If you've volunteered to officiate at the MLAC First Splash for either the Sunday AM and/or PM sessions, please note that the meet times have changed due to a late noticed conflict with the school district.
The Sunday AM warm ups begin at 6:30 AM with a 7:35 AM session start time. The meet session should be done no later than 11:00 AM.
The Sunday PM warm ups begin at 5:00 PM with a 6:05 PM session start time. It is expected that the meet session should be done no later than 9:00 PM.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Officials Sign Ups update - 2015-2016 SC meets
All meets through December 2015 have now been added to our officials website (amswim-officials.org) and Volunteer Spot (http://vols.pt/q28pj3).
Our Officials website lists Officials Contact and email/phone contact information, as well as a link to the specific Volunteer Spot meet and a copy of the Meet Announcement. Or you can go directly to Volunteer Spot per the link above and sign up for as many meets/sessions as you'd like.
The Christmas Meet Invitational sign up is not being done through Volunteer Spot. It will once again be an Officials Qualifying Meet (OQM) where our officials can earn their N2 and/or N3 certifications (a great idea for officials with a year's experience). Their is a link to that google doc for both request for evaluation as well as just signing up to work sessions (even if you're not being evaluated) on our website.
For some unknown reason, Pittsburghers are notorious for signing on for things at the very last minute. While we appreciate all officials volunteering for sessions at any time, it would be nice to get an earlier indication of how well staffed our meets are earlier rather than later. Our meet hosts worry a lot about filling their meets with enough officials and knowing a bit earlier will provide them with more sleep than they'd get if they think they're understaffed. If you know you're available to work session(s), try your best to sign up as early as possible.
We appreciate your time and effort, as do the swimmers and coaches (most of the time). Looking forward to seeing you all on deck soon! Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein, AMS Officials Chair, at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
Our Officials website lists Officials Contact and email/phone contact information, as well as a link to the specific Volunteer Spot meet and a copy of the Meet Announcement. Or you can go directly to Volunteer Spot per the link above and sign up for as many meets/sessions as you'd like.
The Christmas Meet Invitational sign up is not being done through Volunteer Spot. It will once again be an Officials Qualifying Meet (OQM) where our officials can earn their N2 and/or N3 certifications (a great idea for officials with a year's experience). Their is a link to that google doc for both request for evaluation as well as just signing up to work sessions (even if you're not being evaluated) on our website.
For some unknown reason, Pittsburghers are notorious for signing on for things at the very last minute. While we appreciate all officials volunteering for sessions at any time, it would be nice to get an earlier indication of how well staffed our meets are earlier rather than later. Our meet hosts worry a lot about filling their meets with enough officials and knowing a bit earlier will provide them with more sleep than they'd get if they think they're understaffed. If you know you're available to work session(s), try your best to sign up as early as possible.
We appreciate your time and effort, as do the swimmers and coaches (most of the time). Looking forward to seeing you all on deck soon! Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein, AMS Officials Chair, at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
And So It Is...
As a follow up to the August 31, 2015 post about Ryan Lochte's now infamous swim in the World's 200 M Individual Medley, FINA has provided an interpretation of their rule SW9.1 (USAS Rule 101.5.2). To see the details of FINA's interpretation, click here.
The interpretation describes what constitutes backstroke during the freestyle leg of the Individual Medley. It says that if a swimmer leaves the wall on his/her back, they are performing backstroke.
Interestingly, if you look at the Frequently Asked Questions attached to the memo linked above, it describes what constitutes breaststroke during the freestyle leg of the IM. You may remember our discussions about this specific rule when a swimmer (actually two swimmers a few years apart at the JCCS Classic) came out of her turn in the 200 M IM and performed a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout at the start of the freestyle leg of the race (the swimmers in both instances were not disqualified). There was a split in opinion as to what point an Official could conclude that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke (i.e. how many cycles had to be completed before one could determine that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke again). Well, the new interpretation indicates that the swimmer is swimming breaststroke if they complete a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout, the fundamental elements of the breaststroke.
Should be some interesting discussions with Dan McAllen at the upcoming AMS Swimposium. If you have't signed up for the Officials Workshop/Luncheon, please take a few minutes to sign up now (click here for the registration form).
The interpretation describes what constitutes backstroke during the freestyle leg of the Individual Medley. It says that if a swimmer leaves the wall on his/her back, they are performing backstroke.
Interestingly, if you look at the Frequently Asked Questions attached to the memo linked above, it describes what constitutes breaststroke during the freestyle leg of the IM. You may remember our discussions about this specific rule when a swimmer (actually two swimmers a few years apart at the JCCS Classic) came out of her turn in the 200 M IM and performed a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout at the start of the freestyle leg of the race (the swimmers in both instances were not disqualified). There was a split in opinion as to what point an Official could conclude that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke (i.e. how many cycles had to be completed before one could determine that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke again). Well, the new interpretation indicates that the swimmer is swimming breaststroke if they complete a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout, the fundamental elements of the breaststroke.
Should be some interesting discussions with Dan McAllen at the upcoming AMS Swimposium. If you have't signed up for the Officials Workshop/Luncheon, please take a few minutes to sign up now (click here for the registration form).
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
New Athlete Protection Training Now Available for Non-Athlete Members of USAS
USA Swimming has just announced the release of the new Athlete Protection Training video for upcoming renewals. For most of us, our APT expires on 12/31/15. The renewal course is a new, 30-minute scenario based course.
Completion of the APT is required by 12/31/15 for all Officials with expiring APT at that date (check online or DeckPass to see when yours expires). The renewal will be good for 24 months.
To access the new training requirement, please use this link...
www.usaswimming.org/apt
You will not receive any warning email from USA Swimming so please make sure your APT is up to date prior to the end of the year. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com or 412-867-6687.
Completion of the APT is required by 12/31/15 for all Officials with expiring APT at that date (check online or DeckPass to see when yours expires). The renewal will be good for 24 months.
To access the new training requirement, please use this link...
www.usaswimming.org/apt
You will not receive any warning email from USA Swimming so please make sure your APT is up to date prior to the end of the year. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com or 412-867-6687.
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