Swimming
and Diving Rules Change to Minimize Risk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Cynthia Doyle
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 28, 2003)
— The NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee made four rules changes during
its meeting April 13 and 14 in
Focusing on risk minimization, the committee added clarification to Rule 8, stating that swimmers shall step into the water feet-first for the start of any “in-water” event. This addition is necessary to reinforce the correct way to enter the pool.
“Over the past three years, the committee has continued to re-evaluate procedures that minimize risk of injury. This includes monitoring water depth, meet guidelines, swimming starts and water entry,” said Cynthia Doyle, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee.
Among other changes, Rule 4-3-1c was revised to delete the requirement of sounding a device “over the lane” of the lead swimmer when he or she is near the end of a race. The revisions still require a sounding device but do not specify where it should be sounded.
Other rules changes were also based
on the increased use of technology in judging and scoring. Rule
Along with swimming rules changes, the following changes in diving point values were added to reflect USA Diving’s degree of difficulty:
· 103A 2.0
· 104A 2.6
· 106B 3.2
· 304A 2.9
· 402A 2.0
· 404B 3.0
· 413B 2.9
· 5111C 1.6
The rules committee also discussed the monitoring of water depth. A survey will be distributed soon to state associations to examine water depth at point of entry during swimming starts. Measuring the point of entry is not a new concept, but one that swimming officials have used for years.
Swimming continues to be a popular high school sport for both boys and girls, as 231,916 students participate in 48 states — 141,218 girls and 90,698 boys.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: Bruce Howard or