USA Swimming Meet Sanctioning (July 1 - 31, 2020; Indefinitely)
USA Swimming Meet Sanctioning (July 1 - 31, 2020; Indefinitely)
TO: USA Swimming House of Delegates
CC: Operational Risk Committee, Rules & Regulation Committee
FROM: Bob Vincent, USA Swimming Board Chair
SUBJECT: USA Swimming Meet Sanctioning (July 1 - 31, 2020; indefinitely)
DATE: July 21, 2020
CC: Operational Risk Committee, Rules & Regulation Committee
FROM: Bob Vincent, USA Swimming Board Chair
SUBJECT: USA Swimming Meet Sanctioning (July 1 - 31, 2020; indefinitely)
DATE: July 21, 2020
Pursuant to Article 4.7 of the USA Swimming Corporate Bylaws, and in the interest of member safety due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the USA Swimming Board of Directors has taken the following actions related to meet sanctioning, with the advice and consent of the Operational Risk Committee, Rules & Regulation Committee, and legal counsel:
June 16, 2020: To amend Article 202.2.1 of the USA Swimming Rules to limit LSCs to the sanctioning of meets comprised only of athletes and clubs registered within the LSC through July 30, 2020.* Furthermore, times achieved in sanctioned meets during this period may not be used for any USA Swimming programs, camps, or competitions above the LSC level. Those meets include, but are not limited to, Zones, Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, U.S. Open, and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming. All competition must conform to local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
*A club, geographically isolated within their LSC, may be granted the opportunity to compete in an adjacent LSC with permission from both the club’s LSC and the adjacent LSC.
This action was taken after numerous teams and LSCs asked USA Swimming for opportunities to compete, while recognizing that there are still considerable differences across the country in respect to access to pools and the need to maintain a level playing field.
July 16, 2020: To amend Article 202.2.1 of the USA Swimming Rules to limit LSCs to the sanctioning of meets comprised only of athletes and clubs registered within the LSC through August 31, 2020.* All competition must continue to conform to local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
*A club, geographically isolated within their LSC, may be granted the opportunity to compete in an adjacent LSC with permission from both the club’s LSC and the adjacent LSC.
Further, to amend Articles 202.4 and 202.6 of the USA Swimming Rules to require certain COVID-related precautions in order to issue meet sanctions and approvals, including a safety plan, assumption of risk, and release of liability, which will remain in place indefinitely.
This action progresses USA Swimming’s crawl, walk, race approach by allowing times to count but still restricting competition to a limited geographic area and thereby limiting swimming-related travel. The indefinite nature of the meet sanctioning and approval requirements account for the anticipated longevity of the need for COVID-related safety precautions.
June 16, 2020: To amend Article 202.2.1 of the USA Swimming Rules to limit LSCs to the sanctioning of meets comprised only of athletes and clubs registered within the LSC through July 30, 2020.* Furthermore, times achieved in sanctioned meets during this period may not be used for any USA Swimming programs, camps, or competitions above the LSC level. Those meets include, but are not limited to, Zones, Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, U.S. Open, and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming. All competition must conform to local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
*A club, geographically isolated within their LSC, may be granted the opportunity to compete in an adjacent LSC with permission from both the club’s LSC and the adjacent LSC.
This action was taken after numerous teams and LSCs asked USA Swimming for opportunities to compete, while recognizing that there are still considerable differences across the country in respect to access to pools and the need to maintain a level playing field.
July 16, 2020: To amend Article 202.2.1 of the USA Swimming Rules to limit LSCs to the sanctioning of meets comprised only of athletes and clubs registered within the LSC through August 31, 2020.* All competition must continue to conform to local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
*A club, geographically isolated within their LSC, may be granted the opportunity to compete in an adjacent LSC with permission from both the club’s LSC and the adjacent LSC.
Further, to amend Articles 202.4 and 202.6 of the USA Swimming Rules to require certain COVID-related precautions in order to issue meet sanctions and approvals, including a safety plan, assumption of risk, and release of liability, which will remain in place indefinitely.
This action progresses USA Swimming’s crawl, walk, race approach by allowing times to count but still restricting competition to a limited geographic area and thereby limiting swimming-related travel. The indefinite nature of the meet sanctioning and approval requirements account for the anticipated longevity of the need for COVID-related safety precautions.
