Long Island Swimming Officials Association 
Serving Long Island Swimmers for 64 years! 
May 2021
Let's see how this goes ...

Last month I let you know about our New Board Member Orientation and the importance of all board members to be informed and up to speed on our procedures and processes.

Since it has been quite a while since most of you completed your New Officials Clinic, I would like to update you on how we currently train new officials.

From their invitation to participate in the course, we try to communicate the job of officiating, the expectations and the culture of our association. We want them to know from the start, that we expect them to understand and enforce the rules, the importance of professionalism on the deck, and participation in ongoing learning and training.

In addition to being knowledgeable with the rules and their consistent application, we also emphasize to them to:

  • Display a positive and respectful attitude.
  • Work with honesty and integrity.
  • Represent the LISOA in a responsible manner.
  • Perform your job to a reasonable, acceptable standard.
  • Maintain good attendance - BE ON TIME.
  • Always conduct yourself in a professional manner.
  • Follow our policies and procedures.

Thank you,
George Fleckenstein
president 
New York State
2022  Championships

March 4 & 5, 2022

SAVE THE DATE
As the premiere Swimming and Diving Association in New York State, we will again have the most officials participate in the State Championship - except for the host section.

The State Association will be providing a stipend (honorarium) to every official who works the meet. The amount paid to each individual will be determined and distributed to officials by our State Association.

The LISOA budget and contributions will provide funds toward:
  • Transportation
  • Lodging - 2 nights
  • Meals
  • State Championship Officiating Shirt

A sign-up form will be forthcoming. Join us for the pinnacle event of the Boy's Swimming & Diving season!
Swimming and Diving Points of Emphasis - 2021-22
NFHS May 2021 

Responsibility of Official, Competitor and Lap Counter in Distance Events
When lap counter malfunctions occur (i.e., the lap counting device is inadvertently dropped into the water or an incorrect count is shown), it is the responsibility of the competitor to know the lap count and complete the prescribed distance. However, if the lap counter somehow aids the competitor, violates deck position or interferes with the competition, the competitor in that lane shall be disqualified. All competitors of the team in the race shall be disqualified if the lap counter enters the water in accordance with Rule 3, Article 4 and penalties. In the case of the starter sounding the warning device at an incorrect time, the referee has the authority to intervene. Swimmers may be instructed to swim additional distance to complete the race; if no other remedy is usable, the referee may order the race to be re-swum when there is obvious unfairness caused by outside factors. The competitor shall not be penalized for circumstances out of the competitor’s control.

Updating Diving Rules
Several rules pertaining to diving were updated, clarified, and enhanced to promote participation and risk minimization. Standing takeoffs are now permitted, which provides an opportunity for divers who are learning new skills to participate in the competitive environment earlier. This concept speaks to the NFHS education-based philosophy. Permitting use of temporary adhesives and promotion of diving warmup between sessions during championship meets minimizes risk to the competitor; clarification of protocol if the dive is announced incorrectly and provides the diver options for corrective action.

Suggested Meet Warm-Up Procedures
The NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee recommends schools follow the Meet Warm-up Procedures located on page 5 of the rules book. It is vitally important to review appropriate supervision protocol, safety suggestions, proper management of pace/sprint lanes, lane selection and other pertinent issues to aid in organizing warmups to ensure a safe, healthy and sportsmanlike environment. It is important each school maintains an established warm-up procedure that focuses on risk minimization and communicates that procedure to visiting schools/teams. Coaches should insist that their athletes always follow the rules and site procedures for warm-ups to provide an environment free of unnecessary injuries. This includes lane occupancy and number of athletes in the water at one time.
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Things Every Diving Judge Should Know...

... it is important to hear the announcer read the dive and dive description in order to develop a mental picture of the dive to be completed. Begin judging the dive when the starting position has been established and do not stop judging the dive until the diver has passed below the surface of the water.

Once the dive is completed, select a score quickly without consulting another diving judge. If there is an error in a score read by the announcer, immediately bring it to the attention of the diving referee.

The diving referee determines failed and unsatisfactory dives. An unsatisfactory dive results in a maximum score of 2 points, but that does not mean that a judge is obligated to show a score of 2 points, especially if there were deficiencies requiring mandatory deductions or deficiencies in other elements of the dive.

A score of 0 can be shown without the dive having been declared a failed dive and the score itself would not mean that the dive would be considered a failed dive.
SECTION VIII VIRTUAL FEE PAYMENT APPEAL

Our second and final appeal for the 1 1/2 fee payment for one official working a Virtual Swimming and Diving meet was denied without comment.
NFHS Swimming and Diving 2021 test dates:
                                                     August 1- September 19
 
November 1- November 14

Your Rules Book will me mailed to you before August 1.
SWIMMERS THAT WE OFFICIATED

Newsday recently highlighted Max Krackow in a "Valedictorians - 10 years later" series. Max was our 2011 LISOA Scholar-Athlete recipient as a Bellmore Merrick swimmer. He went on to swim at Swarthmore is now a research scientist in New Hampshire.


As a middle school student, Andrew Capobianco spent two years on Wantagh’s varsity swim team before moving to North Carolina. As a seventh-grader, he broke a county record for an 11-dive competition, and then set another record the following year. He won Nassau County championships both years.

Last month he qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the men’s synchronized 3 meter springboard competition to represent the U.S. in that Olympic event this summer in Tokyo.
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memorial_day.jpg
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life:
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.
2021 RECOGNITIONS
MEMBER OF THE YEAR

CYNA BUCKLEY
TEAM PLAYER AWARD

JANE REILLY
RISING STAR AWARD

CHRISTAIN SEIFERT
ROCK STAR ROOKIE

CHRISTINE DUONG
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU!
How To Develop The Mental Skills to Thrive as an Official
Referee Magazine May 2021

Do you have the mental skills to become one of the top officials in your sport? Are you confident, motivated and do you know how to recognize and manage stress? This is the intangible side of officiating, and knowing how to manage your “mental game” can be the key to your success.

As a group, sports officials tend to be very confident; and we have to be, because we are called on to make split-second decisions under tremendous pressure that could potentially affect the outcome of the games we are officiating.

Experience, knowledge, preparation, social support and having a good mentor are some of the key factors that help officials gain confidence.
Rainbow Three Bean Salad
Savory Magazine
This easy and colorful side dish combines fresh green beans with pantry staples like canned kidney beans and chickpeas.
Ingredients
  • 1 (12 oz) bag steam-in-bag trimmed fresh green beans
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 4 medium radishes
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 3 tbsp chopped red onion
  • 1 (15.5 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Steps
  1. Cook the green beans in the microwave according to package directions. Drain in colander and rinse with water to cool. Drain well. Cut into 1-inch lengths.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, and mustard. Season with salt. Chop the radishes. Remove seeds from the bell peppers and chop.
  3. To bowl with vinaigrette, add radishes, bell peppers, onion, kidney beans, and chickpeas, along with green beans. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
LISOA BBQ PICNIC

If you would like to bring something, you can bring your own lawn chair.
The primary role of the official is to ensure fair competition which is conducted in a positive, safe and healthy environment and that actions of the competitors, coaches and other team personnel are in compliance with the rules.
The purpose and goals of the LISOA and its members shall be to:  
Officiate all meets in a competent and professional manner.
Have its members actively work to improve interscholastic swimming and diving officiating.
Provide a consistent interpretation and administration of interscholastic swimming and diving rules.
Service and collaborate with the swimming and diving community for the improvement of swimming and diving.
The official must establish the best possible competitive climate for fair competition with the attention on the athletes, rather than on the official. The conduct of each official affects the public’s attitude toward all officials. Therefore, every official must uphold the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession.
OUR OFFICERS
President:
George Fleckenstein
Vice President:
Nelson Gonzalez
Secretary:
Christine Duong
Treasurer:
Barbara Wendt
Directors:
Doug Virkus
Larry Wachter
Rules Interpreter:
Bob Kersch
Past President:
Frank Dowd
OUR CHARTER MEMBERS (1957)

Charlie Schlegal
George Columbo
Jim McAllister
Dick Atwater
Jack Reilly
Frank Krayer

NYSCSO Distinguished Service Award Members

Laurette Tekverk (2020)
Jim McAllister (2019)
Doug Virkus (2011)
Mush Masters (2008)
Pete Moeschen (2004)
Stan Adler (1993)
Bob Kersch (1990)

liswimofficials.com