Long Island Swimming Officials Association
Serving Long Island Swimmers and Divers for 65 years!
February 2022
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Let's see how this goes ...
If you read any of the national sports officiating monthly magazines - Referee, NFHS - or spend more than 10 minutes with Section or sports association leadership, there is endless discussion about the national shortages of sports officials.
"the officiating shortage had reached a crisis level across the country... A survey of state high school associations indicates that approximately 50,000 individuals have discontinued their service as high school officials since the 2018-19 season – the last full school year unaffected by the pandemic." (NFHS)
Type "shortage" in the search bar on the Referee.com site and there are six pages of articles on where (everywhere) and why there is a "critical shortage" in every sport.
But our microcosm - the LISOA - seems not to be yet so affected.
The publisher in Referee Magazine talks about "Officiating's Perfect Storm" and his top five causes - and here is why these may be mitigated for us.
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Lake of respect for officials - I believe that we still have the respect from our athletes, coaches, athletic directors, schools, Sections and spectators.
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Struggle for higher pay - we have our issues with our two Sections but we generally are compensated fairly and better that many.
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Physical assaults against officials - everyone does not always agree with our calls but our encounters from fans, coaches and competitors almost never escalate.
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Weak officials association - we do not leave you isolated - here, watch these videos at home - you are now on your own, trained. LISOA we foster camaraderie; chats, meetings, clinics, workshops. The comfort of getting together with others on the same mission.
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Warm Body Syndrome - as much as we can, we makes sure the best officials available are assigned. Those that have pride in their craft and take their time and get it right. We try to work with the officials that need more help.
"The key to getting and keeping sports officials is to make sport officiating a 'place to be'." (I have a list of individuals that want to join our association)
Thank you,
George Fleckenstein
president
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12 LISOA Members working at the NYS Boy's Swimming and Diving Championships
Six deck officials and six
support/administrative officials
Deck Officials
Bob Kersch
Cyna Buckley
Doug Virkus
Nelson Gonzalez
George Fleckenstein
Jeff Chu
Administrative
Peter Hugo, Meet Director
Mush Masters, Diving Coordinator
Laurette Tekverk, Diving Coordinator
Walter Olsewski, Scorer/Statistician
Chris Hugo, Announcer
George Amitrano, Computer Operator
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LISOA Calendar
Recognition Dinner/Banquet Meeting - March 14, 2022 - Domenico's of Levittown
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Things Every Diving Judge Should Know... |
... knowledge of the sport is essential. However, no person is born with it. It can be acquired by learning to dive under good instruction, studying the NFHS Rules Book and other texts/rules, participating in judging seminars, discussing the sport with knowledgeable persons, and most importantly, by observation in person and
by viewing videotapes, films, and other media.
A great deal can be learned about the sport by studying videos of all levels of diving and getting exposure to as many diving competitions as possible. No judge, however seasoned, should stop studying and observing. Even the real experts lose their “diving eye” after several months without contact with diving. It is very important to stay up to date on the rules and developments of this dynamic sport.
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Ethan Chang, Syosset
2022 LISOA Scholar-Athlete
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Ethan Chang is a 5-year varsity swimmer from the undefeated Syosset High School Boy’s Swimming and Diving team. This year's Captain, he has never lost a dual meet in his high school swimming career - 62 straight wins since January 2015
He has been a New York State qualifier in the 100 free, 200 free & 400 Free relay, every year since 10th grade. All-Long Island in both 400 & 200 freestyle relay in 2020-2021.
His academic achievements include: Member of the National Honor Society, Business & Spanish Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, PSAT National Merit Commended Scholar, and many other school activities. Ethan has a 1560 SAT Composite Score and 97 GPA.
An immigrant from China, he is an only child of a single parent since he was 4 years old, and he devoted much of his free time to helping his mother run her frozen yogurt store. Since he was in the 10th grade, he has privately tutored other students that have immigrated to the U.S. from China.
Ethan is waiting to hear from Dartmouth College, USC, University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis and Boston University with his intended major of Statistics/Biology.
Congratulations to an outstanding choice for our $1000.00 Scholar-Athlete award, thank you to the committee!
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SECTION XI SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP |
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THANK YOU WALTER GUSTAFSON for serving as the Section VIII photographer.
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2022 SECTION XI
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP
AWARD
WARD MELVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
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2022 OUTSTANDING COMPETITORS |
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Section VIII
NICHOLAS RHODES
South Side-Lynbrook
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Section XI
LIAM PRESTON
Miller Place
ALEX ZHANG
Huntington/Harborfields/Whitman
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SECTION VIII SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS |
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SECTION VIII
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP
AWARD
SOUTH SIDE-LYNBROOK
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Long Island Swimming Officials Association
Annual Recognition Dinner Banquet
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 14, 2022
Raffle Auction, Awards, 50/50 tar
No charge for LISOA members
$55.00 for spouses or guests
Please call Jane Reilly 516-541-1989 to let her know your intentions.
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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President:
George Fleckenstein
Vice President:
Nelson Gonzalez
Secretary:
Christine Duong
Treasurer:
Barbara Wendt
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Directors:
Doug Virkus
Larry Wachter
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Rules Interpreter:
Bob Kersch
Past President:
Frank Dowd
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OUR CHARTER MEMBERS (1957)
Charlie Schlegal
George Columbo
Jim McAllister
Dick Atwater
Jack Reilly
Frank Krayer
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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)
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