Members Present: Steve Hartlaub, Patty Kramer, Judy Linsley, Al Schmidt, Sheila Strock, Steve Surprenant, Susan Taylor, Susan Zblewski

Call or Order: Susan Zblewski, Wisconsin Swimming Officials Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M.

Review of Minutes of August 16, 2001: Al Schmidt moved and Susan Zblewski seconded approval of the minutes with the following correction: Swimposium – USA Swimming provides up to $300 for administrative costs. Wisconsin Swimming has obtained private sponsors to underwrite up to $2,000 of the Swimposium costs. Motion passed.

Committee Membership: Susan Zblewski introduced new Committee member, Judy Linsley, a Starter/Referee associated with the North Shore Swim Club. The Committee confirmed its earlier agreement of a Committee of 10-12 members and a policy that a member who fails to attend two consecutive meetings without prior notice to Chair effectively resigns his/her Committee membership. When the Committee has less than ten members, the Committee will recruit additional members. Sheila Strock will develop an "Officials Committee Application" for distribution with Fall Officials Recertification information.

USA Swimming’s Officials Chairs Meeting Report: Patty Kramer represented Wisconsin Swimming at the meeting, August 24-25, 2001, Chicago. Representatives of 54 of 59 LSC participated and divided into groups to discuss five topics.

• Officials: Recruiting, Retention, and Reciprocity: Some ideas: Clubs pay Officials’ dues and Clinic fees; promote becoming an Official and announce training at Timers meetings; staff information booth at LSC Championships; assign mentors to new Officials; rotate on-deck assignments during a Meet; use exist interviews when Officials do not renew membership; avoid "clickiness" among "old" Officials; have frequent communications for all Officials, i.e., e-mails, newsletters, social activities; LSC Officials Chair contacts Officials Chair of LSC from which another Official transfers to verify level of certification and to determine comparability of training; require transferring Official to work minimum number (1-2) of sessions in new LSC prior to obtaining certification in new LSC.

• Officials Discipline: Three categories of Offenses: 1) Professional Qualifications (e.g., lack of knowledge of Rules or improper application of Rules; remedial action usually by LSC Officials Committee Chair); 2) Personal Misconduct (e.g., berating another Official on deck or publicly deriding LSC operations; requires written compliant and LSC Officials Committee investigation and hearing); 3) Code of Conduct Violation (e.g., applies to USA Swimming Rules 304.3.1-.15 like drug/alcohol abuse or falsified Meet entry; LSC Officials Committee determines referral to either National or LSC Review Board.). In general, since the LSC Officials Committee certifies Officials, the LSC Officials Committee is responsible for conducting fair investigations and hearings for any alleged discipline matter. Individual conducting an investigation does not participate in any resulting hearing. Procedures conducted in accord with due process and progressive discipline with an option for review/appeal to higher level within LSC and then USA Swimming, if needed.

• Officials Manual: Drafting an Officials Manual with procedures, protocols, training guidelines, certification levels, forms, etc. was started.

• Situation Cards: Substantial work was accomplished on revising the "situation cards" used for discussions in training clinics. Complex situations likely will have "things to consider" in making decisions rather than answers.

• Criteria for Certifying Officials: Virtually no changes were recommended in training and requirements for LSC’s certification of USA Swimming Officials. One modification may be definition of a "session."

2002 LSC Short Course Championships -- Designated LSC Officials: The Committee designates two Starter/Referees for each LSC Championship Meet. The designated Officials must work all sessions of the Meet to contribute to consistency in administering the Meet. The LSC pays each Official $100/day of the Meet.

13 and Over Championships: February 21-24, Schroeder Aquatic Center, hosted by Barracuda Swim Team and Southeast Aquatic YMCA Swim Team: Susan Zblewski and Dan Lapin.

12 and Under Championships: March 1-3, University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium, hosted by Badger Aquatics Club: Steve Hartlaub, Al Schmidt, Steve Surprenant, depending on availability.

The twenty remaining polo shirts provided by Nike (from the Swimposium) will be given to Officials working Finals sessions of the 13 and Over Meet based on a first to volunteer basis. Zblewski and Surprenant are responsible for having the Officials names in the Heat Sheets for the Meets that they work. Sheila Strock will develop a questionnaire to recruit Officials interested in becoming LSC designated Officials for the LSC Championships – for distribution with Recertification information.

2002 Spring New Officials Training Clinics: The Committee Clinics as follows:

Training Guides: For consistency in conducting the New Officials Training Clinics, Committee members agreed to review existing information at its next meeting. Patty Kramer will send members copies of a guide for Stroke and Turn Judge and Al Schmidt will do the same for Starter/Referee.

2002 WIAA Boys Championships – Observed Swims: The Committee suggested the following LSC Officials to observe swims at this Meet:

• Division 2, February 15^th (Friday evening): John Glaze, Mike Stirn
• Division 1, February 16^th (Saturday afternoon): Dan Lapin, Dave Kammel

USA Swimming’s 2002 Officials Clinic: USA Swimming will host this Clinic in Colorado Springs, May 10-12 (Participants must be available from 6 PM Friday through noon Sunday). The LSC pays for the registration fee ($225) and transportation costs. USA Swimming provides lodging and meals. Depending on availability, candidates are: Steve Hartlaub, Susan Taylor, and Judy Linsley. Susan Zblewski will coordinate arrangements.

Name Badges: For the Swimposium, participants received name badges that Officials also may use on deck. For the next committee meeting, Steve Hartlaub will get cost information so other Officials may have them. The Committee, when costs are known, will determine whether to provide these to current Officials and as part of becoming a new Official—or having Officials buy them, like they may do now for "Officials polo shirts."

USA Swimming Official Patch: Susan Zblewski announced that these no longer are available.

2001 Swimposium: Patty Kramer reported that the Swimposium had 73 paid registrations at $20 each and two guests (Dale Nichols, LSC Chair who gave Welcome; and Charlie Mallery, Presenter). Dan Lapin obtained 70 white and 20 navy polo shirts courtesy of Nike. The white polos were used for the Swimposium; the navy polos were saved for Officials working the next LSC Championships. Each participant received a polo shirt (a few extra were purchased) embroidered with the "Swimposium" logo, a "Wisconsin Swimming" name badge for continued use on deck, lunch, and printed materials. USA Swimming paid for $320 in printing and postage expenses as well as all expenses (air fare, car rental, lodging, meals, and honorarium) for Mallery. Each of four Swimposium underwriters contributed $150 (Each had committed up to $500.) Underwriters, first three also obtained by Dan Lapin, were: Mindemann Trucking, May, Ovamax, and anonymous. Nike and underwriters were offered an opportunity to advertise in the LSC Short Course Championship Heat Sheets. Total expenses were $2,354; total revenues were $2,360; net $6. Kramer’s principle recommendation for another Swimposium: have separate room for lunch (from presentation).

Recertification of Current Officials: Steve Surprenant will work with Susan Zblewski in contacting Officials who have not recertified for the 2002 USA Swimming membership year. They will have an opportunity still to take the recertification test and send it to Zblewski for correcting. To those recertifying, Zblewski will send the USA Swimming’s "Changes to Conform to FINA Technical Rule Changes" effective September 20, 2001 as well as the Meet Requirement cards. Surprenant and Zblewski then will update the "Officials Directory" posted on Wisconsin Swimming’s website.
 
 

Prepared by ____________________________________________ April 8, 2002
                Patty Kramer, Committee Member
 

Attachments: USA Swimming: Officials Chairs Meeting, August 24-25, 2001, Rule Interpretations
                    USA Swimming: Officials Chairs Meeting, August 24-25, 2001, Some Comments