held on any mutually agreeable date.

The season will begin on middle Saturday in June.  Divisionals will be held one week after the last regular season meet.  All Stars will be held one week after Divisionals.

SECTION 5 - Eligibility of Swimmers

In order to compete in an FSSL dual or tri-meet, an individual must fulfill the requirements of the FSSL swim team program in which she/he wishes to participate and be a registered member of that team. ( Refer to Appendix B - Eligible Swimmer).

SECTION 6 - Division Determination

Seven days following the All-Star meet, each team must submit electronically to the League Chair the current, seasonal best time for each swimmer on their team using a Team Manager Export File of Best Times.  Using these best times, a mock meet will be run using Team Manager software to determine the league alignment and breakdown into divisions for the following year. 

SECTION  7 - Eligibility of Teams

All league member teams shall be eligible for League competition.  New teams desiring to join the FSSL must make an application to the league chair by March 1 of the year they wish to compete.

SECTION 8 -Offensive Signs or Objects

Team representatives/Meet Managers shall ensure, particularly at home meets, that there are no signs, body art, objects or actions, which are in bad taste or offensive to either team.

SECTION 9: Locker room

Representatives & coaches shall ensure that pool grounds and changing rooms used by their teams are thoroughly inspected before departing, especially at the Divisional and All-Star meets.

SECTION 10 -   Backstroke Flags

Backstroke flags must be 5 yards or 5 meters from each end of the pool, whichever system of measurement the pool uses.

SECTION 11 - Protests

Protests claiming any violation of League rules or misapplication of rules by officials (judgement calls of officials are NOT protestable) must be made, in writing, to the 3 Division Commissioners within 48 hours of the alleged violation. They shall resolve all protests in accordance with the procedures set forth in the FSSL rules.  If the Commissioners are unable to resolve the issue, the League Chair will make the final decision.

SECTION 12 - Dispute Resolution

Team Reps will be asked to meet or communicate to try to resolve the issue.  If not resolved, the Division Commissioners will meet or communicate with the team reps and vote attempt to resolve the issue by majority rule.  If a commissioner is not available or cannot be contacted within 24 hours, then the Vice President will vote in place of the missing Commissioner.  If two Commissioners are not available within 24 hours, then the VP and President will vote in their place.  If the league has an even number of Commissioners and they cannot reach a majority, then the VP will vote to achieve a majority.  A minimum of 2 Commissioners-VP-President must agree.   If still not resolved, the commissioner will present the issue to the Executive Committee for resolution.  Their decision is final.

SECTION 13: Confidentiality of Information

Correspondence between coaches, reps, and commissioners regarding disputes is to be held as confidential and must not be shared with others, directly or indirectly. 

Copies of Seeded Meet Entries and Meet Manager Programs that are exchanged between IT Team Reps prior to a meet are not for distribution among team parents or anyone other than the Team Reps and Coaches.

All times and meet results submitted to the league will be held confidential and not be shared with any coaches, teams, leagues, or media (including Internet) without the express permission of the specific teams involved in each competition.

Meet Programs offered for sale at meets and results posted at the meet venue will be considered to be in the public domain.   If the meet venue does not restrict access to spectators, then it  will be considered a public meet venue with no more expectation of privacy than any public meeting area.  A meet host may request to the FSSL Board on mechanisms to restrict access.

Swimmer names on t-shirts offered for sale will consist only of names submitted in writing or email by each team in advance of the meet.

SECTION 14- Penalties

A.) Competition by an ineligible swimmer (see Appendix B) will result in forfeiture of the swimmer’s points for that meet and preceding meets in which the swimmer was ineligible.

B.) A swimmer may swim under protest.  However, if the decision of the Executive Committee goes against the swimmer, the points earned by that swimmer will be forfeited.

SECTION 15 – Interference and Unsportsmanlike Conduct:

Interference and unsportsmanlike conduct at practice and meets will not be tolerated.  The Referee may penalize or eject any spectator or swimmer for unsportsmanlike conduct according to USA Swimming Rules.   If the swimmer or spectator refuse to listen, the Referee may contact two or more FSSL Officers (Commissioners, VP, President) which could result in the offending team to forfeit the meet, and the offending party or team can be assessed a fine of up to $100 for the first offense, and up to $200 for the second offense.  Reports of interference or unsportsmanlike conduct at a swim meet could result in the swimmer or spectator to be banned from future meets.  Interference at practice can result in removal from the practice and may result in the swimmer’s removal from the team.

ARTICLE II.     CATEGORIES OF COMPETITON

SECTION 1 - Age Groups

A.) Age groups for FSSL competition will be: 15-18 years, 13-14 years, 11-12 years, 9-10 years, & 7-8 years.  For certain events there is a 12 & under, 10 & U, 8 & U, 6 & under and 13 & older category.

B.) There will be separate age group competition for boys and girls. Coed relays must have a minimum of 2 girls with a maximum of 3 girls on each relay.

SECTION 2 - Age for Competition:

Age groups for the League competition will be based on the swimmer’s age as of June 1, regardless of the starting date of the FSSL season.  The age of a swimmer can be up to 19 years if his/her birthday is after June 1.

SECTION 3 - Age Group Competition:

Any swimmer swimming up an age group in a meet must stay swimming in that age group throughout the meet, including relays.  No swimmer will be allowed to swim-up more than 2 age groups.  For example, a 9-10 may swim-up to 11-12 or to 13-14.

ARTICLE III.  ENTRIES - Regular Season

SECTION 1 - Number of Entries Per Swimmer

A.)     Any swimmer under the scratch limit (see Appendix B) not reporting for or competing in a scheduled event shall NOT be penalized.

B.)    In a dual or tri-meet, each competitor may be entered in as many as four (4) individual events and one (1) relay, regardless of team size.

C.)    If a swimmer is entered in more than the allowed number of events the swimmer will be struck from any events over the legal limit and must swim the first 4 individual events scheduled. The swimmer will be removed from any remaining individual events.

D.)    If a swimmer is entered in more than one relay, they will swim the first relay scheduled and be struck from any additional relays.

SECTION 2 - Number of Entries per Team

A.) For dual-meets, all heats are official, no exhibition.  Swimmers may swim in four (4) individual and one (1) relay per meet.  There may be up to three (3) relay entries per team in pools that can accommodate them.

B.) For tri-meets, swimmers may swim in 4 individual events and 1 relay per meet.  However, if a team has more than 150 registered swimmers, then entry limits may be reduced for individual events and they will be equal to the number of lanes in the host pool.  There may be up to two (2) relay entries per team per event.  It is required that tri-meets be held in pools with at least six (6) lanes.

C.) Swimmers will be seeded using Meet Manager.  Dual meets will be seeded using odd and even lane assignments (not “forced” odd/even assignments) for host and visiting teams.  Host team will determine which team will swim in odd/even lanes.   All other meets will be seeded based strictly on entry times.  Heats containing swimmers from only 1 team will fill open lanes.

D.) When there is more than one heat, the fastest seeded swimmers will swim the LAST heat and in the center lanes.  The heats shall be ordered SLOWEST to FASTEST.  The remaining heats may be combined.  All six (6) swimmers in a heat may be from the same team in the interest of saving time.

SECTION 3 - Entry Procedures

A)      For all regular season meets, all Meet Manager entries MUST be exchanged by the home and visiting team in person or via email to the IT contact or team rep by 8:00pm the Thursday before a Saturday meet, unless otherwise agreed upon by the two competing teams. The home team will e-mail final copy of the handwriter’s sheets showing each swimmer’s heat and lane assignment (Meet Manager, Reports, Entry List, By Team, Alphabetical) to the visiting team by 8:00 pm the following night, unless otherwise agreed upon by the competing teams.  This information is deemed confidential and for the use of the Volunteers to post or provide to swimmers and coaches.  Failure to exchange the Meet Entries in a timely manner will result in a penalty of $10 for each hour beyond the stated deadline.  Both teams must agree in writing to extend the deadline to a mutually convenient time.

B)      All swimmers entered in a meet must have a seedtime for each individual event entered.  Times from a previous year or a time trial are acceptable. For the first meet of the season, teams will be allowed to submit no time (NT) entries that total 20% of their total entries in the meet with no penalty.  For all NT’s exceeding the 20%, the team will have one point for each additional NT deducted from their final score.  After a team’s first meet, all individual entries with NT will result in a one point deduction per NT to be taken from the team’s final score.

Week 1                20% NTs allowed in entries

Week 2-Week 6    Each NT results in 1 point loss of final score

All Stars               No NTs allowed

C)    All scratches will be submitted at a scratch meeting to be held approximately 20 minutes before the designated meet starting time.  A representative from each team shall attend this meeting.  A swimmer who fails to swim in an event, but does compete in the meet, will not be counted as a scratch.  Any scratches over the limit will result in a deduction of 1 point from the final score of the offending team for each event missed by the scratched swimmer(s).  It is understood that the selection of swimmers for the deduction of points will be the one which minimizes the total deduction of points.

D)    Entries for relay teams can be submitted when entries are exchanged, and must be available to the scorer’s table at the time of the scratch meeting, the final list of participants must be submitted to the scoring table before the relay events begin.  The number of swimmers that may be scratched without penalty is 5 per team. 

E)     No changes will be permitted after the entries have been submitted, except by mutual consent of the coaches, or in their absence, designated Acting Coaches.  These entries must be entered as exhibition swims if a lane is available in an existing heat.  No points will be awarded for exhibition swims, but the times may be used to qualify a swimmer for All Stars.  The referee will make the final decision in the event of a conflict.

ARTICLE IV - SWIMMING EVENTS

SECTION 1 - Order of Events

See Appendix A

SECTION 2 - Individual Strokes & Relays

These are determined by the current USA rules for Strokes and Turns. A copy will be given to each team and will be included in the FSSL Rules.  It is the responsibility of each team to distribute this information to their team’s families.

ARTICLE V - PROCEDURES FOR MEETS

SECTION 1 - General Procedures (see Appendix F for Officials Guidelines)

A.)     Generally,, the Home team will supply the starter, 2 stroke and turn judges, head timer, scorer and 2 timers per lane (1 timer per lane for tri-meets).  The visiting team(s) will provide 1 timer per lane, 2 stroke and turn judges,  a scorer, and a referee if applicable (see Appendix F).

B.)    In the event that any team cannot provide the proper number of timers, judges, workers or qualified officials, its team representative(s) should notify the opposing  team representatives(s) at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start of the meet so that replacements may be found.  If replacements are not available, the team unable to provide the proper amount of volunteers risks forfeiture of the meet.

C.)    Warm ups will end 10 minutes prior to the meet starting time to provide an opportunity for coaches (or their designee) and team reps to meet with the starter/referee.

SECTION 2 - Meet Procedures

A.) The scorers will input the meet results into Meet Manager.  All teams will be represented at the scorer’s table unless one of the teams waives it’s right.  (See Appendix G – Scoring Guidelines)

B.) All events shall be completed as scheduled unless prevented by extraordinary conditions or situations.  In this situation, the meet must be rescheduled, by mutual agreement of the coaches involved. Rescheduled meets may be held at any mutually agreeable date. [including the date scheduled for the optional Relay Carnival]  In case of a dispute over rescheduling, the League Chair’s decision will prevail.  Failure to comply will result in forfeiture.

C.) If due to unforeseen conditions, a meet must be interrupted, all completed events will be deemed official.  When the meet resumes, no changes to the original line-up will be permitted, except scratches and addition of swimmers who could not attend the originally scheduled meet.  Failure to adhere to this procedure will result in the forfeiture of the meet by the offending team.

D.) Place finishes shall be determined based on time.  Timers shall be assigned to each lane to record watch times on event sheets. Each lane will have three timers.  There will be one overall head timer.  The home team will supply two (2) timers per lane (1 timer per lane for tri-meets) and the visiting team(s) will supply one (1) timer per lane.  The Head timer shall carry two stopwatches.  At the conclusion of the meet, the host team is responsible for delivering a Meet Manager backup file (Meet Manager, File, Backup) to the theroeders@msn.com  and visiting team within 24 hours of the meet.  E-mail is preferred.   It is recommended that the visiting team be given a hard copy of the meet results at the conclusion of the meet

E.) For a typical dual meet

Thursday 8 PM      Exchange entries between teams for Saturday 8 am meet.

Friday 8 PM          Host team emails Entry List to Visiting Team

Sunday 1 PM        Host team provides Meet Manager Backup to Visiting Team and

                               to FSSL theroeders@msn.com

ARTICLE VI -   MEET SCORING

SECTION 1 - Dual Meet Scoring:

A.)  Individual events will be scored  5, 3, 1 respectively for first (1st), second (2^nd), and third (3^rd) place.  All points awarded must be earned.

B.)  Relay events will be scored 8, 4, 2 respectively for first (1st), second (2^nd), and third (3^rd) place.

C.) Ribbons will be awarded through 12th place.

D.) Each dual meet winner will be awarded 2 points toward divisional standings.  In case of a tie each team will receive 1 point.

E.)  For meets between teams in two different divisions, there will be no divisional standing points awarded.

SECTION 2 - Tri-meet scoring:

A.)  Tri-meets among teams may be set up by mutual agreement among coaches.

B.)  Tri-meets will be scored as Double Dual Meets.

C.) Individual events will be scored 5, 3, 1 respectively for first (1^st), second (2^nd), and third (3^rd) place.

D.) Relay events will be scored 8, 4, 2 respectively for first (1st), second (2^nd), and third (3^rd) place.  All points must be earned.

E.)  Ribbons will be awarded through 12th place.

F.)  Each dual meet winner will be awarded 2 points toward divisional standings.  In the case of a tie, each team will receive one point.

G.) For tri-meets between teams from 2 or 3 different divisions, there will be no divisional standing points awarded.

SECTION 3 -  Ties:

Where 2 or more swimmers tie for any place in any event, the points credited to such place or places, if any, next in order shall be equally divided between such swimmers; i.e., if two tie for first place, the points to be credited to first place and the points to be credited to second place shall be added and divided one-half and one-half.  If three tie for first place, the points credited to first, second and third places shall be added and divided one-third, one-third and one-third, and so on for four or more tying for first place.  The same is true for those tying for second place, third place and so forth.

SECTION 4 - Disqualification:

When a relay team or individual swimmer is disqualified, the subsequent places will move up accordingly and points shall be awarded to conform to the new places.

ARTICLE VII - DIVISIONAL MEETS

SECTION 1 - General:

A.)  Divisional meets will be held on the Saturday following the last official meet of the FSSL season. The events will correspond to those in dual/tri meets.

B.)  All swimmers registered on their team roster will be eligible to participate in their divisional swim meet, as long as they have competed in two FSSL meets during the swim season.  Exceptions may be worked out between Team Reps, or brought to the Division Commissioner, whose decision is final, for resolution.  All heats are official.

C.) The host organizations will be determined by league approval at the start of the season.

SECTION 2 - Entries

A.)    Divisional meet participants will be allowed to enter as many as three (3) individual events and one (1) relay.

B.)    If a swimmer is entered in more than the allowed number of events, the swimmer will be struck from any events over the legal limit and must swim the first 3 individual events scheduled.  The swimmer will be removed from any remaining individual events.

C.)    If a swimmer is entered in more than one relay, they will swim the first relay scheduled and be struck from any additional relays.

D.)    Any swimmer under the scratch limit not reporting for or competing in a scheduled event shall NOT be penalized.

SECTION 3 – Event Scoring

A.)  Individual events will be scored 7-5-4-3-2-1 respectively for first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth place.  All points must be earned.

B.)  Relay events will be scored 10-7-4-2.  All points must be earned.

C.) Ribbons will be awarded to 12^th place.

SECTION 4 - Entry Procedures

A.)    Meet Manager entries are to be sent to the Host team by 8:00pm on the Wednesday prior to the Divisional Meet.  The Divisional Meet Host team must send their Meet Manager entries to the other teams within their division by 8:00pm on the Wednesday prior to the Divisional Meet.  The Host team must send Seeded Meet Entries for Handwriters (Meet Manager, Reports, Entry List, By Team, Alphabetical), and a Sessions Report (Meet Manager, Events, Sessions, Reports, Create Report, with Start Time and 30 second Intervals), to all teams within the Division by 8:00 am Friday before the Divisional Meet.

B.)    All swimmers entered in a meet must have a time for each event entered.   Times from a previous year or a time trial are acceptable.

C.)    All scratches will be submitted at a scratch meeting to be held approximately 15 minutes before the designated meet starting time.  Coaches, team representatives and the meet referee shall attend this meeting.  Entries for relay teams will be submitted to the scorer’s table before the relay events begin. The number of allowable scratches per team is 5.  Any scratches over the limit will result in a deduction of 1 point from the final score of the offending team for each event missed by the scratched swimmer.  ).  It is understood that the selection of swimmers for the deduction of points will be the one which minimizes the total deduction of points.

D.)    No changes will be permitted after the entries have been submitted, except by mutual consent of the coaches, or in their absence, designated Acting Coaches.  These entries must be swum as exhibition swims if a lane is available and no points may be awarded.  The referee will make the final decision in the event of a conflict.

Divisional Meet

Wednesday 8 PM   Exchange entries between teams for Saturday 8 am meet.

Friday 8 AM          Host team emails Entry List to Visiting Teams

Sunday 3 PM        Host team provides Meet Manager Backup to Visiting Teams and

                               to FSSL theroeders@msn.com

SECTION 5 -  Division Champion:

A.)    The total points earned during regular season meets AND the Divisional Meet will determine the DIVISION CHAMPION.

B.)    Two (2) points will be awarded to the winner of each dual meet within the same division.  In the case of a tie, points are split.

C.)   For the Divisional Meet, points are awarded as follows:

1^st place = 4 points

2^nd place = 3 points

3^rd place = 2 points

4^th place = 1 point

5^th place = 0 points

D.) All teams within the division will receive a place trophy.

E.) An additional trophy will be awarded for the Divisional meet winner.

ARTICLE VIII - ALL-STAR MEET

SECTION 1 -  General:

A.)     After the divisional meets, an All-Star meet will be held.  This meet is based on individual, not team, performance. 

B.)    Qualification for the meet is determined by a time standard.  Time standards are determined at the start of the season.  If a new time standard is not established by June 1, then the prior year time standard will be used.

C.)    The time standard must be met during a regular FSSL or Divisional meet of the current year.

D.)    The host organization will be determined by committee approval at the start of the season.

E.)    All swimmers registered on their team roster will be eligible to participate in the All-star meet, provided they have competed in 2 FSSL meets during the swim season and meet the time standards.  Exceptions may be petitioned to the Division Commissioners whose decision is final.

SECTION 2 -  Entry Procedures:

A.)     All swimmers must swim in their age group based on their ages as of June 1.

B.)