In Section VIII, some of the swim meets will be held virtually - one team swimming and diving in one venue and their opponent swimming and diving in a different venue. In some cases, two officials will be assigned to each location.
Probably more often, only one official will be assigned to each team/location. If you are officiating one location by yourself, you would serve as the referee, starter, stroke and turn judge, and diving referee. You would receive a one and a half meet fee.
The details of officiating a virtual meet are highlighted below.
VIRTUAL SWIMMING AND DIVING COMPETITION
The NFHS rules which govern high school swimming and diving competition assume that such competition will be “head-to-head” with ALL participants engaging in an environment that is identical for all and thus equitable to all. “Virtual” competition cannot provide such identical conditions, however. With that understanding, there are no NFHS rules provisions that would prohibit “virtual” competition when unique conditions, such as a pandemic, necessitate its use.
The following practices and suggestions are a compilation of guidance from the NFHS and NYSPHSAA to guide member schools in overseeing “virtual” swimming and diving competition.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Competition for each team/school involved should take place in a venue that meets all requirements of Rule 2 (Pool, Lanes, and Equipment Specifications) and Rule 9 (Diving Competition), with special emphasis on risk minimization.
• Competition should be officiated by qualified personnel of sufficient number (see Rule 4-1-3) to assure fair results at each location. The meet must be conducted under the supervision of a meet referee who is a duly certified NFHS or state association registered official. The official(s) may not be coaches of any team involved in the meet.
• All rules regarding athlete, participation and conduct should apply; technical rules for competition (Rules 8 and 9) should be enforced. Entries shall follow all NFHS rules for each event.
• The course must be the same at each site. All teams must compete in short course yards or short course meters.
• NYSPHSAA has determined its member schools should follow NISCA standards for All-America qualifications.
SWIMMING
• The NFHS suggests state associations consider whether a swimmer achieving a qualifying time from the “virtual” competition be permitted for any purposes other than deciding the outcome of the immediate “virtual” competition. NYSPHSAA has determined it will permit any qualifying times achieved during “virtual” competition may be used for postseason events. (Approved by NYSPHSAA Officers 11-16-20)
• NYSPHSAA has determined fully automatic timing should be used when available.
• State associations may permit competition to be conducted using manual watches or semiautomatic timed results. Fully automatic timing is the most equitable in a “virtual” situation, but some facilities may not be able to offer that environment. Be aware that it will not be possible for the meet referee or other official to perform an across-the-board place pick to serve as a “check” on the times from stop watches/buttons. Regardless, the same timing protocol should be used at all venues involved in the “virtual” competition. There should be no mixing of fully automatic timing, semi-automatic timing, or manual watches.
• The NFHS suggests state associations consider whether “breaks” in the competitive program will be permitted in addition to the required break following the 50-yard freestyle. State association may need to stipulate the pace of the meet and determine if extended pauses between events will be permitted. NYSPHSAA has determined it will permit breaks during the competitive program, as needed, in addition to the required break following the 50-yard freestyle however breaks for both teams must take place during the same points of the virtual meet. Example: If schools want a second break within the meet they must agree after what race the second break will occur.
• NYSPHSAA will follow NFHS rules pertaining to race configurations and diving order. Exhibition swimmers and divers will be permitted in a virtual meet but should be noted on entry cards.
• Lane Scoring – The home team’s pool will determine the number of lanes scored in the meet. If both coaches agree, teams may use the same number of lanes at each pool for scoring purposes.
DIVING
• The NFHS suggests state associations consider whether scores from the “virtual” competition be permitted for any purposes other than deciding the outcome of the immediate “virtual” competition. NYSPHSAA has determined it will permit any scores from “virtual” competition to be used for postseason events provided the 11 dive and 5 judges criteria are met.
• Divers will be judged by different sets of officials. NYSPHSAA has determined a minimum of two certified judges must be used at each school. Diving may be conducted with one judge at a site if a school cannot secure a certified judge, however, the school with just one judge will not score points during that virtual meet. (Approved by NYSPHSAA Officers 11-16-20)
