Video / Picture Reviews - Conduct

There have been a few instances of people offering video or photos to “help” correct rulings made at our Meets. By Rule (below) this is iinadmissible at any and all PtSL Swim Meets.

As I related in the False Starts Post, this is not a new happening. I have, from time to time, looked at such brought to me, after the situation has been settled, just out of curiosity. I have yet to see a video or a picture that proved the ruling incorrect. Many times I have asked to see the swimmer swim, again, after all is settled. Again, I have yet to see the swimmer swim correctly and be deserving of the disqualification.

From the Rule Book (which is basically the National High School Rule Book – tailored to what we do):

RULE 4    Officials and Their Duties
SECTION 1 AUTHORIZED OFFICIALS
ART. 3...Video equipment shall not be used to verify judging decisions made during the meet. This rule pertains to the use of video replay to dispute or actually judge a disqualification.

Please know: If a Rule has been misinturperted or applied incorrectly, we will fix that as quickly as possible. If you have a question about anything, you WILL NOT take that question to anyone but your Coach. You WILL NOT address or contact anyone working in any capacity at your Meet other than the your Coach. Your Coach will then take it to the Meet Director if they see fit. Any conduct or behavior other than that, you will become subject to removal from the Meet.

NOTE: The people that work at our Meets as Stroke Judges, work very hard and do a very hard job, very well. Our new system for entering Disqualifications (DQ) allows them to report a DQ directly to the system, which allows them to cover more swims. Contrary to some beliefs, they are not there just to pick on your swimmer. If a swimmer is not swimming the stroke as allowed by Rule, they are tasked with disqualifying that swim. This is as much a teaching moment, for the swimmer, as for any other reason. There is also not nearly enough people volunteering to help with this job. We are always in need of people to fill spots as Stroke Judges. So as long as you are sitting in the shade, instead of helping with the Meet, appreciate how these people are helping improve our League.

There is becoming an issue with pretty much no one checking Results and/or DQ's until after the Meet is over. We have worked very hard, well, Wyatt has, to have the System make Results available very soon after any Event is complete. It is exponencially easier to address and fix a issue while the Meet is still in progress, than it is hours afterwards. If fact, all Protests will be addressed within an hour of the completion of the Meet, by Rule. Point being, check the progress of the Meet on our website regularly during the Meet.

Your resposibility of your Conduct:

RULE 3   Team Personnel
SECTION 3  CONDUCT
ART. 1...No team personnel/competitor shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner.
This includes any act the meet director deems unsportsmanlike, including but not limited to, the following:
a. making insulting or derogatory remarks, gestures or acts including taunting;
NOTE; The League disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended to embarrass,
ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of relative ability,
race, religion, gender or national origin.
b. trying to influence or showing disgust with officials’ decisions;
c. interfering with meet officials in the performance of their duties.

Thank you for reading thru this and, if at any time, you do not feel these standards are not met, you are welcome to contact me.

Jeff - jeffreyd@atcjet.net

For the Coaches and Team Contacts: Reply to this Post is not required.