Saturday, June 18, 2016

Quote of the Day


All the president is, is a glorified public relations
man who spends his time flattering, kissing,
and kicking people to get them to do what
they are supposed to do anyway.


Harry S. Truman

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Rules


This week, USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee Chair Jay Thomas sent out this info:

The NCAA and NFHS have adopted rules which permit the use of tape under certain circumstances.

There now appears to be some confusion regarding the application of USA Swimming Rule 102.8.1E.

The following interpretation of 102.8.1.E is presented to provide clarity to the use of tape in USA Swimming competitions.

Article 102.8.1E states in part, …“Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by the Referee.”

Common sense should prevail. The following uses of tape are generally permitted in competition:

1. Wound protection and closure. Band-Aids, dressings, ”Butterfly” type, etc. are normally permitted with no advanced notification to the Referee. When the tape to hold a dressing in place completely circles a major limb or the dressing is exceptionally large in size, advanced notification to the Referee is recommended.

2. Taping of fingers or toes. “Buddy Taping” no more than two (2) injured fingers or toes together should be permitted. Advanced notification to the Referee is recommended.

3. Tape to secure medical alert bracelets and pendants, religious objects, etc. should be permitted. Advanced notification to the Referee is recommended.

4. Tape to secure medical devices. Example – insulin pumps, ostomy bags, etc. should be permitted.

Advanced notification to the Referee is required.

The following uses of tape are not permitted in competition – irrespective of whether a Doctor’s note has been presented.

1. Elastic Therapeutic Tape is never permitted.
2. Kinesio Taping is never permitted.
3. Any other taping intentioned to provide compression or support to muscles, ligaments, tendons or joints (except as stated above) is never permitted.


Yes, "common sense should prevail," but we all know it doesn't always prevail...

Next, an "in case you missed it" note on a some NFHS rules changes released in April.  This from Sandy Searcy:

 At its March 21-23 meeting in Indianapolis, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee approved a change to the freestyle portion of the individual medley and medley relay as it relates to body position.

An addition to Rule 8-2-4c will read as follows: “The final leg of the individual medley and the medley relay requires the swimmer to be at or past vertical toward the breast before any stroke, kick or propulsive motion.”

This revision was one of several changes recommended by the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The committee also approved a change in the current practice of determining a final time when a touch pad malfunctions in a lane. Searcy said that research has shown that the current practice of calculating the average difference between the primary and backup timing systems, and adjusting the backup time in the malfunctioning lane(s), does not improve the accuracy of the times.

“Using the backup time without adjustment results in a final time that is just as accurate and avoids a mathematical exercise which is both time-consuming and difficult to perform during a meet,” Searcy said.

In addition, the committee defined a deck change as “changing, in whole or in part, into or out of a swimsuit when wearing just one suit in an area other than a permanent or temporary locker room, bathroom, changing room or other space designated for changing purposes.” Beginning with the 2016-17 season, any team personnel/competitor involved in “deck changing” will be assessed a penalty for unsporting conduct, which would disqualify an individual from further participation in a meet.

In diving, the committee approved two rules changes and made three revisions in the official diving chart. In an effort to minimize risk, the committee ruled that a dive is failed if, in the diving referee’s opinion, the diver “performs an additional bounce(s) on the end of the board after the culminating hurdle.”

“The forward approach shall begin with not less than three steps and finish with a hurdle, defined as a jump off one foot to a landing on both feet at the end of the board,” Searcy said. “The diver should not be permitted to perform an additional bounce just prior to the takeoff.”

In Rule 9-5-5, the committee added clarity and consistency to the balk call, requiring a diver to actually commence, then stop the dive.

In the official listing of approved dives, the committee eliminated the Flying Back 1 SS (212) and the Flying Reverse SS (312), and added a new dive – the Forward 2 SS 1 Twist – with degrees of difficulty of 2.6 (tuck) and 2.7 (pike). 

Easy to see why a high school "Swimming" rule book would require but a small fraction of the paper used for our "Swimming & Diving" one...

Quote of the Day


Politics is the gentle art of getting votes
from the poor and campaign funds
from the rich by promising to
protect each from the other.

via Oklahoma Historical Society

Oscar Ameringer

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Quote of the Day


I got on the merry-go-round,
kiddo, and I never got off.

via Pinterest
Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Quote of the Day


I always tell kids, you have two
eyes and one mouth.  Keep
two open and one closed.

via SportsNet

Gordon "Gordie" Howe

Wednesday, June 08, 2016

Quote of the Day


...we have to pass the bill so that
you can find out what's in it...

via Tory Daily

Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi

Saturday, June 04, 2016

Quote of the Day


It's a lack of faith that makes people afraid of
meeting challenges, and I believe in myself.

via Pittsburgh Courier

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.,
a.k.a. Muhammad Ali

Friday, June 03, 2016

Quote of the Day


The price one pays for pursuing any
profession or calling is an intimate
knowledge of its ugly side.

via IndieWire

James Arthur Baldwin

Thursday, June 02, 2016

Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Water Polo Anyone?


via USA Today

Road closures due to high water have made travel in south Texas miserable.  You can check your routes for problems like high water, wrecks, and construction here

If you're searching for the TISCA Academic All-State list, find it here

via Frisco ISD

Heard that Frisco ISD's Ronnie Rogers is retiring.  Ronnie's had a great coaching career.  Texas high school swimming is losing one of those really, really good guys that don't come along every day.

Two high school assistant jobs (Longview & Flour Bluff) were recently posted on the TISCA site here

This weekend's Longhorn Elite meet features some big names.  Links:

Psych Sheet

Parking Info

Timeline

The City of Cedar Hill needs a pool manager

Park Cities YMCA needs an aquatics coordinator

via NationStates

Didn't get that ambassadorship to Grand Fenwick?  If you didn't buy your way in with campaign contributions, you'll have to work for it.  Looking for that first rung on your way up the diplomatic ladder?  Start as a Pool Ambassador!  Info here

St. Anthony Catholic HS (San Antonio) needs a swim coach.  Contact Kevin Smisek at 210-832-5620

Leander HS needs a swim coach.  Contact Timothy Smith

Warren HS needs a swim coach.  Contact Bryan Dausin at 210-397-4260

Texas Gold needs an assistant coach

Blue Tide needs assistant coaches


Quote of the Day


No one forgets the truth;
they just get better at lying.

via SCREENPRISM

Richard Yates