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League Rules

Cabana Swim Team League Rules


This unofficial copy of the By-Laws should be used for reference only. Contact the Team Representatives for an official copy

BY-LAWS

OF THE

CABANA CLUB

SWIM LEAGUE




APPROVED

JANUARY 2002





ARTICLE ONE - MEMBER TEAMS

Section 1) The member teams of the Cabana Club Swim League are:

  • Almaden
  • Creekside
  • Crossgates
  • Pinehurst
  • Santa Teresa
  • Shadowbrook

ARTICLE TWO - SWIM MEET SCHEDULE

Section 1) Dual meets will be held with a championship meet closing the season. The schedule of meets for each season, documenting the dates of each meet and order of competition, shall be established at an annual meeting of the League Board of Directors to be held in January.

Section 2) Official start time of dual meets is 8:30 AM unless both teams mutually agreed to an alternative time in advance by May 31. (Exception all home meets at Shadowbrook must start at __am)

ARTICLE THREE - SWIMMER ELIGIBILITY

Section 1) Swimmers must be members of their respective clubs, meeting all normal requirements for membership and pool rights of their club. Exception: Pinehurst residents living in homes bounded by Pearl, Lewiston, Heppner and Branham are eligible for the Pinehurst Team.

Section 2) Roster lists must be exchanged among member teams prior to the first meet of the season. Roster may be updated as necessary during the season. More than one roster change for the same individual must be approved by a majority vote of the League Board of Directors. All roster changes must be forwarded to the League Commissioner prior to the next scheduled dual meet. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of meet(s).

Section 3) Roster lists must include names, ages, and birth dates.

Section 4) Eligibility for the championship meet requires swimming in at least one (1) individual event in at least three (3) dual meets of the current year as registered member of their respective swim team. This requirement may be waived for special circumstances (such as major illness, injury, or death in the immediate family) by a majority of silent votes cast by parent representatives at the annual seeding meeting.

Section 5) In all meets a swimmer must swim in at least one (1) individual event to be eligible to swim a freestyle relay.

ARTICLE FOUR - SWIMMER AGE GROUPS

Section 1) The swimmer age groups are:

  • 6 and Under
  • 7 and 8
  • 9 and 1O
  • 11 and 12
  • 13 and 14
  • 15 to 18

Section 2) A swimmer's age is determined by his/her actual age on May 31 of each year. Swimmers may swim up one age group, but must compete at that age level for the entire meet, except 6 & Under, who may swim 8 & Under fly and breast and still remain 6 & Under for the remainder of the meet.

Section 3) To be eligible to swim for a season, 18 year olds must still be 18 on the day of the championship meet.

Section 4) If a club does not have four swimmers listed on their current roster in a given age group (not counting scratches), a swimmer may swim up one age group for that relay event without having to swim up in all events.

ARTICLE FIVE - EVENTS

Section 1) The events and eligible age groups are as follows:

Event Numbers

Event Description

Eligible Age Groups (Girls and Boys)

Comments

1-10

Medley Relays

7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

Order of strokes: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.

11 - 20

Butterfly

8U, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

A 6U swimmer may enter in the 8U group.

21 - 32

Backstroke

6U, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

Backstroke flags must be provided by the host team and placed exactly 15 feet from each end of the pool.

33 - 42

Breaststroke

8U, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

A 6U swimmer may enter in 8U group

43 - 54

Freestyle

6U, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

 

55 - 65

Freestyle Relays

6U, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15-18

6U relay may be mixed boys and girls.

 

ARTICLE SIX - DISTANCE

Section 1) Distances for individual events and relays:

6 & Under

One (1) length per swimmer - 25 yards

7 and 8

One (1) length per swimmer - 25 yards

9 and 1O

One (1) length per swimmer - 25 yards

All Others

Two (2) lengths per swimmer - 50 yards

 

ARTICLE SEVEN - SCORING AND AWARDS

DUAL MEETS

Section 1) Individual Events:

First5 pointsBlue ribbon
Second3 pointsRed ribbon
Third1 pointWhite ribbon
Fourth through Sixth0 pointsRibbons - host team may decide color

Section 2) Relay Events:

First4 pointsBlue ribbon to each swimmer
Second0 pointsRed ribbon to each swimmer

Section 3)

A swimmer winning a heat, but not placing in that event, will receive a "heat winner" ribbon. Each swimmer who has not won a ribbon by placing in an event, or winning a heat, will receive one (1) participation ribbon for the meet.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET

Section 1) Individual Events:

First7 points
Second5 points
Third4 points
Fourth3 points
Fifth2 points
Sixth1 points

Section 2) Relay Events:

First14 points
Second10 points
Third8 points
Fourth6 points
Fifth4 points
Sixth2 points

Section 3)

Design of awards and medals will be determined each year on the recommendation of the host club and approval of the Board of Directors. First through eighth place finishers will receive medals or ribbons. A swimmer winning a heat, but not placing in that event, will receive a "heat winner" ribbon. Each swimmer who has not won a ribbon by placing in an event, or winning a heat, will receive one (1) participation ribbon for the meet.

DUAL MEET CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

Section 1)

The dual meet champion shall be that team scoring the most dual meet wins. In case of a two-way tie, the champion shall be the team winning the dual meet between the tied teams. In case of a three-way tie, the champion shall be the team scoring the greatest total number of points against the other two tied teams. The team hosting the championship meet will purchase the dual meet trophy, and the Commissioner will award it at the final meet.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT - STANDING RULES

DUAL MEETS

Section 1) All required events will be swum; optional events will be decided at a coaches meeting prior to the meet.

Section 2) A listing of the individual participants by age and event must be provided to both teams on or before 9:00 PM the Wednesday evening preceding the day of the meet. Only scratches may be submitted after this time; no additions or other changes may be made. Failure by either team to provide the entries listing on time will result in forfeiting the upcoming meet. If there is a dispute between the two participating teams, the dispute shall be settled by the Commissioner if requested on or before 9:00 PM the Friday before the meet.

Section 3) Scratches for the butterfly will be accepted up until 8:30 AM the morning of the meet. Scratches for the backstroke will be accepted up until the start of the first butterfly event. Scratches for the breaststroke will be accepted up until the start of the first backstroke event. Scratches for the freestyle will be accepted up until the start of the first breaststroke event.

Section 4) Relay assignments may be made prior to the start of the relays. A listing of relay participants by event must be provided to the host team prior to the start of the event.

Section 5) Once the team line-ups are set and the meet starts, failure to swim an agreed event constitutes a forfeit. In case of a forfeit, points are awarded to the opposition with the race being swum according to league rules and ribbons awarded.

Section 6) There will be no limit on number of heats.

Section 7) A relay must have four (4) different swimmers to be official and count for points.

Section 8) Only one relay per age group shall be official. This relay must be designated before the event is swum.

Section 9) A swimmer does not lose their right to participate in the remainder of the meet by missing any of their scheduled events; except that one (1) individual event must be swum to establish eligibility for swimming the Freestyle relay.

Section 10) The maximum number of events per swimmer will be three (3) individual events plus two (2) relays. One (1) individual event must be swum to be eligible for the Freestyle relay at dual meets.

Section 11) In dual meets, using dual meet format, the order of events shall be slowest to fastest with the slowest heat swum first.

Section 12) All heats are official for individual events.

Section 13) The starter will allow up to one false start per swimmer per event. A swimmer will be disqualified on a second false start.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET

Section 1) The League has adopted the guidelines and procedures for the championship meet as described in "Champs Meet Organization and Operations," introduced by the Crossgates team in 2001. This document may be updated with meet specific information by the host team. Changes in procedural content must be approved by the Board, and distributed to all teams, prior to the start of the dual meet season.

Section 2) All required events will be swum; optional events will be decided at the seeding meeting prior to the meet.

Section 3) Entries for individual and relay events, using swimmers' current seasonal best times, will be submitted to the host team by a deadline specified at the January league meeting. Submission of entries does not have to correspond with the seeding meeting, which is held on or before the second Wednesday evening prior to the day of the meet.

Section 4) There will be no limit on the number of heats. All heats will be official with the swimmers pre-seeded in accordance with their fastest competitive times achieved in accordance with Section 3 above.

Section 5) A swimmer does not lose their right to participate in the remainder of the meet by missing any one of their scheduled events.

Section 6) The maximum number of events per swimmer per meet shall be three (3) individual events plus two (2) relays.

Section 7) In the championship meet, using a timed finals format, the order of events shall be slowest to fastest, with the slowest heat swum first.

Section 8) A swimmer does not lose their right to participate in the remainder of the meet by missing any of their scheduled events; except that one (1) individual event must be swum to establish eligibility for swimming the Freestyle relay.

Section 9) All heats are official for individual events.

Section 1O) Only one relay per age group shall be official. This relay must be designated before the event is swum.

 

ARTICLE NINE - STROKE AND TURN JUDGING

Section 1) Stroke and turn judging will follow the current United States Swimming (USS) rules. It is the responsibility of each team to ensure that the individuals designated by them as stroke and turn judges are qualified and competent. Clubs shall encourage judges to attend USS training clinics annually.

Section 2) Each swimmer must make an attempt to swim the proper stroke. Each coach has the responsibility to train each swimmer to do the strokes and turns properly.

Section 3) Interference with another swimmer, breaking stroke (one complete odd stroke), or the second false start constitutes a disqualification. Crossing lanes shall constitute a disqualification only if there is interference with another swimmer. In the event of interference, the event will be terminated and rescheduled after a reasonable rest period.

Disqualified swimmers will not swim in the re-scheduled event. Deliberate use of the lane lines, pool sides, or bottom of the pool to gain advantage constitutes a disqualification.

Section 4) In backstroke, it is permissible for an individual, not competing in that particular event heat, to place one hand flat against the wall at or below the waterline to prevent swimmers 8 years old and under from striking their head against the wall at the finish.

ARTICLE TEN - STARTING SEQUENCE

DUAL MEETS

Section 1) Swimmer placement shall be determined by three timers per lane plus a head (or roving) timer. The head timer's time shall be official in a lane only if an assigned timer has missed the start of a heat or in the event of equipment malfunction.

Section 2) Place judging shall not be used for swimmer placement in dual meets.

Section 3) With three times available, the median time shall be recorded as the official time. If, due to a malfunction, only two times are available, the average of the two remaining times shall be official. The referee's decision shall be final in case of a dispute.

Section 4) After the initial start on relays, false starts will be determined by assigned judges who will position themselves so that they may observe both the touch of the finishing swimmer and the feet of the starting swimmer.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET

Section 1) Swimmer placement and official times will be the same as dual meets. An electronic timing system may be used in place of manual timing.

 

Section 2) With the electronic timing system, the official time is started with the starting horn and is manually stopped by three timers per lane. Official placement and times are automatically recorded. Each lane will also have one manual time recorded to be used only in case of a malfunction to the automatic timing system.

ARTICLE ELEVEN - MEET OFFICIALS

DUAL MEETS

Section 1) Starter - Provided by home team

Section 2) Stroke Judges - One (1) provided by each team

Section 3) Turn Judges - One (1) provided by each team

Section 4) Timers - Three (3) timers per lane, shared from each team, plus Head Timer provided by the home team.

Section 5) Lifeguard Duty - provided by home team

Section 6) Recorders - Provided by each team although visiting team should provide at least one helper to aid in identification of swimmers

Section 7) Computer Scoring - Computer and operators provided by the home team

Section 8) Runners - Provided by home team

Section 9) Announcer - One (1) for each meet provided by home team.

Section 1O) Referee - One (1) provided by home team. The referee shall have the final decision in the event of disputes involving infractions or interpretation of USS rules.

Section 11) If there are not enough qualified personnel and it is necessary to combine functions, a procedure will be decided before the first event of the meet.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET

Section 1) Required officials shall be determined by the host club, in accordance with the Champs Meet Organization and Operations, and defined at the January league meeting.

ARTICLE TWELVE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Section 1) Each member team shall elect/appoint one parent representative to the league Board of Directors. If only a parent representative or a coach is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the one present will vote for the club. If both a parent representative and a coach(es) are present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, those coaches shall have only one half (1/2) vote among them if their parent representative is present or one (1) vote if their parent representative is absent.

Section 2) The Board of Directors shall prepare and update the league by-laws, maintain the league membership, establish and publish the meet schedule and be responsible for the efficient conduct of all league activities.

Section 3) The League Commissioner shall be appointed on a rotation basis from the particular club that last hosted finals. The rotation schedule for League Commissioner and Championship Host shall be agreed to at the beginning of each season at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 4) The Commissioner shall preside over the Board of Directors, be responsible for the execution of all Board decisions and shall arbitrate (with the assistance of the Board) all member disputes. Disputes must be submitted in writing to the Commissioner within 48 hours of the occurrence of the event causing the dispute.

Section 5) The Commissioner shall cast the deciding vote, in matters before the Board, when the votes cast for a motion are equal to the votes cast against a motion.