Disqualifications (DQ's)

DO NOT speak to stroke and turn judges about disqualifications of any swimmer. DO NOT ask a S&T judge who they are disqualifying. The S&T judges write the DQ on a slip that is given to the runner, who is not to be asked or bothered by parents or swimmers. The slip is given to the head or deck ref for review and then input in the Meet Manager Program. When the results are posted a team coach or team representative has 30 minutes to submit a protest to the Meet Director to have reviewed by the Head or Deck Ref. Parents must go to the team coach or team representative to have the protest submitted, the Meet Manager or Head Ref will not discuss this with the parent or swimmer.

Duties at Swim Meetings

Every swimmer is required to go to the bullpen prior to the start block. The Bull Pen attendants and Announcer WILL NOT call for a missing swimmer, it is the responsibility of the parent and swimmer to ensure the swimmer is at the bullpen for their event. Exception to this rule - For the 10 and under swimmers if both parents or the only parent (two parents are not at the meet) is working a shift and the swimmer is not in the bullpen the Meet Director will usually give an announcement for the swimmer. We understand how kids can be. With that said though this is not a rule and is really up to the Meet Director if this practice is done. Swimmers need to be aware of what event is being swum and what events are in the bull pen.

Parents Working/Being at a Meeting

EVERY parent is required to be available to work a job on the pool deck. The swim meets DO NOT run with out the help of each parent. On this same note, every swimmer must have their parent or legal guardian at the meet with them. A swimmer that does not have a parent or legal guardian with them at the meet will be scratched from the meet or events up to when their parent or legal guardian arrives. This is a legal matter because no swim team and no compound will take responsibility of the swimmers if they have an accident. Saudi Arabia does not have the Good Samaritan laws like many western nations do so teams and compounds are not protected if they try to do the right thing that ends up in a negative situation. This is why each parent MUST sign a liability release for each team/compound prior to swimming on that compound or with the sponsoring team.

Lane Timing / Head Timing

This is no different than the S&T judges. Parents should not be asking their swimmer’s times. When a swimmer exits the pool the swimmer may ask and let you (the parent) know. Disrupting any meet official during the meet can result in your swimmer being disqualified or scratched from an event or the remainder of a meeting. Lane timers and Head timers have literally only seconds to get times written down before the next event starts. Just as you want your swimmer to be fairly timed with out the timer being distracted so to do all the other swimmers. Again, once results are posted team coaches or team reps have 30 minutes to protest a time. Time are written or taken (electronically) three ways and there are times mistakes are made and require correction; however, disrupting lane timers IS NOT the way to correct it.

Meet Director

The Meet Director is introduced at the beginning of each meet or shift. The Meet Director is the coordinator between all meet officials. Respect that and go to the Meet Director with questions, protests, issues and the Meet Director will make sure it is taken to the appropriate meet official and give you an answer back.

Last note for everyone old and new

Remember swimming is for our children. We all want them to do their best and it is hard to see our kids get a DQ or a NS because they were not paying attention to the announcer. Please do not get mad at Meet officials for the VOLUNTEERING they are doing to promote the sport and ensure all of our kids have fun and receive a fair competition. Not a single meet official is paid in this league. Team Commissioners, board members, AFSA board members, judges, timers, etc… are all volunteers and many of you fill these jobs. Please do not yell at them. Every Stroke and Turn judge have gone to various workshops given or training on their own time and many times at their own expense to keep up on the most current rules and changes. The Prime rule all judges and meet officials live by is GIVE THE SWIMMER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT. Every official does. DQs are not given because a judge thinks they might have seen something, they are given because they did see an infraction with their eyes. Judges miss many infractions that others see because they have to give each swimmer the same amount of review time as each other swimmer. Judges cannot stare at the best swimmer only looking for an infraction; every swimmer is receiving a fair shake from the judges.