As many of you saw from Jeff Berghoff's email, the LC Invitational, designed specifically to allow our elite swimmers an early opportunity to get their Olympic Trial cuts, is on for this Friday and Saturday. This is a very short prelims/finals meet.
There should be about 75 athletes vying for their cuts. Typically, the swimmers will be swimming in one event each day as the focus on the events that they are most likely to attain their Olympic Trial cut in. As a result, the sessions are very short. It is expected that the prelim and final sessions will last only 1 hour.
We are still in need of a Starter for prelims and Referee and Starter for finals on Friday. We also need a Referee and Starter for Saturday Finals. Further, we need an Admin Official for Sunday Finals. We need Stroke & Turn officials for all sessions. Right now, we don't have any officials for any positions for Saturday finals.
Please sign up to help using the following link...
http://vols.pt/B32XPc
While a small meet, it is a very important opportunity for these swimmers. If they don't make their cuts it's on them but we can't allow US to be the reason their times won't count.
Thanks for your help!
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Team Pittsburgh LC Invitational Needs Our Help
We all know that we're in an Olympic year. There are precious few Long Course meets prior to the US Olympic Trials. In order to provide an opportunity for some of our fastest swimmers to swim a 50 Meter meet against some strong competition, Team Pittsburgh is hosting a very special meet at Pitt on March 25-26 (Friday/Saturday). The meet is a Prelims/Finals meet. We know a lot of families are traveling for the holiday weekend but for those of us in town, we need your help.
Prelims begin at 9:00 AM on Friday and Saturday mornings and Finals will be at 6:00 PM both days. We need officials at all levels for this meet. Please help if you can. We need a Referee, Starter and Stroke & Turn for Friday Prelims and Finals and Saturday Finals. We also need a Starter and Stroke & Turn for Saturday Prelims. Prelims should last no longer than 2 hours so we're in and out!
Please siign up as soon as possible using the following link...
http://vols.pt/B32XPc
You can look at the Meet Announcement in the Meet Portal on the AMS website.
Any questions, please email Terri Cook at terricook27@yahoo.com or Jeff Berghoff at berghoff@pitt.edu.
Thanks for your help! This will be a very fast meet. You don't want to miss it.
Prelims begin at 9:00 AM on Friday and Saturday mornings and Finals will be at 6:00 PM both days. We need officials at all levels for this meet. Please help if you can. We need a Referee, Starter and Stroke & Turn for Friday Prelims and Finals and Saturday Finals. We also need a Starter and Stroke & Turn for Saturday Prelims. Prelims should last no longer than 2 hours so we're in and out!
Please siign up as soon as possible using the following link...
http://vols.pt/B32XPc
You can look at the Meet Announcement in the Meet Portal on the AMS website.
Any questions, please email Terri Cook at terricook27@yahoo.com or Jeff Berghoff at berghoff@pitt.edu.
Thanks for your help! This will be a very fast meet. You don't want to miss it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Bringin' It Home!
It's hard to believe that Spring has just about sprung (did I jinx it?) and the Short Course season is coming to an end. We have our Age Group Championships at Pitt this long weekend followed by Last Splash the following weekend at PRA, SFAC and WHAT. These are all very full meets. We officials seem to be running out of steam as we wind down the season.
Our remaining meets are very short of officials and we need your help (if you haven't signed up already) to properly staff the deck. If your team is going to any of the remaining meets, please consider volunteering...even if you don't have a swimmer in the meet. AMS swimmers have worked very hard to get to this point of the season and they deserve a well staffed deck to ensure fairness and consistency from our officials.
All of our meets are listed on our website (amswim-officials.org) and links to our volunteer sign up are provided. Looking forward to seeing you on deck!!
Our remaining meets are very short of officials and we need your help (if you haven't signed up already) to properly staff the deck. If your team is going to any of the remaining meets, please consider volunteering...even if you don't have a swimmer in the meet. AMS swimmers have worked very hard to get to this point of the season and they deserve a well staffed deck to ensure fairness and consistency from our officials.
All of our meets are listed on our website (amswim-officials.org) and links to our volunteer sign up are provided. Looking forward to seeing you on deck!!
Monday, February 8, 2016
2016 WPIAL Championships Observation Sign Ups Available
Another year has passed (wow) and it's time to start lining up to be a USA Swimming Official Observer for the 2016 WPIAL Championships being held at Pitt on March 3-4, 2016. Of course, we observe the swimming to view any rules that are different between High School and USA Swimming so that the times can be uploaded into the SWIMS database as official times.
If you'd like to be considered as an observer, please add your name to the list for each session you'd like to be an observer. This year, AAA is first, followed by AA. Click on this link to sign up. Your entry will be automatically saved. We do try to accommodate as many officials as possible for each session. Here's the link...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EsByQwF4pufs0xnQk1985hr-Mgcoh65dRsMUdYYjiBk/edit?usp=sharing
As the date approaches, I'll send out detailed instructions for those observing. Any questions, please email Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
If you'd like to be considered as an observer, please add your name to the list for each session you'd like to be an observer. This year, AAA is first, followed by AA. Click on this link to sign up. Your entry will be automatically saved. We do try to accommodate as many officials as possible for each session. Here's the link...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EsByQwF4pufs0xnQk1985hr-Mgcoh65dRsMUdYYjiBk/edit?usp=sharing
As the date approaches, I'll send out detailed instructions for those observing. Any questions, please email Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Recommendation from the USA Swimming Officials Committee
As you all know, USA Swimming has adopted FINA's interpretation of the freestyle portion of the medley events (relay and individual), often now referred to as the "Lochte Rule". Briefly, the rules state that a swimmer must swim 1/4th of the race butterfly, 1/4th backstroke, 1/4th breaststroke and 1/4th freestyle.
In transitioning from breaststroke to freestyle in the individual medley and butterfly to freestyle in the medley relay, the swimmer must be past vertical toward the breast once s/he has left the wall/block. (You may recall that Lochte, at the 2015 World Championships, preferred to streamline past vertical toward his back as this was his fastest streamline. As such, he would streamline on his back for the first 15 meters of the freestyle portion of the medley.) Under this interpretation (or clarification), FINA determined that he should have been disqualified for swimming backstroke for more than 1/4 of his race.
The following guidance has been provided by the USA Swimming Officials Committee:
Pertaining to the freestyle portion of the medley events
Determination of the body position during the freestyle portion of the medley events (individual and relay) should be judged in a similar manner to other body position calls. Namely, the shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall. The judge should watch the swimmer’s feet leave the wall and then look up to gauge the relative position of the shoulders to one another. It is important to consciously think about the position of the shoulders from the point of observation – forward in time and not project back in time to where the shoulders might have been between the time the feet left the wall and the observation was made. As always, the benefit of any doubt goes to the swimmer. This is particularly true when the judge is observing more than one lane as it may be quite difficult to ascertain the position of the shoulders when observing from a different lane.
Suggested language for the disqualification slip
Use Miscellaneous-Other (7T) “Swimming more that ¼ of the race in the style of backstroke.”
In transitioning from breaststroke to freestyle in the individual medley and butterfly to freestyle in the medley relay, the swimmer must be past vertical toward the breast once s/he has left the wall/block. (You may recall that Lochte, at the 2015 World Championships, preferred to streamline past vertical toward his back as this was his fastest streamline. As such, he would streamline on his back for the first 15 meters of the freestyle portion of the medley.) Under this interpretation (or clarification), FINA determined that he should have been disqualified for swimming backstroke for more than 1/4 of his race.
The following guidance has been provided by the USA Swimming Officials Committee:
Pertaining to the freestyle portion of the medley events
Determination of the body position during the freestyle portion of the medley events (individual and relay) should be judged in a similar manner to other body position calls. Namely, the shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall. The judge should watch the swimmer’s feet leave the wall and then look up to gauge the relative position of the shoulders to one another. It is important to consciously think about the position of the shoulders from the point of observation – forward in time and not project back in time to where the shoulders might have been between the time the feet left the wall and the observation was made. As always, the benefit of any doubt goes to the swimmer. This is particularly true when the judge is observing more than one lane as it may be quite difficult to ascertain the position of the shoulders when observing from a different lane.
Suggested language for the disqualification slip
Use Miscellaneous-Other (7T) “Swimming more that ¼ of the race in the style of backstroke.”
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
New Mini/Distance Meet Added to February's Meet Line Up
Hampton Dolphins have agreed to host a Mini/Distance meet on February 13-14, 2016. This had been a meet proposed by the AMS Age Group Committee but there had been no bidders.
Of course, we need officials for both the Mini and Distance portions. Mini sessions are in the AM and Distance sessions are in the PM. Use the following link to sign up for this meet...
http://vols.pt/SjUmzb
Our championship season begins the following weekend so while you're in the volunteering mood, take a look at our championship meets and sign up to do some sessions. Our swimmers have worked hard all season and these championship meets are very important to them, their coaches and families.
You can see all remaining meets by using this link...
http://vols.pt/q28pj3
As always, we look forward to seeing you on deck! Make sure your certifications and expirations are up to date.
Of course, we need officials for both the Mini and Distance portions. Mini sessions are in the AM and Distance sessions are in the PM. Use the following link to sign up for this meet...
http://vols.pt/SjUmzb
Our championship season begins the following weekend so while you're in the volunteering mood, take a look at our championship meets and sign up to do some sessions. Our swimmers have worked hard all season and these championship meets are very important to them, their coaches and families.
You can see all remaining meets by using this link...
http://vols.pt/q28pj3
As always, we look forward to seeing you on deck! Make sure your certifications and expirations are up to date.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Yes, It's 2016...Are Your Certification Requirements Up To Date??
As we've now turned to a new chapter and have closed out 2015, we look forward to the continuation of the 2015-2016 Short Course season. Once again, Pittsburgh proves itself to be a last minute community. We still have a number of AMS Officials who have registered with USA Swimming as non-athlete members but have either allowed their Athlete Protection Training to expire or not recertify for their various Official positions...or both.
Click here to see the latest list of officials, both certified and not, in club order. Is your name in red? If it is, you do now qualify as being fashionably late and can go ahead and take care of this as soon as possible. Our meets start up again this weekend and we need all the hands we can get to adequately cover our meet decks.
We have a number of officials who have retired as their swimmers have graduated and/or are no longer swimming. Please recruit your friends at your clubs to join us on deck. Good food and good company!
Click here to see the latest list of officials, both certified and not, in club order. Is your name in red? If it is, you do now qualify as being fashionably late and can go ahead and take care of this as soon as possible. Our meets start up again this weekend and we need all the hands we can get to adequately cover our meet decks.
We have a number of officials who have retired as their swimmers have graduated and/or are no longer swimming. Please recruit your friends at your clubs to join us on deck. Good food and good company!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Final Reminder About Recertifications!!!
This is your last reminder about recertifications as AMS Officials. In order to be on deck as an official after the first of the new year, you must have renewed your USA Swimming non-athlete Official membership, updated your Background Check (if expiring at year end), complete the Athlete Protection Training (if expiring at year end) and completed the online tests for your various level of LSC certifications that expire at 12/31/15.
The list posted to the AMS Officials website identifies all AMS Officials who have an issue with their certification after the new year. Officials with "issues" have been identified in red. Click here to view the list. Please complete the outstanding requirements as soon as possible so that you can officiate at our meets beginning in January. If you disagree with your listing, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com with evidence that you have satisfied the various requirements and your LSC certification card will be updated accordingly.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.
The list posted to the AMS Officials website identifies all AMS Officials who have an issue with their certification after the new year. Officials with "issues" have been identified in red. Click here to view the list. Please complete the outstanding requirements as soon as possible so that you can officiate at our meets beginning in January. If you disagree with your listing, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com with evidence that you have satisfied the various requirements and your LSC certification card will be updated accordingly.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Running on Empty...Recertification Tests Must be Taken by Year End
A number of AMS Officials have yet to recertify for their positions. If you did not take your most recent certification test in 2015, then you must recertify by 12/31/15, which will extend your certification(s) to 12/31/18. A list of all officials and the status of their recertification can be found on the AMS Officials website or by clicking here. If you're planning to retire at year's end, you can ignore this post. If you see an official on the list from your club who needs to recertify, please give them a gentle nudge.
As a reminder, the following rules apply to what recertification tests you must take for our various positions.
Referee - A Referee must take the Referee, Starter, and Administrative Official recertification tests. This will also recertify them at the Chief Judge and Stroke & Turn levels. In lieu of the Admin Official test, the Referee can alternatively take the Administrative Referee test.
Starter - A Starter must take the Starter, Timing Judge and Stroke & Turn/Timer tests. In lieu of the Stroke & Turn/Timer test, the Starter can take the Referee recertification test to recertify for both Chief Judge and Stroke & Turn.
Chief Judge - A Chief Judge must take the Referee recertification test. This will also recertify them at the Stroke & Turn level.
Administrative Official - An Admin Official must take the Admin Official recertification test.
Stroke & Turn - A Stroke & Turn official must take the Stroke & Turn/Timer test.
As indicated above, you have until 12/31/2015 to complete the required tests in order to extend your certifications for three years. Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
As a reminder, the following rules apply to what recertification tests you must take for our various positions.
Referee - A Referee must take the Referee, Starter, and Administrative Official recertification tests. This will also recertify them at the Chief Judge and Stroke & Turn levels. In lieu of the Admin Official test, the Referee can alternatively take the Administrative Referee test.
Starter - A Starter must take the Starter, Timing Judge and Stroke & Turn/Timer tests. In lieu of the Stroke & Turn/Timer test, the Starter can take the Referee recertification test to recertify for both Chief Judge and Stroke & Turn.
Chief Judge - A Chief Judge must take the Referee recertification test. This will also recertify them at the Stroke & Turn level.
Administrative Official - An Admin Official must take the Admin Official recertification test.
Stroke & Turn - A Stroke & Turn official must take the Stroke & Turn/Timer test.
As indicated above, you have until 12/31/2015 to complete the required tests in order to extend your certifications for three years. Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Mermelstein at bob.mermelstein@gmail.com.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Time to Sign Up for the 54th Annual Christmas Meet (QM15-168)
As you know, the annual Christmas Meet held at Pitt is traditionally AMS' "Officials Qualifying Meet" to get nationally certified (N2 or N3). This year's 54th Annual Christmas Meet Invitational is no exception. Dan McAllen (whom many of you met at this year's AMS Swimposium) will serve as the National Evaluator. Dan, currently the VP of Program Operations at USA Swimming, is a wonderful mentor to officials around the country and a good friend of AMS (of course, he's a Pittsburgh boy!). It will be a great opportunity to learn from one of our best officials.
In order to be nationally certified, you must work at least four (4) sessions in the position that you want to be evaluated for. Of course, no one will stand in your way if you'd like to sign up for more than 4 sessions!
You don't have to be evaluated in order to officiate. Many of our officials coming to the meet will not ask to be evaluated. That's fine and we need as many officials on deck as possible. The morning sessions are especially packed and we run the meet in both the deep and shallow ends (almost like two meets in one from an officiating standpoint). We, therefore, need twice the number of officials as we would normally.
This is a fabulous meet and your help will be most appreciated. If you work three sessions or more, you'll receive a meet Officials shirt that you can wear for years to come!
I know Pittsburghers like to be very last minute. Now is not the time to do that. If you know you're coming, please sign up at your earliest convenience. We do already have some officials coming from other LSC's and it's always a pleasure to meet folks similarly passionate about swimming on our deck. To sign up, use the link below. If your plans change and you need to modify your sign up, simply complete the application again. Your last Application to Officiate will be used to plan out the meet. Whether you plan to be evaluated or not, you must complete the Application to Officiate using the link below.
Christmas Meet Application to Officiate 12/17-20 (QM15-168): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gzOVq0cLkZsgXpbrG9L2RbpIlgjexNY7bgycrDKYGXM/viewform
Please note that there will be no shadowing allowed at this meet.
In order to be nationally certified, you must work at least four (4) sessions in the position that you want to be evaluated for. Of course, no one will stand in your way if you'd like to sign up for more than 4 sessions!
You don't have to be evaluated in order to officiate. Many of our officials coming to the meet will not ask to be evaluated. That's fine and we need as many officials on deck as possible. The morning sessions are especially packed and we run the meet in both the deep and shallow ends (almost like two meets in one from an officiating standpoint). We, therefore, need twice the number of officials as we would normally.
This is a fabulous meet and your help will be most appreciated. If you work three sessions or more, you'll receive a meet Officials shirt that you can wear for years to come!
I know Pittsburghers like to be very last minute. Now is not the time to do that. If you know you're coming, please sign up at your earliest convenience. We do already have some officials coming from other LSC's and it's always a pleasure to meet folks similarly passionate about swimming on our deck. To sign up, use the link below. If your plans change and you need to modify your sign up, simply complete the application again. Your last Application to Officiate will be used to plan out the meet. Whether you plan to be evaluated or not, you must complete the Application to Officiate using the link below.
Christmas Meet Application to Officiate 12/17-20 (QM15-168): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gzOVq0cLkZsgXpbrG9L2RbpIlgjexNY7bgycrDKYGXM/viewform
Please note that there will be no shadowing allowed at this meet.
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