2011 SWIMMING & DIVING MANUAL

RULES

The 2011-2012 National Federation Swimming and Diving Rule Book and Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Swimming and Diving Manual will be utilized.

2011-2012 SWIMMING & DIVING RULE CHANGES

2-7-2b Only in-water starts may be used when the water depth is less than 4 feet.

4-1-4 New Once the meet competition is concluded, the referee continues to maintain clerical responsibilities through the completion of any required reports or correspondence related to action occurring during the meet. If necessary, the state association may intercede due to unusual incidents after officials’ jurisdiction ends or the meet is terminated prior to conclusion of regulation competition.

ART. 4 . . . The meet referees retain clerical authority over the contest through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualifications, that are responsive to actions occurring while the referees had jurisdiction. State associations may intercede in the event of unusual incidents after the referees’ jurisdiction has ended or in the event that a contest is terminated prior to the conclusion of regulation play.

9-2-2 The order of divers in meets conducted under championship format is determined by lot or by seeding based on the divers previous 11 dive score.

ART. 2 . . . The order of divers in championship meets, determined by the meet director, shall be either by lot or by seeding based on the diver’s best competitive 11 dive score submitted. If seeding by dive scores, divers without 11 dive scores shall be seeded by lot at the beginning of the diving order. The same relative position of divers shall be maintained for all levels of competition.

9-4 Diving Table Changes the degree of difficulty for twisting dives 5126D – 2.8; 5136D– 3.1, and 5227D – 3.2.

9-5-2 A diver’s forward approach may contain steps, hops, leaps and/or jumps between the initial three steps and culminating hurdle.

ART. 2 . . . 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. The diver may use additional steps, hops, leaps and/or jumps between the initial three steps and the culminating hurdle. The forward takeoff shall be from both feet simultaneously to an adequate height to perform the dive.

9-5-6 Note Flying dives demonstrating 1½ somersaults require the straight position to be maintained until the body has rotated to the vertical position.

NOTE: Flying dives demonstrating one somersault requires the straight position be maintained from takeoff until the body has rotated to the horizontal position. (¼ rotation) Flying dives demonstrating one and one half somersaults require the straight position be maintained until the body has rotated to the vertical position. (½ rotation)

IOWA ADAPTATIONS

Rule 3-1-1: (Applies to regular season only) At the regional meet each school may enter three participants for individual events and one relay team for each relay event.

Rule 5-1-2b: A mandatory 15-minute break following the 200 Freestyle Relay, if four or more teams. (This break is in addition to the break following the 50 Freestyle.)

Rule 5-1-3: A mandatory 15-minute break following the 200 Freestyle Relay. (This break is in addition to the break following the 50 Freestyle.)

Rule 9-4-6 Rotating Dive Schedule: In an effort to reflect the needs of developing divers, the rotating dive schedule has expanded to allow two weeks for the first group of forward dives. The following is the revised diving schedule:

Weeks 1-2 (August 22-Sept. 4) - Forward Group

Week 3 (Sept. 5-11) – Back Group

Week 4 (Sept. 12-18) – Inward Group

Week 5 (Sept. 19-25) – Twisting Group

Week 6 (Sept. 26-Oct. 2) – Reverse Group

GUIDELINES FOR MEET WARM-UP

Prior to any athlete entering the water to begin warm-ups, there shall be a meeting that includes head coaches and captains from each team and officials. The criteria to be reviewed should include, but not limited to: warm-up procedure, pool environment, water depth at both ends, jewelry and uniform rules, starting blocks, lane selection, emergency procedures, conference rule differences, lifeguard responsibilities and other pertinent issues. In addition, the following guidelines are recommended for warm-up procedures at all meets:

1. A designated supervisor whose sole responsibility is to observe the warm-up pool shall be on duty prior to any athletes entering the pool/diving well and throughout the entire warm-up period.

2. Swimmers shall enter the water feet-first except for starts, which are limited to specific lanes.

3. Specify Lanes 2 and 5 (six-lane pool) or Lanes 2 and 7 (eight-lane pool) as one-way sprint lanes with racing starts permitted at the starting end of the pool.

4. Place a cone marker or similar sign on starting platforms in lanes not specified as one-way sprint lanes.

5. Specify center lanes for circle swimming (two lengths of the pool beginning at the starting end of the pool.)

6. Specify the outside lanes as pace lanes (swimmers swim one or two lengths from an in-water push-off position from the starting end of the pool.)

7. May specify lanes for relay practice during the last 15 minutes of the warm-up.

8. Coaches should stand at the starting end of the pool and verbally start swimmers for sprint or pace work.

9. Swimmers should not be allowed on a starting platform when a backstroker is executing a start in the same sprint lane.

10. Swimmers shall not swim in the area where the diving warm up is occurring.

11. Pool shall be closed during the coaches meeting.

12. Jewelry shall not be worn during warm-ups.

Meet management or designated officials may remove a swimmer, coach and/or team from the deck for violations of these recommendations. In facilities that have a warm-up and/or warm-down areas, management shall provide supervision of the area(s) at all times.

REGULAR SEASON INFORMATION

Swimming Season - The opening date for an organized practice associated with a member high school shall be Monday, August 8, 2011 with the first allowable scheduled contest being the second Monday following practice (August 22). Meet limitation: Twelve (12) excluding Regional and State Meets. An athlete may participate in 12 meets during a season. This includes duals, invitational, and conference meets. As a result of some facilities not have diving wells; the competition of diving has a set of limitations of 12 varsity meets. If a school participates in a meet that does not have diving, the divers may participate in diving only meets in order to reach their 12 meet limitation.

CHOICE OF DIVES

Rule 9-4-1: In championship meets, the competition shall consist of 5 voluntary dives and 6 optional dives.

(a) The 5 voluntary dives shall come from each of the 5 groups, with their assigned dd and have a sum total of 9.0 or less. (See 9-3-6 and 9-3-6 Penalty).

(b) The 6 optional dives shall include at least 1 chosen from each of the 5 groups. No more than 1 optional dive from the same group is permitted through semifinals.

(c) All five groups must be represented in the first eight rounds.

(d) The dives to be performed during each round of championship competition shall be as follows:

Rule 9-4-6: In other meets, the competition shall consist of 1 voluntary dive which shall be done first - Weeks 1-2 (August 22-Sept. 4) - Forward Group; Week 3 (Sept. 5-11) – Back Group; Week 4 (Sept. 12-18) – Inward Group; Week 5 (Sept. 19-25) – Twisting Group; Week 6 (Sept. 26-Oct. 2) – Reverse Group etc., and 5 optional dives, coming from at least 4 of the 5 groups and which may include any of the dives other than the voluntary dive. Any dive from a group may be designated as a voluntary dive. It will receive its assigned dd through 1.8. Any designated voluntary dive with a dd greater than 1.8 will be assigned a dd of 1.8.

Note: For interstate competition, the voluntary dive group of the week shall follow the schedule of the host school's state unless state association determines otherwise.

After week six has been competed, the rotation of voluntary dives returns back to week one and a dive from the forward group, week two-dive from the back group, etc. until completion of diving season.

11-Dive Meets Allowed at Dual Meets: Schools hosting dual meets are now allowed to have 11 dive meets. The host school must contact and have mutual consent from the opposing school prior to the day of the meet. The host school is also required to contact meet officials prior to the day of the meet.

ONLINE PERSONNEL ENTRY FORMS

All forms can be downloaded from the IGHSAU web page by clicking the “Personnel Entry Forms” link. Remember that you need a password to access the online forms, if you do not know the password check with your Athletic Director. There are four forms that need to be filed with the respective site/office. They can be found under the “other forms” section of the online forms menu.

1. State Swimming Competitors List: This list should contain only the names of the divers, swimmers, managers, and coaches that have officially qualified for the State Meet. This list will be used to let your swimmers into the competitive area. The list must be faxed/emailed to the Girls' Athletic Union by 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 31, 2011.

REGIONAL MEET INFORMATION

There will be six Regional Meets. Diving will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2011 and swimming will be held on Saturday, October 29 to qualify for the State Meet at the Marshalltown Y on November 4-5, 2011.

Regional sites will be unavailable for practice to outside teams and individuals ten days prior to the regional meets. This excludes those who use the facility as their regular practice site and any sanctioned competition that may occur within the ten-day limit.

ADMISSIONS: Admission price is left to the discretion of meet management. Only ONE ticket per person is needed to cover the complete meet. There need be no financial report filed with the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The host school retains all receipts.

LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS AND TOWELS: Swimmers will be assigned a section of individual lockers in the dressing rooms. Each swimmer should bring a towel and padlock for their locker.

OFFICIALS: The IGHSAU will assign three officials for the Diving event on Thursday and three officials for the Swimming events on Saturday, all at the expense of the IGHSAU.

OFFICIAL ATTIRE (NEW FOR 2011): Officials working regional and state swimming and diving meets are required to wear a white shirt with khaki pants. White official shirts can be purchased through the Image Sport website (www.imagesport.com).

SELECTION OF DIVING JUDGES: There will be seven judges used, three judges will be the officials assigned by the IGHSAU and four judges will be coaches. The four coaches judging the diving competition will be chosen at the Coaches' meeting. (Rule 9-6-4, the two high scores and the two low scores will be eliminated from the scoring procedure on each dive.)

ENTRIES: Regional entries will be done online. Each regional site will have a specific web page that head coaches will use to post their entries online. Head coaches will be e-mailed their user name on Wednesday, October 19 to access the online entry page. Regional entries must be submitted online no later than 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 26.

REGIONAL & STATE TOURNAMENT DIVING SHEET: The electronic Excel diving sheet must be used and submitted for both the regional and state meets. The electronic form is available for download on the IGHSAU swimming website. The completed Diving Entry sheet (per Rule 9-3-5) which is available for download on the IGHSAU website, must be in the hands of your Regional Meet Manager no later than 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

REGIONAL WARM-UP PROTOCOL DURING BREAKS (NEW FOR 2011 SEASON):

All regional sites must have one designated lane for relays and one for starts during the designated breaks.

COOL DOWN PROTOCOL (NEW FOR 2011 SEASON): 

A cool down protocol has been established for swimmers during the regional meets. One minute of cool down will be provided at the end of each heat in each event at all regional meets (excluding the last heat of the 200 freestyle relay and the last heat of the 400 freestyle relay). Regional sites that have warm-up/cool down areas must have those areas closed during regional competition.

DO NOT MISS THESE IMPORTANT DEADLINES.

Finalizing of diving sheets should be done by 5:00 p.m. (Thursday). Due to entry deadline of Wednesday, Oct. 26, any updates/changes to individual entries are to be declared by the team coach by 8:00 a.m. (Saturday). If you have changes contact the site manager via phone/fax/e-mail. This includes verification and updating of entries. Relay cards should only declare personnel of the relay team and alternates. If a coach does not show up for the Coaches' Meeting, the diving and entry sheet will become official entries for the school at the Regional Meets.

Regional host Athletic Directors will be sent the seeded Hy-Tek regional meet file Wednesday evening, October 26th. This format does not change the fact that coaches can make changes the day of the meet or prior to the meet.

ENTRY LIMITATION: Iowa Adaptation to Rule 3-1-1: Each school may enter three participants for individual events and one relay team for each relay event. Rule 3-2-1: Each individual swimmer may enter a maximum four events, no more than two of which may be individual events.

SEEDING: Times submitted on the entries will be used to seed the swimmers and relays. Diving order will be drawn by lot. Remember, only times gained in 25-yard pool meet competition may be used for seeding purposes. If a swimmer does not have a time in the event entered, she must be seeded with a “No Time”. Individual times must be actual times achieved by those competitors in that event(s). Relay times must be actual times achieved in meet competition. Protests related to verification of seed times must be resolved by the 10:00 a.m. Coaches' Meeting. Verification will be done by power rankings or official meet results. Penalty of the protest being upheld will be re-assignment of lanes and heats using “No Time”.

Seed times should be rounded to a hundredth of a second by dropping off all thousandths. Example: 51.111 and 51.119 would be rounded to 51.11 as a seed time.

SCORING: Rule 7-1-3, points awarded on the basis of sixteen places.

AWARDS: Medals for first-sixth place finishers in both individual and relay events will be awarded. All regional team champions will receive a banner.

REGIONAL TIME SCHEDULE:

Thursday, October 27 (Diving)

3:30 p.m. Pool opens for warm-up (divers only)

5:00 p.m. Diving sheets must be in (coaches meeting on deck)

6:00 p.m. Regional Diving Competition

Saturday, October 29 (Swimming)

8:00 a.m. Entry Deadline (finalized) e-mail/fax/phone the site manager with any changes

10:00 a.m. Coaches' Meeting

10:30 a.m. Pool opens for swimmers

-- (after coaches' meeting)

11:45 a.m. Pool closes

12:00 noon Regional Swimming Competition

ORDER OF EVENTS: All swimming events will be run as timed finals.

1. 200 Medley Relay

2. 200 Freestyle

3. 200 Individual Medley

4. 50 Freestyle

5. 20 Minute Break

6. 100 Butterfly

7. 100 Freestyle

8. 500 Freestyle

9. 200 Freestyle Relay

10. 15-minute break

11. 100 Backstroke

12. 100 Breaststroke

13. 400 Freestyle Relay

COACHES' MEETINGS: Matters to be decided at Diving Coaches' Meeting (Thursday): (1) select four of the coaches in your Regional to be diving judges and (2) make all final changes on your diving sheets. Matters to be decided at Swimming Coaches' Meeting (Saturday): (1) Scratch any swimmer that is ill or not competing if she is listed on the entry sheet and follow the rules on an ill competitor and note which alternate is taking her place if she is swimming in a relay, and (2) select Regional Coach of the Year and Senior Scholastic Achievement Recipients.

STATE MEET INFORMATION

The State Meet will be a two-day meet at the Marshalltown YMCA on Friday and Saturday, November 4-5, 2011. Diving will be held Friday, November 4, commencing at 5:00 p.m. State Swimming events will begin at 12:00 (noon) on Saturday, November 5, and will be contested as timed finals.

TICKETS: Ticket prices for the two sessions will be as follows:

Diving Competition: Adults & Students - $8.00

Swimming Finals: Adults & Students - $8.00

LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS: There are designated locker rooms for the athletes to use throughout the meet. Athletes should bring their own towel and padlock for the locker.

SELECTION OF DIVING JUDGES: Diving judges will be State Meet officials selected by the IGHSAU. Seven judges will be used for this meet. (Rule 9-6-4, the two high scores and the two low scores will be eliminated from the scoring procedure on each dive.)

STATE MEET QUALIFIERS: A list of qualifiers together with heat and lane assignments for the State Meet will be posted on the IGHSAU website after the Regional Meet. Qualifications for the State Meet will be based on times and placement in Regional competition. The first place swimmers and relays from each Regional plus the next eighteen best performances from all Regional Meets will qualify for the State Swimming Meet. The top four finishers in the diving event at each Regional plus the next twelve highest point totals from all Regional Meets will advance to the State Diving Meet. Note: If a regional champion's time is not within the top 24 qualifying times, the top 24 qualifying times will advance along with the regional champion that does not have a top 24 time.

Forms must be filed to the State Office no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 31.

2011 State Swimming Competitors List:  This form should contain only the names of the swimmers, divers, managers, and coaches that have officially qualified for the State Meet. This list will be used to let your swimmers into the competitive area without charge. All other team members not in the State Meet are to purchase a ticket.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

** No substitutions in the individual events. Only athletes who qualify in individual events at the Regional Meets can swim in the individual events in the State Meet.

** Relay team personnel can change from the Regional Meet to the State Meet.

** A competitor may withdraw from a preliminary event or final, including diving, with a declared false start. Notice must be given to the referee, or referee's designee by the swimmer, coach, or other personnel. The event still counts as an entry for the competitor. However, it does not disqualify the competitor from further competition or nullify previous performances. (Rule 3-2-3)

**Only swimmers and divers that have qualified for the State Meet, manager and coaches will be admitted to the State Meet free of charge. Again, only coaches employed by the school and those earning college credit for student teaching will be allowed on deck. This DOES NOT include Club and Volunteer coaches. Schools who make passes available to non-school coaches or athletes in addition to their qualifiers and alternates risk forfeiture of team allowance.

** Swim Coach Please Note and Comply **

HEAT & LANE ASSIGNMENTS: Made in descending order of qualifying times in accordance with Rule 5-3-3 (eight-lane pool). Divers' order will be drawn by lot.

WARM-UP PROCEDURE DURING BREAKS AT THE STATE MEET (New for 2011): Two lanes will be designated for relays and one lane for starts during the breaks at the State Meet.

SCORING: Rule 7-1-3, points awarded on the basis of sixteen places.

AWARDS: The champion of each event will receive an acrylic plaque. All other participants will receive a participation plaque. Medals will be awarded to first through sixth place finishers of each event. Trophies will be given to first and second place team finishers with the championship team coach receiving a plaque.

Diving awards will be presented immediately following diving competition Friday evening. If you only have Divers, coaches please remember to pick up participation plaques on Friday evening.

The first six place finishers are to report to the awards staging area one event following their race to be presented with their awards. Competitors recognized on the awards stand must be dressed appropriately. This means warm-up or other school issued clothing must be worn over the suit. Competitors who do not fulfill this obligation will not be permitted on the awards stand. Participation plaques and results may be picked up following conclusion of the meet. Team trophies will be presented at the end of the meet.

STATE SWIMMING & DIVING TIME SCHEDULE:

Friday (Diving)

3:00 p.m. Pool opens for warm-up (Divers only)

4:00 p.m. Diving sheets must be in

5:00 p.m. State Diving Competition

Saturday (Swimming)

9:30 a.m. Coaches' Meeting

10:00 a.m. Pool opens for swimmers (after coaches' meeting)

11:45 a.m. Pool closes

12:00 (noon) Parade of Teams followed immediately with competition

PROGRAMS: Programs for the State Meet can be purchased at the State Meet. Team packets will not include programs.

T-SHIRTS: Official State Swimming and Diving Meet merchandise may be purchased at the State Meet from Image Sport.

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS: Steve Pope Photography will be taking official award photographs at the 2011 State Swimming and Diving Meet. You can view photographs from the State Meet by visiting Steve’s website: www.stevepope.com.

HANDLING BODY FLUIDS

DURING THE CONTEST, CONTEST OFFICIALS’ LIMITS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

An examination of interscholastic sports rulebooks reveals there is little direction given officials regarding the handling of body fluids during a contest. Any mention that does exist is vague at best, and no rulebook outlines a protocol that officials are to follow.

Therefore, the purpose of this document is to provide officials information regarding their responsibilities during a contest should an injury or illness occur which results in an athlete losing blood or vomiting in the competitive area.

In the event an athlete sustains an injury or becomes ill during a contest on the competitive surface or in close proximity such that the problem affects play or the continuation of the contest, IGHSAU officials shall take the following steps:

1. Stop the contest at the point the problem is recognized. The IGHSAU recognizes some rulebooks make specific statements about play interruption. All rulebooks have an “elastic clause” which allows an official to take whatever action may be required.

2. Do not administer first aid to any athlete except to comfort the athlete until those designated to administer first aid arrive.

3. Do not take part in handling blood, vomit, feces, pus or other body fluids.

4. Officials shall professionally monitor the situation as observers, keeping in mind the rules addressing interruptions, stoppage of play, starting play, and other specific rules that may apply.

5. Officials with qualified training shall avoid participating in first aid treatment except when there is absolutely no other alternative.

6. Uniform rule - If through injury or illness the uniform of a contestant becomes contaminated with body fluid, the official will disregard rulebook codification on penalties for changing the participant's uniform.

The IGHSAU supports officials and coaches who are responding to a situation with the philosophy that the welfare of the injured player always comes first. We ask officials to be aware of their responsibilities and limitations as outlined above, with the understanding school personnel (coaches, trainers, etc.) are responsible to work directly with the injured or ill player.

IOWA GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION’S

POLICY ON THE PRESENCE OF BLOOD DURING

ATHLETIC CONTESTS IN GRADES 7-12

1. Before competing, cover any open wounds.

2. When a contest official observes an athlete bleeding during competition, competition shall be stopped on completion of the play or action in progress. Injuries creating visible bleeding shall be treated as any other injury in that the injured athletes shall be removed from the contest for the length of time specified by that sport's injury rule and given proper attention.

As a point of reference, the specific injury rules for basketball, softball and volleyball are:

a. Basketball - A player who is injured to the extent that the coach or any other bench personnel comes onto the court shall leave the game and may not return until the first opportunity for such player to return.

b. Softball - Time shall be called when a player is injured and the appearance of blood is observed. Bench personnel will be allowed to spend reasonable time to cover and clean the wound before requesting a substitute. The pitching hand by rule may not be covered in part or whole by any substance. If the pitcher has an open wound on the hand that produces blood, she must be removed as pitcher until the problem is solved.

c. Volleyball - Time shall be called when a player is injured and the appearance of blood is observed. Bench personnel will be allowed to spend reasonable time to cover and clean the wound before requesting a substitute. A participant shall not continue competition until the bleeding is controlled and the wound covered.

For those sports not having a specific injury rule, the official shall allow sideline personnel to attend to the bleeding athlete for a reasonable amount of time before requesting a substitute. An athlete shall not continue competition unless the bleeding is controlled and the wound is covered. Any athlete who has left the contest due to bleeding shall not re-enter the contest until the bleeding has been controlled and the wound covered.

3. When a contest official observes an excessive amount of blood on a participant or their uniform that participant shall leave the contest for the length of time specified by the sport's injury rule and the blood shall be wiped from the participant and/or their uniform. If a team does not wish to remove the player from the game, one of its charged time outs may be used during which time the blood shall be wiped from the contestant. If the blood appears immediately prior to a quarter, halftime, or overtime intermission, sideline personnel may use such intermission to wipe the blood from the contestant. For those sports not having a specific injury rule, the official shall allow sideline personnel to wipe the blood off the athlete and play shall be resumed. An excessive amount of blood is that amount which could be easily transferred from one athlete to another.

4. Any time a contest is stopped due to blood being present, any washable surfaces (i.e. gym floor, pool deck, equipment) contaminated with blood shall be properly cleaned using OSHA accepted standards and procedures before competition resumes.

5. Athletes should render first-aid to themselves or first-aid shall be administered by sideline personnel, not by contest officials.

6. The risk of contracting the AIDS virus as a contest official or participant is minimal. There are no documented cases of AIDS being transmitted through athletic participation.

CONCUSSIONS

Due to the increased focus on minimizing the risk for athletes exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has placed the following language in all sports rule books beginning in 2010-11.

“An athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play (that day) until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.”

NFHS SUGGESTED CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT

1. No athlete should return to participation (RTP) on the same day of a concussion.

2. Any athlete suspected of having a concussion should be evaluated by an appropriate health-care professional that day.

3. Any athlete with a concussion should be medically cleared by an appropriate health-care professional prior to resuming participation in any practice or competition.

4. After medical clearance, RTP should follow a stepwise protocol with provisions for delayed RTP based upon return of any signs or symptoms.

The following protocol is intended to implement the NFHS concussion rule in Iowa and minimize the risk of any athlete who is exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion.

* Education of contest officials, school coaches and other appropriate school personnel, contestants, parents, and appropriate health-care professionals.

The IGHSAU will provide a variety of educational materials developed by organizations knowledgeable about concussions to help the above individuals

• recognize the signs, symptoms and behaviors of a possible

concussion,

• appropriately manage concussions

* Removing an injured athlete from competition and deciding whether he or she has sustained a concussion.

The contest officials’ responsibility is to recognize an athlete may have an injury and remove him or her from the contest. Once they have removed the athlete from the contest the officials’ responsibility for the athlete’s safety is over and the athlete is in the care of the school’s coach(es) and any appropriate health-care professional(s) the school designates to provide care.

If an athlete is exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors consistent with a concussion she or he shall not return to competition for the remainder of that day until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. If an appropriate health-care professional is not available, the athlete shall not return to competition the remainder of the day.

NOTE 1: Each local school needs to determine who (either individually or by group) they consider to be appropriate health-care professional(s) qualified to decide if an athlete exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion may return to competition on the same day the injury occurred. Schools may develop a formal process for return to competition on the day of injury, including requirements for written clearance by the appropriate health-care professional(s) the school has designated. Medical experts in concussion management believe appropriate health-care professionals making these decisions should have extra training in sports-related concussions.

The athlete’s parents/guardians should be contacted regarding the athlete’s injury and it should be recommended an appropriate health-care provider evaluates the athlete before he or she returns to any type of practice and/or competition.

Return to participation (practice and competition) protocol should be followed as determined by an appropriate health-care professional before allowing an athlete who has been concussed to return to any kind of participation (practice and/or competition).

Note 2: Each local school needs to determine who (either individually or by group) they consider to be the appropriate health-care professional(s) qualified to release a concussed athlete to any kind of participation (practice and/or competition). Schools may develop a formal process for return to participation following concussion, including requirements for written clearance by the appropriate health-care professional(s) the school has designated. Medical experts in concussion management believe appropriate health-care professionals making these decisions should have extra training in sports-related concussions.

In cases where the IGHSAU have designated an appropriate health-care professional for their sponsored events/tournaments, the decision of that health-care professional regarding an athlete who is exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors consistent with a concussion returning to competition at any time during those events/tournaments shall not be overruled.

TEAM POWER POINT REPORTING

Time submissions and power point information will change this season. Schools hosting meets will now be required to upload Hy-Tek meet results to a specific website. Power points from those uploaded meet results will be automatically calculated and performance lists will automatically update. At the time of the publication of this manual, development/testing process of the system was still ongoing, but the site will be ready before the start of the regular season. Information and directions will be sent to coaches and posted on the IGHSAU website when the site is ready.

TOP 20 ALL-TIME BEST TIMES

The top 20 best times are taken from any time swam in a 25-yard pool or 25-meter pool and reported through the Top 20 ranking system and Regional and State competition during the girls' high school swimming season. Individual ranks are based on the individual swimmer or diver's best career performance. Relays are ranked on the school's best performance during a given season of competition. Times will be obtained from the annual Top 20 listings, individual times reported to the Girls' Union by coaches, Regional and State Meet times.

The Top 20 All-Time Best Times start with the times from the State Meet of 1967, which was the first State Meet, and are current to this present date.

ALL-STATE TEAMS

All-State Team selections are based on the best time performances achieved at the State Meet. The top three performances in each individual event and the top two relays will be honored as First Team, All-State swimmers. The performances with the 4th, 5th and 6th times in individual events and 3rd and 4th best performances in each relay will be honored as Second Team, All-State. A certificate of merit will be awarded to each girl and school in recognition of being selected to an All-State Team.

ALL-AMERICAN

Due to the continued improvement of Iowa swimmers and divers, a number of competitors may qualify for High School All-American recognition. It is the coach's responsibility to fill out the necessary forms and information to gain this recognition. If you need assistance, contact the State Office.

REMINDER TO COACHES

Regional records can only be set in Regional Meet competition and State records can only be established at the State Meet. The times used for Iowa Girls' All-Time Top 20 Best Times will be those submitted for each year's regular Top 20 best times and times obtained in either Regional or State competition.