Butler County Swim League
RULES

Butler County Swim League Rules (updated March 2012)

I.    Introduction

II.   Individual Competitor

A.   Eligibility Requirement

B.   Age Group

C.   Entries

D.   Rule Violations

III.   Diving Dual Meet

A.   Schedule

B.   Entries

C.   General Competition

D.   Dual Meet Judging

E.   Awards

F.   Team Scoring

IV.   Diving Championship Competition

A.   Date/Host

B.   Eligibility

C.   Entries

D.   Fees

E.   General Championship Competition

F.   Awards/Scoring

V.   Swimming Dual Meet

A.   Schedule

B.   Entries

C.   General Competition

D.   Awards / Scoring

VI.   Swimming Championships Competition

A.   Date/Host

B.   Eligibility

C.   Entries

D.   Fees

E.   General Championship Competition

F.   Awards / Scoring

 

I.  Introduction

A.   All rules shall be governed by the most current USA Swimming and diving rules and regulations book, except where superseded by the Butler County Swim League, hereinafter referred to as BCSL.  (6/07)

B.   The BCSL shall be made up of 8 teams in the Butler County surrounding area: The Elks, Hy-Crest, New London, Monroe Wildwood, Oxford, Pleasant Run Farms, Rolling Hills, and Forest Hills. 05/14

C.   Government of the BCSL shall be the responsibility of representatives provide by each team. Their objectives shall be to review and/or update the BCSL rules and regulations and to attend BCSL meetings when required.

D.   Only Team representatives, who meet prior the BCSL Coaches Meeting (prior to the start of each season), can make rule changes. 09/82

E.   Any rule and/or regulation shall remain in effect for a minimum of three (3) years. 04/84

F.   BCSL dues will be $140.00 per team, payable to the BCSL prior to the beginning of each season. (05/09)

G.   Dues will be used for purchasing Diving and Swimming handbooks, as well as for renting computer, timing, and scoring equipment used at championships.

H.   It is mandatory that host teams conduct any meet in such a manner that all competitors and/or teams receive equal treatment in all aspect of the meet. The referee has the responsibility to see that such equality occurs. 03/87

I.   Team rosters, which include member names and birth dates, should be turned into the BCSL president by July 1st of each season. 04/84

J.   Any vandalism done by members of any team may cause the team to be disqualified from any duel and/or championship meet. That team will be assessed damage charges. Damage assessment is the responsibility of the host team.

II.   Individual Competitor

A.   Eligibility Requirements

1.   All competitors must be a member of his/her club and be in “good standing” before they can represent that club.

2.   A competitor may not represent more than one BCSL team in the same season.

3.   All competitors must compete in two scheduled BCSL dual meets to be eligible for the BCSL Championships.

i.   Exhibition diving/swimming will count as an entered event for Championship eligibility requirement.

4.   A competitor may not wear or use any device to help his/her speed and/or buoyancy in any competition.

B.   Age Group

1.    Age group placement shall be determined by his/her age as of June 1st

i.   A swimmer must be in or just out of high school to be eligible. (5/15)

2.   Diving age groups are: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18.

i.   A diver may move up one age group to compete in duel meets only

3.   Swimming age groups are. 6 and under, 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15 and Over. (5/15)

a.   For dual meets: a swimmer may move up one age group to compete in individual event(s), but may only compete in that age group the entire meet with these exceptions:

i.   For dual meets: a swimmer may move up one age group to fill in relay event (s). That swimmer then may move back down to swim in his/her own age group events.

ii.   6 and under swimmers may also swim the 8 and under events, including freestyle and backstroke.

iii.   8 and under swimmers may swim the 9-10 I.M. events, and the 13-14 swimmers may swim the 200 freestyle, then move back to his/her own age group.

b.   For championships meets: a swimmer must swim in his/her individual age group events. He/she may not move up an age group for individual events except as follows:

i.   A swimmer may move up one age group to fill in a relay event. That swimmer may move back down to his/her age group events.

ii.   6 and under swimmers may swim in the 8 and under events, including freestyle and backstroke. That swimmer may move back down to his/her age group events.

iii.  8 and under swimmer may swim the 9-10 IM, and 13-14 swimmers may swim the 200 freestyle. That swimmer may move back down to his/her age group events.

C.   Entries

1.    A diver may only compete in one diving age group event. (Exhibition diving counts as an event)

2.   A swimmer may swim in 4 events, which includes relays and exhibition events.

a.   A swimmer on a team, which placed lower than 5th in the pervious year’s championship, may swim in 5 events, which include relays and exhibition events.

D.   Rule Violations

1.   A diver/swimmer that competes in more events than allowed will be disqualified from extra events(s) and from further competition.

2.   A competitor and/or coach who purposely violate any BCSL rule(s) and/or regulation(s) will be subject to personal suspension.

a.   Personal suspension shall be from the time the offense took place through the completion of the BCSL championship meet the following year.

3.   Any team purposely violating any BCSL rule(s) and/or regulation(s) will be placed on probation.

a.   Probation is at the discretion of the BCSL team representatives.

4.   “Shaving down” at any BCSL venue is not allowed and violators are subject to suspension from the league.

5.   All BCSL violations are to be reviewed by the BCSL team representatives, and any decision is final.

III.   Diving – Dual Meet

A.   Schedule

1.   Each team with divers must use the schedule provided by the BCSL.

2.   Warm-ups shall be at 4:30 for the host team and 5:00 for the visitors. The meet will start at 5:30. (5/09)

3.   A no-show will count as a forfeit (11/00) and the responsible team will pay a $100 fine to the BCSL.  BCSL will then pay the host team $100 to cover any costs of the duel meet (5/11).

4.   Canceling due to weather is at the discretion of the host team meet director/referee after both teams show up at the host pool. The meet should be rescheduled before the Diving Championship Meet.

5.   The Diving dual meet will be completed no later than 7:00 PM.  Any age groups that have not completed by 7:00 can be rescheduled.  Date to be agreed upon by both teams.

B.   Entries

1.   Each team may enter 3 divers and 2 exhibition divers per event.

C.   General Competition

1.   Only 1-meter springboard and divers listed in the USA Diving rulebook will be permitted in competition.

a.   The visiting team has the choice of alternate positions (1, 3, 5 or 2, 4, 6) in each age group.

b.   Each team has the choice of their positions.

2.   Diving sheets must be turned in fifteen minutes prior to the 5:30 start time.
The diving referee shall control this deadline.

a.   Late entries could result in a ten-point deduction from the offending team’s score.

b.   A thirty-minute delay will result in forfeiture.

3.   All age groups shall perform the following dives in the order listed, and all voluntary dives shall have a degree of difficulty of 2.0 (a voluntary dives is any dive chosen by the diver).

a.   10 and under age groups – 3 dives – one voluntary and 2 optional dives.

b.   11-18 – 4 dives -one voluntary dive and 3 optional dives.

4.   No dive shall be repeated. A dive with the same number, different position will be considered the same dive. Optional dive from the same category will not be allowed.

a.   A position of a dive may be changed after the sheets have been turned in and/or while diver is on the board. DD must be of lower dive.

5.   The cumulative scores of all diving rounds in each event shall determine order of finish of each age group event.

D.   Dual Meet Judging

1.   The head coach of each team shall judge the dual diving meet.

2.   To get the final dive award, the total of the 2 judge’s scores will be multiplied by 1.5.

E.   Awards

1.   The host team will provide ribbons for first, second, and third places for each age group under the age of 13. Ribbons for the 13-14 and 15 and over age group will be awarded at the discretion of the host team. (5/15)

F.   Team Scoring

1.   Scoring shall be 5-3-1 per event. Exhibition will not count for scoring.

2.   The score will be announced immediately after the diving competition. The team with the greatest number of points shall be declared the diving competition winner.

3.   Scores of both diving and swimming competitions will be combined at the end of all competition. The team with the highest number of points shall be declared the winner of the dual meet.

4.   When two or more divers tie for an place, the award/points shall be as follows:

a.   Duplicate awards shall be given to each diver.

b.   Points shall be added together and divided by the number of places tied.

IV.   Diving Championship Meet

A.   Date/Host Championship Meet

1.   Championships will be held on the Monday before swimming championships.

2.   The Host team will be on a rotating basis between the BCSL diving teams and will be BCSL controlled.

3.   Any financial responsibilities, not controlled by the BCSL, regarding general finances of the meet will be the responsibility of the Host team.

4.   The BCSL will take responsibility to provide outside judges for diving championships.  The League has approved a payment to some or all of the judges if necessary to acquire their participation.

B.   Eligibility Championship Meet

1.   All Divers must have participated in 1 (or more) dual BCSL dive meet and 1 other BCSL dive meet including the Elks Dive Invitational or another dive meet hosted by a BCSL team.  (5/13)

C.   Entries – Championship Meet

1.   There is no limit on the number of entries per team, but the names of all divers must be turned into the Host team to be entered in the Championship meet.

a.   Entry dates:

·         Diver Names due 5pm the Sunday BEFORE Championships

·         Diver Entries due 1 hour after assigned warm-up session

·         $100 Fine issued for ANY entries turned in past the above deadlines.  Payment made to BCSL, paid by either the coach or the club (club decision)  (5-11)

b.   Diver must dive in his/her own age group.

c.   A random draw will determine the order for each Age Group in the preliminary rounds.

D.   Fees – Championship Meet

1.   Each team will be assessed $5.00 for each name turned in, payable to the BCSL.

2.   The fees will be used for the Championship awards and other BCSL expenses.

E.   General Championship Competition – Championship Meet

1.   Preliminary and final rounds of events will be conducted.

2.   Only the one-meter springboard and dives listed in the USA Swimming and Diving Rules and Regulations book will be permitted in the competition.

3.   The BCSL will take responsibility to provide outside judges for diving championships. The League has approved a payment to some or all of the judges if necessary to acquire their participation.

a.   The referee and assistant referee shall be randomly drawn for each Age Group event from the participating judges. They will sit on opposite sides.

b.   The referee and assistant referee must agree on a potential failed dive. If they do not agree, the dive will be scored by each judge’s discretion.

4.   Age groups shall perform the following dives in the order listed. All voluntary dives will have a Degree of Difficulty of 2.0.

a.   10 and Under Age Groups will perform three (3) dives – One voluntary and two optional dives.

b.   11- 12 Age Group will perform four (4) dives – Two voluntary dives and two optional dives.

c.   13-14 and 15-18 Age Groups will perform five (5) dives – Two voluntary and three optional dives.

5.   No dive shall be repeated. A dive with the same number, regardless of position, will be considered the same dive. Optional dives from the same category will not be allowed.

a.   The position of a dive may be changed after sheets have been turned in and/or while the diver is on the board.

6.   In the preliminary rounds, the cumulative scores of those rounds will determine the order of finish in each Age Group. The top six (6) divers of each Age Group will advance to the Championship final round.

7.   The same Age Group order of dives must be used in the Championship rounds, but the dives themselves may be changed.

8.   The Order of finish in each Age Group, after the Championship round, will be determined by adding the cumulative scores of both the preliminary round and the Championship round.

F.   Awards/Scoring – Championship Meet

1.   The BCSL will award medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and ribbons for 4th, 5th, and 6th place in each Age group.

2.   The BCSL will award plaques for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. The first place team will also receive a traveling plaque.

3.   Scoring per Age Group event shall be 7-5-4-3-2-1 and the cumulative score of each Age Group event shall determine the order of finish of each team.

4.   When two or more divers and/or teams tie for any place, the place will be awarded as follows:

a.   Duplicate awards will be given to each tied diver and/or team.

b.   Place points will be added together and divided by the number of places tied.

V.   Swimming Dual Meet

A.   Schedule

1.   Each team must use the schedule of meets provided by the BCSL. The visiting team must provided one stroke judge, one turn judge, and four timers.

2.   The host team will have fifteen-minute warm-up, just after the diving competition has been completed. The visiting team will then have fifteen-minute warm-up.  Warm-up will begin no earlier than 6:30 for the away team.

a.   If the meet does not have diving, the host teams will warm-up at 6:00 PM and the visiting team will warm-up at 6:15 PM and the meet will start at 6:30 PM.

3.   A no-show will count as a forfeit (11/00) and the responsible team will be placed on probation for one year and pay a $100 fine to the BCSL.  BCSL will then pay the host team $100 to cover any costs of the duel meet(5/11).

4.   Canceling a meet due to weather is at the discretion of the host team referee after both teams have arrived at the host pool. The meet should be rescheduled before the Championship meet.

B.   Entries

1.   Each team may enter three (3) swimmers/relays per event, as well as three (3) exhibition swimmers/relays per event. There is no heat swimming. With the exception of:

a.   If a team cannot fill the exhibition heat with three (3) swimmers, the opposing team may use a lane if agreed upon by both coaches.

b.   Each team will provide its own clerk of course. Exhibition slips should be of different color of the competition slips.

c.   Coaches must turn in entry line up to host team by 2pm on meet day using Meet Manager (5/11). All entries must have the swimmers name, age group, event, event number, and team on them.

d.   Host team should print out a complete heat sheet for starter and referee to use during the meet(5/11).

e.   If a pool has less than six (6) lanes, each team may only enter two (2) swimmers/relays and only two (2) exhibition swimmers/relays.

f.   Exhibition swimming will count as event entries and will count for championship eligibility.

C.   General Competition

1.   The order of events provided by the BCSL must be used. With the exception of:

a.   If the freestyle relay is to be swum, the coaches may agree to swim this event in the Medley Relay spot.

2.   The visiting team has the odd numbered lanes for competition.

3.   Combing events is allowed by the agreement of both coaches, but scratching events, is not allowed if there is at least one competitor in the event.

4.   Only the medley or freestyle relay events are required at duel meets, but both may be swum if both coaches agree prior to the meet.

a.   The visiting coach must contact the host team’s coach prior to their scheduled meet, usually the morning of or the day before, for relay agreement. A disagreement will cause the medley relay to be swum.

5.   Prior to July 1st, NO swimmer 12 or under nor any swimmer of any age who is obviously inexperienced be disqualified (DQ’d) for stroke/turn violations prior to July 1st. These swimmers will receive WARNINGS only. Officials will use WARNING slips and present these to the coach/coaches during or immediately after the meet. As of July 1st, all events to be officiated strictly by the USA Swimming rules.

a.   Exception to the rule: Flagrant violations or violations which obviously present an unfair advantage to the swimmer may result in disqualification.

6.   The referee/assistant referee shall judge the order of finish of each swimming event.  Watch times will only be used for official records of individual performance and will not have ANY impact on the official order of finish. The Referee and/or designees decisions are not open to discussion and will remain part of the official record of the meet. In the event where placement can not be determined, the swimmers will be deemed to have tied and each will be awarded the same placement.

7.   The official time of each competitor shall be determined by the average of two watches used in his/her lane. Thousandths of a second will be dropped with no rounding.

a.   Each lane will have two timers. One of the timers in each lane must be from the visiting team. The host team will provide a back-up timer. (5/15)

D.   Awards / Scoring

1.   The host team will provided ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place per each age group under the age of 13 in individual events. Ribbons will also be awarded to the first place in relay events for each age group under the age of 13. Ribbons for the 13-14 and 15 and over age groups will be awarded at the discretion of the host team. (5/15)

2.   Scoring per age group will be as follows:

a.   Relays will receive seven (7) points for first place.

b.   Individual events will be five (5) points for first place, three (3) points for second place, and one (1) point for third place.

c.   Exhibition events do not count for scoring.

3.   When two or more competitors/teams tie for any place, the awards/points for the place(s) will be as follows:

a.   Duplicate awards will be given to each competitor/relay for the place(s) involved.

b.   The points for all places involved in the tie shall be divided equally among the tying competitors.

4.   The team with the greatest number of points shall be declared the winner of the swimming competition and the score shall be announced immediately.

5.   Scores of both the diving and swimming results will be combined and the team with the greatest number of points shall be declared the winner of the duel meet. That score shall be announced immediately.

6.   A copy of the meet results must be given to the visiting team’s coach after announcing the results.

VI.   Swimming Championship Meet

A.   Date/Host

1.   Championships are held on the 4th Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of July (set by BCSL).

Preliminary Competition: Prelims will be held the 4th Wednesday of July. In the event of “rain-out” conditions, any portion of preliminary competition not completed on Wednesday will be moved to Thursday (the Championship Meet Committee will be responsible for reaching a decision on when to enforce the rain-out policy.) If prelims cannot take place due to inclement weather on Wednesday or Thursday, then “timed finals” will be used on Friday for any event that was not swum during prelims.

Finals: Finals will be held the 4th Thursday of July. In the event that preliminary competition has been delayed and must be completed on this day, then finals will take place on the 4th Friday of July. In the event that finals competition cannot take place due to inclement weather conditions, preliminary results will be used for final placement. If finals competition is moved to Friday, coaches will be required to provide a scratch list (for Friday) for their team by a certain time agreed upon by the Championship Meet Committee. (Coaches should have this scratch list with them at the meet on Thursday.)
The Championship Meet Committee will agree on times for any rescheduled competition.(5-13)

2.   A Championship Meet committee will consist of the league president, the meet director, the Head Coach of the hosting team, the Head Coach of last year’s host team and the Head Coach of the following year’s host team.

3.   The host team will be on a rotating basis between all BCSL teams. The rotation will be controlled by the BCSL.

4.   Any financial responsibilities not controlled by the BCSL, regarding general finances or the meet, will be the responsibility of the host team.

5.   The spectator entrance fee into the Championship Meet, is set by the host team. This fee must be presented to the BCSL board for approval by July 1. The host team is required present their plan that ensures that spectators are will only be charged once for preliminary competition (5/15)

B.   Swimmer Eligibility

1.   Championships must have competed in two BCSL swimming duel meets in order to be eligible to compete.

a.   The two BCSL participation rule may be waved for Championship eligibility for any team with four (4) or more weather related cancellations prior to the Championship eligibility date.

C.   Entries

1.   There is not limit on the number of entries per team, per individual event, but each team may only enter one relay team in each relay event.

2.   A swimmer may be entered in a maximum of four events, including relays.  (The swimmer must swim the first four events entered.)

3.   Entries for Championships must be on Hy-Tek Team Manager Software which will be sent to designate Entry Chairperson. Entries will be controlled by the BCSL. Late entries will NOT be accepted.

·         Entries due at 5pm the Sunday BEFORE Championships

·         Coaches need to check and make any corrections of entries by 12pm the Monday BEFORE Championships.

·         A Psych Sheet will be sent to Coaches at 12pm Monday.  NO changes can be made after psych sheet is posted.

·         A $100 fine will be issued for ANY entries turned in past the above deadline. Payment made to BCSL paid by either the coach or the club (club decision) (5/11)

4.   Times must be submitted to the nearest hundredth of a second. The times must be achieved after June 1st of the current season and verification of times must be presented upon request. Composite times for relays are not permitted.

5.   A printed psych sheet showing all possible Championship event entries by times, will be given to all coaches before entries are due to the entry chairperson. A swimmer may not be entered in more than four events, including relays. (6/09)

D.   Fees

1.   Each team will be assessed a fee of $1.75 for each individual event entry and $6.00 for each relay entry, listed on the entry form and/or on the disk. (05/19)  A $1 per swimmer surcharge will also be added to the entry fees to help with costs of the Championship meet (5/11).  All entry fees are to be paid to BCSL.

2.   Fees will be used for championships awards and other BCSL business.

E.   General Championship Competition

1.   Preliminary and consolation/championship finals will be conducted in each individual event. Relays events will be swum as timed finals at championship finals.

2.   BCSL preliminary and duel/championship order of events will be used.

3.   The BCSL representatives will assign meet officials. Assignments should be from all the BCSL teams.

4.   The following rules will be strictly enforced for all championship events and the responsibility rests on the swimmer and/or coach to follow the rules.

5.   Clerk of Course will be used in the PM preliminary session on Wednesday for 8 & UN age groups. 9-10 PM Swimmers, Morning swimmers and all Final swimmers will report directly to the blocks.

a.   Failing to report and/or frequent tardiness as the swimmers event/heat is called to the blocks will result in the following:

i.   Preliminary events: A swimmer will be scratched from that event.

ii.   Consolation / championship Finals: The swimmer will be prohibited from participating in that event. (5/16)

6.   Preliminary order of finish shall be determined by the automatic timing system as set by the USA rules and regulation book.

7.   Twelve swimmers for each Age Group event will advance to the consolation/championship finals. These events be seeded based on the official preliminary results and as set by the USA rules. Places 7 – 12 will be the consolation heat and places 1- 6 will be the championship heat.

8.   Any disputes will be decided by the championship meet committee.

F.   Awards / Scoring

1.   When two or more competitors / teams tie for any place, the awards / points will be as follows:

a.   Duplicate awards will be given to each competitor, relay and team involved.

b.   The points for all places involved shall be divided equally among the competitors.

2.   Individual Awards:

a.   The heat winner in the preliminary rounds will receive a heat winner ribbon.

b.   Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age group event.

c.   Ribbons will be awarded for 4th through 12th place in each age group event.

d.   A league record chevron will be awarded for any league record tied or set.

i.  League records can only be established at the BCSL championship meet.

ii.  Swimmer (s) breaking their own record set in the preliminary rounds of the current championship will not be awarded a second chevron.

3.   Team Scoring

a.   Scoring data entered in the computer program will be as follows:

i.   Individual events: Final Heat: 16, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9 Consolation Heat: 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

ii.  Relay events scoring will be doubled the individual event points.

b.   The accumulated score will determine Age group order of finish, after the end of that age groups’ events.

c.   Team order of finish will be determined by the accumulated score, after the end of all scheduled championship events.

4.   Team Awards

a.   Teams finishing 1st , 2nd and 3rd   place will be awarded a team plaque.  (5/12)

b.   Each age group winner and runner-up will be awarded an Age group plaque.  (5/12)