Proposed changes to the rule book

 Proposed Amendments to the Rules and Regulations for consideration at the 2011 House of Delegates Meeting. 
    Follow the link below

http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1528&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en


Please send comments to me.

First Metro meet 42 days away

Top Eastern Officials on Olympic Team

Congratulations to Mr. Paul Memont of New England

 Swimming  and

Mr. Jim Sheehan of New Jersey Swimming .

Both  men are on the 2012 Olympic officials team

Paul will be part of the starter's team 

and Jim will be part of the referee's team

Paul has been a regular to Metro as part of the

Paul & Paul team perform evaluations and mentoring

our starters and referees to N2 and N3 certifications.

We wish Paul and Jim all the best.

End of Season update

    Thank you, to all of the

 Metropolitian Officials

 for the past year of growth.

The teams with the largest and recent growth are:

Patriots

Long Beach Aquatics

Three Village Swim CLub

The teams with the most officials are:

B& G Club Marlins  20

Condors 16

Long Island Aquatics Club 12

Thank You to the teams and coaches for supporting our goal of  360 officials.

 Now thinking about next season, just around the corner.

September 24 following the HOD meeting at Lehman College.

There will be a training and review sesssion for

 Meet Referees attendance is required.

Please contact Bruce Brooks for information.

Back Ground Checks BGC

The USA Swimming BGC are due by February 15, 2011. Only a few days away. Though you may have mixed feelings about sharing personal information online, there is no other way of doing it. USA Swimming is covering some of the cost where 19 counties charge high fees for access. Metro will cover the rest. Please talk to your area chairperson about reimbusment.

One must realize we as USA Swim members are responsible for the safety of swimmers while we are on deck.

Long Course Starts

This Saturday at LIAC the first session of 50 meter swimming.

My son Peter after swimming his first 100 meter freestyle said:" Dad, I thought the pool would never end." Well after years of walking the deck I agree with Peter.

With the start of long course comes a new approved swim suit list. Please go to USA swim site to volunteers to officials to rules and regulations.
New swimwear rules

FINA Updates List of Approved Suits effective 4/1/2010

Please review the letter from MR. Stratton under the title of

Approved Swimsuits for 2010

One day the suit issue will be behind us but not this year.

Have a great Long Course Season, the outdoor pools will be opening soon!

Swimmers with Disabilities

I am proud of Metro Swimming coaches and meet directors for the encouragement of swimmers with disabilities to swim in our meets. The coaches that spend countless hours working with and encouraging these swimmers are true heroes in my book.


So out of respect for the swimmers with disabilities it is our duty to know the rules and case studies.

Please review USA Swimming Rule book Article 105 Guidelines for officiating swimmers with a disability in USA Swimming meets.

Please go to the USA Swimming website then to Swimmers on the left Disability then to
USA Swimming Resources

There you will find very helpful information.
Please read:

Guide for Officials
Article 105 Case Studies
Hints for Starters


There is also the International Paralympic Committee Swimming website

ipc-swimming.org/Rules_Regulations/



I often say:" Never be surprised by what happens' at a swim meet and if you are don't show it"


As officials we should never be surprised by a swimmer. We must be ready to judge swimmers by the rules that are applicable to their disabilities.



Please remember to ask the question at your coaches meeting "are there swimmers that need help or have a disablity?" Also at the timers meeting inform them there may be a swimmer with special needs and a coach is allowed to assist the swimmer.



If you have had any situations that we can learn from please share them,so we could all be better prepared.

National Certification

All metro officials Congratulate Judy Kunze, Phil Paspalas and Mark Amodio for officiating at the Easter Zone meet April 1-3 and participating in the National Certification Program.




Judy re certified N3 in Stroke and Turn




Phil and Mark re certified N2 Stroke and Turn and started their Chief Judge (advance) training for N2.

Jamny Pfister the meet referee at Easter Zone was very gratefully that Metro officials attended and work so hard.



Also down south at the Sun Kiss meet in Charlotte NC. Mike Panzarino completed four Stoke and turn sessions for N3 and two sessions for chief judge advance.

To learn more about the USA Swimming Officials National Certification please visit the USA Swim site http://www.usaswimming.org/ Volunteers - officials- certification

You will find instructions on Officials Tracking System (OTS) and National N2 and N3 certification program.