TO: CIF Section Commissioners

Swimming and Diving Coaches, Officials, and Administrators

FROM: Doug Glaeser, CIF State Rules’ Interpreter

In addition to the notes below, please also consult the Points of Emphasis section (p. 42 of the NFHS Swimming/Diving Rules Book) and the two-page NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Interpretations sheet for 2001-02.

Starting blocks are permitted ONLY if water depth is 4 feet or greater at the starting end. If water depth is less than 4 feet, but at least 3 ½ feet, swimmers may start from the deck (by diving) or in the water. In pools where water depth is less than 3 ½ feet, swimmers must start in the water.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFHS has announced that the Swimming/Diving Rules Committee will be considering a requirement for a minimum of 5 feet of water under all starting blocks. If schools in your Section are planning to renovate existing facilities or construct new ones, this change should be anticipated.

[See also Situations on p. 53.] There are three new dimensions to this rule: One, the display of an American flag is limited to a single flag on the suit and on the cap; American flags on both sides of the cap would thus be considered illegal. Two, there is the addition of a memorial patch. Please note that any such patch must be approved by the CIF Section Commissioner and must not exceed 4 square inches in size. Three, a number to identify the competitor may appear on the suit and/or the cap, with no size restrictions. [NOTE: The wording of this section is deceptive; state association approval is not required for the flag.]

The other aspects of this rule, which was significantly altered last year, remain in effect: It applies only to suits and caps, not goggles. The measurements of manufacturer’s trademark or American flag are to be made with the suit or cap in the "normal" state, i.e., without being stretched. Only one logo is permitted on each piece of competitive attire (maximum of 2.25 square inches; no more than 2.25 inches in any dimension). The flag display is limited to a single 2"x3" American flag. (The individual swimmer’s name and school information, such as mascot, logo or name, is not limited as to size or quantity.)

The change in this rule relates to hair restraints. If an elastic band or other device is worn in the hair, and is functioning to restrain the hair, that is legal. If it is removed from the hair and worn around the wrist, it becomes illegal, as it is not longer performing its intended function. Other than this, the rule remains unchanged; jewelry is still illegal. [Please consult the NFHS interpretations sheet and the Situations on p. 53 for further discussion of this issue.]

Rule 1-3-13 has been added to clarify the fact that a scratch in NFHS rules means total withdrawal from the meet. A swimmer or diver who is scratched will not participate further in any aspect of that meet. A swimmer who scratches at any point during the prelims of a championship meet cannot swim in any events in the finals. A declared false start, by contrast, allows a swimmer to withdraw from a specific event with no additional penalty imposed; however, the swimmer is charged as if s/he had actually competed in that event and the event becomes part of the event limitation described in Rule 3-2-1.

Paragraph (d) has been altered to eliminate the requirement that disqualification notice be given before the next race starts. Paragraph (e) creates an additional duty: The referee is responsible for enforcement of the entry limitation rules (see Rule 3-2). Under the new Section concerning meet management software (see Rule 4-10-1-e), much of this duty can be assigned to the person who fills that software operator’s position.

Two new officials’ positions are now described in the rules, for positions which have become more common at meets at all levels, not just the end-of-season championships. As is the case with ALL meet officials, these two positions are under the direction and authority of the meet referee.

The change in this rule is the alteration in the averaging procedure, which only applies to manual or semi-automatic timing systems when only two watches or buttons function. In the past, the procedure called for averaging of the two times and rounding the result to the slower hundredth of a second; the new procedure calls for averaging and then simply dropping the thousandth figure. Example: Two watches record times of 24.61 seconds and 24.68 seconds. The official time is 24.64 seconds.

Championship scoring for 9 and 10 lane pools has been added to this rule.

Two changes are contained in this Section –

1. The word "infraction" has been added to clarify the fact that not all disqualifications for starts involve actual false starts (leaving the mark early or being in motion at the starting signal). This change is really an "editorial" alteration that probably changes nothing you’ve done in the past.
2. The forward start position has been significantly revised. Swimmers may assume any position on the blocks prior to the starter’s command; they need not have one foot or both feet at the front edge of the blocks prior to the command. Please note that that this rule assumes that, before the starting command is given, each swimmer will have both feet on the top surface of the block.

The following sections of Rule 8 have been significantly revised, even though the NFHS rulebook does not indicate changes in these areas. It may be helpful to compare the current (2001-02) book with last year’s edition, in order to see the actual alterations that were made.

8-2-2-e The first sentence in the 2001-02 rule is an addition to this paragraph, as are the words "…except for the last stroke at the finish of the prescribed distance…." The requirement that the arms move simultaneously in the same horizontal plane further buttresses the previous paragraph (d). The exception in the last sentence permits the swimmer to reach for the finish wall/pad with elbows out of the water, but ONLY at the finish; the swimmer must keep the elbows in the water at each turn.

8-2-3-b The first sentence omits the previous language requiring that the shoulders be in the horizontal plane. The second sentence in the 2001-02 rule is an addition to this paragraph, permitting the swimmer to take an underwater arm pull and multiple kicks after the start and each turn. Recovery of the arms after this pull must conform to paragraph (c).

8-2-3-c The second sentence in the 2001-02 rule is the addition to this paragraph, requiring that at any given time, corresponding points on both hands shall be in the same horizontal plane.

8-2-3-g Deleted from this paragraph in the 2001-02 rule is the requirement that the shoulders remain in the horizontal plane. When the swimmer finishes the race, one shoulder can be lowered.

This rule should read as follows: "The first three swimmers on a relay must touch the end of the pool. Only the final swimmer must touch the pad to finish the race."

Several dives have been added, or had changes in degrees of difficulty. Please consult the d.d. table on p. 35 and remember that only dives listed in that table can be performed in high school competition on the 1 meter board.

The following corrections should be made to p. 35, as it appears currently –

1. 5211 the only position is Free; d.d. is 1.8
2. 5311 the only position is Free; d.d. is 1.9
3. 5351 is added to this table; d.d. is 3.1 tuck and 3.3 pike

A variety of issues in high school swimming and diving are left to the discretion of the State Association for determination in conformity with local demands and situations. In California, these determinations are made by the Section Commissioners’ offices. The rules where such local determination is possible include Rules 3-1-2(d), 3-2-2-NOTE, 5-1-1-NOTE, 5-1-3, 9-4-1 NOTE, and 9-4-6-NOTE.

Under CIF State By-Laws, Art. 5, (500-C-2), exhibition competition is NOT permitted. See Rule 3-2-1(a).

Diving is one of the events of the swimming/diving program in high school competition. Unfortunately, too many schools have, either consciously or by default, "eliminated" diving as part of their competitive aquatics program. However, under NFHS rules, there is really only one justification for this decision, and that is inadequate water depth (see p. 32). Other than for that reason, schools should be conducting diving as part of their competitive program. Penalties 1 and 3 on p. 32 outline the consequences of failure to do so.

There are, of course, legitimate situations where diving cannot be conducted because of equipment failure. Those situations are also discussed on p. 32. The usual consequence of equipment failure is that the visiting teams are awarded points without having to dive, while the host team receives no points

Now that the requirement that each swimmer, in the 500 yard/meter freestyle, have a human lap counter operating a lap counting system has been rescinded, it is especially critical that officials are aware of their responsibilities for this event. Without the presence (and assistance) of the lap counting device and operator, the meet referee must now personally employ a process to assure that each swimmer completes the required distance for this event. NFHS rules (Rule 4-8-2) designate the head timer on each lane as the one responsible for keeping this record; reliance on inattentive student timers may not be wise. It is strongly recommended that each official develop a method to track accurately each swimmer’s progress and to assure that all swimmers in each heat have completed the required distance.

Note that the host school must still provide the lap counting system for each occupied lane, whether there is an operator or not (Rule 2-7-6). "Aiding the swimmer" (see Penalty section for this rule) refers to physical assistance only. Providing interval times or verbal encouragement is NOT a violation.

The recall rope, if used, may be located at any point 42 feet or further from the starting end. A recall rope is not required; a recall device is an acceptable alternative. Such a device could include the same device used by the starter to start the races; for example, repetitive sounding of the beeper, or firing of an additional shot if a pistol is used. A SAFETY WARNING: If a recall rope is used, please be sure that operators are properly instructed about the safe use of the rope. Serious injuries can result to swimmers if the rope is quickly tightened while swimmers are near it.

NFHS swimming/diving rules do not address the matter of the recent fashion developments in our sport, namely, the "full body" suit. These suits, in any of their various manifestations, are permitted by the NFHS rules and may be worn by CIF competitors unless the Section Commissioner determines otherwise. Please remember that, despite their full-body coverage, only one manufacturer’s logo of 2.25 square inches is permitted.

The prohibition on "taunting" is an important aspect of the preservation of a proper competitive atmosphere. Athletes, coaches, officials and administrators should be attentive to inappropriate situations and enforce fully the rule provisions that are designed to maintain a proper environment. See especially Rule 3-5-1 and accompanying Situations (pp. 53-54). Rigorous enforcement of good sportsmanship is a critical part of all officials’ and administrators’ responsibilities in the CIF.

In backstroke, butterfly and freestyle, the head of the swimmer must break the surface of the water within 15 meters of the start and each turn. (See Rule 8-2-1-e, 8-2-3-f and 8-2-4-d). Once that requirement has been met, the swimmer may re-submerge and continue swimming underwater.

In non-championship meets (9-4-6), the voluntary dive is to be selected from the group for that week of competition. The d.d. for that dive shall be its actual d.d., up to a maximum of 1.8. Example: In the first week of competition, a diver selects 101 Pike as the voluntary dive; the d.d. is 1.3 for that dive. If the diver chooses 104 Pike as the voluntary dive, the d.d. will be 1.8, even though a higher d.d. is listed.

In championship meets (9-4-1): Five voluntary dives are performed. The total of the five degrees of difficulty of these dives may not exceed 9.0. The dive number and d.d. of each voluntary dive are to be circled on the entry/score sheet (Rule 9-3-4). In the event that a diver submits a list of voluntary dives that exceeds the 9.0 total d.d., and the error is not discovered until the event is underway, the dive that puts the diver over the 9.0 total (most likely the final voluntary dive on the list) will be declared failed. This penalty is now specified as part of the rule (Rule 9-4-1 Penalty 1, p. 34).

In championship meets, divers can now be disqualified for three additional violations – see Rule 9-4-1 Penalty 2, p. 34. These violations should be detected at the pre-event review of the entry sheets. Disqualification for these errors should be imposed with utmost caution, given the expectation that pre-event review will be carefully conducted. These three are in addition to those causes listed on p. 40.

10. Rule 9-5-5 Balks

When a balk occurs, it is to be declared by the referee BEFORE the announcer calls for the scores. The assumption is that each judge will then reduce his/her award by 2 points before displaying that award.

As a matter of safety, the Guidelines For Meet Warm Up (see pp. 23-24) should be implemented for ALL meets – small dual meets as well as large invitational or championship meets. Even though meet officials arrive during or even after warm-up periods, they should be attentive to whether meet hosts are implementing these very important safety guidelines. Avoiding the all-too-frequent injuries that occur during warm-up should be a priority for coaches and school/meet administrators.

Revised 01-10-02