Preseason Swimming & Diving Memo
I hope this note finds all of you doing well and the beginning of your swimming and diving season has started off on the right foot for you all. This memo covers many things that are typically covered at the beginning of the year.
2022 Rules Meeting: The 2022 Swimming and Diving Rules meeting has been posted since August 1st. The meeting can be accessed by going to your Bound Account. All head coaches are required to view the meeting and it is recommended that all assistant coaches also view the meeting. Coaches must have the rules meeting completed by Friday, September 9.
2022 Rule Changes: NFHS rule changes for the 2022 Swimming and Diving season can be accessed by clicking here.
2022 Points of Emphasis: Although these are covered in the online rules meeting, you can review this year’s NFHS Points of Emphasis by clicking here.
2022 Season Information: I have included several materials produced by the NFHS to help you with your season. This information can be accessed through the IGHSAU website. Please go to the header “Coaches and Information” When you click on coaches and information, look for the swimming and diving link (which is found under fall sports). When you click on the swimming and diving information (you can click here), you will see important dates and guidelines, and 2022 state qualifying times. Please bookmark the page and check it regularly during the season. I will also continue to send email information to coaches during the regular season. If you are a new coach or have an email address that has changed from last season, please send me an update at [email protected].
Iowa Interscholastic Para-Swimming Program: The IGHSAU has established a para-swimming program. The program is designed to allow individuals who require the use of a wheelchair for participation in athletic activities the opportunity to become involved in interscholastic sports. The IGHSAU will offer competition in the 50 freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. Click here to learn more about the program. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the program.
Bound: QuikStats/Varsity Bound is now open for schools to update their rosters and schedules. To begin this process, go to the QuikStats website. Click on "Login" located at the top right of the webpage.
Entering Meet Results: Coaches will be able to import meet results by going through Bound. This should make the entry process much easier than in previous years. Bound will be submitting instructions to coaches before meets begin.
Schools must update Bound every week. We will check the Bound database every Tuesday. With State Time Standards, all schools that host meets MUST import meet results into Bound. The meet results will serve as the verification for swimmers that achieve the time standards during the regular season. State qualifying times will not be recognized unless it is verified on QuikStats.
Qualifying Time Standards: 2022 time standards can by viewed by clicking here. Time standards are the average of the 16th place time (the last scoring position) from the last five State Swimming and Diving Meets in each event. Swimmers can qualify for the state meet if this standard is achieved at an official IGHSAU-sanctioned meet in a fully-automatic timed (FAT) yard pool in the regular season. All times must be verified in QuikStats. Times from lead-off legs in relays are eligible if the time is a FAT time.
Reporting A State Qualifying Time: I will have a listing of individuals that have reached state standards posted on the IGHSAU website. In addition to posting times to QuikStats, please email me at [email protected] if you have a swimmer that has reached a time standard. I will try to post Twitter updates of athletes reaching state standards at least once a week, if not more.
Important Dates:
Monday, August 22
First Competition Date
Thursday, November 3
Regional Diving
Saturday, November 5:
Regional Swimming Meets
November 11
State Diving Meet
State Prelim Meet
November 12
State Swimming Finals
DIVING COACHES: The IGHSAU permits diving coaches to work with all of the divers from the schools they have been hired to coach simultaneously. Diving coaches will not need to have separate diving practices for each school. Please note that is for diving only.
Backstroke Wedges: The NFHS did not approve the use of backstroke wedges for high school competition. They are NOT to be used in high school meets for the 2022 season.
Season Limitations: A swimmer/diver is allowed to participate in 12 meets against varsity competition during a season but shall never be charged with more than one meet on a calendar day. If the athlete swims junior varsity and varsity on the same day, they are charged with one meet. Schools can host diving-only meets for divers to participate in 12 meets.
Concussion Reminder: ALL coaches must view the online concussion video, “Concussion in Sports: What You Need to Know” before the first day of practice. Please see your AD if you or your coaching staff have not yet viewed the video.
NFHS Rule Book: If you have not already received them, 2022-23 rule books should be in your hands next week. If you haven't received your rule books by the time the season has started, please contact me.
11-Dive Meets: 11-dive meets are allowed at dual meets. The host school must contact and have mutual consent from the opposing school prior to the date of the meet. The host school is also responsible for contacting officials prior to the dual meet.
Hosting Regional Swimming and Diving Meets: Schools interested in hosting regional swimming and diving need to fill out the site availability form that is part of the IGHSAU online forms in Varsity Bound.
NOTE TO SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN HOSTING: The IGHSAU will give precedence to facilities that have eight lane pools, but we cannot guarantee that all regions will compete in eight-lane pools every year.
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. This is the dive schedule for the 2022 season:
Weeks 1-2: August 23-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
At the end of the sixth week, roll back to the forward group in week 7, the back group in week 8, etc.
Diving Reminders: The Iowa Department of Health made a ruling that diving boards may be replaced on pools with water depth of 10-12 feet. However, the replacement of a complete diving stand will not be permitted unless the water depth is 12 feet. This would be a violation of Iowa Code (641 IAC Chapter 15). Iowa Administrative Code does not allow the following sites to replace the diving stand due to having less than 12 feet of water. Therefore, diving will not take place and no points awarded at the following sites:
Atlantic
Centerville
Des Moines East
Des Moines Hoover
Lewis Central
Newton
Oskaloosa
Perry
Spencer
Tipton
Vinton-Shellsburg
At all other schools, diving will take place and points will be scored accordingly. If the diving situation has changed at your school, please contact the IGHSAU immediately.
REMINDER: The schools listed above may still have diving competitions if the competition is held at a site that has the required water depth.
I am only a phone call or e-mail away. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during the season. Best wishes to everyone on a successful 2022 swimming and diving season.
Jason Eslinger