Sanctions, Approved and Observed Swims

This summary is intended to help clarify the key differences about the various types of swims generating “official” USA Swimming times and is designed for use by the LSC Sanction Chair. More detailed information is available in USA Swimming Rules and Regulations (Article 202) in which requirements and conditions for sanction, approved competitions and observed swims are defined. All references to insurance herein refer only to the insurance provided through USA Swimming as of September 2004. Please contact USA Swimming HQ for additional information or clarification.

SANCTIONED EVENT

• Meet must be conducted under USA Swimming technical and administrative rules.
• All times achieved will be recognized by USA Swimming.
• All participants must be registered members of USA Swimming (including meet host, meet director, safety director, marshals, coaches, officials (excluding timers), athletes, and participating clubs).
• Full insurance coverage is in effect (excess medical and general liability) for all registered members of USA Swimming. General Liability coverage is in effect for the meet host and volunteers.  

APPROVED COMPETITION

• Meet must be conducted under USA Swimming technical rules, including time resolution.
• A request must be made to the LSC within its parameters for Approval.
• All times achieved will be recognized by USA Swimming, although only times of USA Swimming members are eligible for incorporation into the SWIMS database. 
• There are no requirements for membership in USA Swimming for participation in meet. 
• Insurance: If hosted by a USA Swimming member club/organization, full insurance coverage is provided for all registered members of USA Swimming and general liability coverage is provided for the hosting entity. If hosted by a non USA Swimming entity, full coverage is provided for the USA Swimming member coaches and athletes who are participating as a USA Swimming entity.

OBSERVED SWIM(S)

• Meet is conducted under other than USA Swimming technical rules (e.g., high school, NCAA, YMCA, IPC). 
• A request must be made to the LSC within its parameters for Observation. 
• Only those times from swim(s) observed and approved by USA Swimming appointed and certified officials acting as observers are recognized by USA Swimming. Only times of USA Swimming members are eligible for incorporation into the SWIMS database. 
• There are no requirements for membership in USA Swimming for participation in meet.
• There is no medical or liability coverage for participants or host. Excess medical is provided to designated LSC NTV Observers only while observing swims on the LSC’s behalf.

Request for Observation: go to meet management  for forms

SES National Times Chair will enter times from the following meets into SWIMS Database:

1. Sanctioned and approved LSC Meets.
2. YM/YWCA National Championships.
3. Other swims that have been authorized for observation.

• NOTE: Times from observed swims and approved meets will be entered into SWIMS by the LSC for USA Swimming member athletes with current and accurate USA Swimming ID numbers provided in the electronic meet results, with the exception of times from observed NCAA Division 1 meets which will be entered by USA Swimming staff.

TIMES FROM OBSERVED MEETS

Official times will be entered into the National Times Database upon receipt by the LSC SWIMS officer, (within two weeks of the competition), of: 

1. the Meet Manager export file of meet results of conforming swims, attested to by the Meet Referee, containing only athletes with current and accurate USA-S ID #’s.
2. “Unlocked” Meet Manager backup of official results. 
3. Hard copy or email with notations indicating those swims not in compliance with USA Swimming Rules. Backstroke (Back, IM and Medley Relay) needs to be annotated showing swims that do not conform to USA-S rules. Swimmers not in compliance with USA Swimming Rules regarding technical suits must also be annotated. Leadoff splits for initial distances of individual events and relays must be specifically requested in writing. Administrative fees of $5 per athlete, payable to SES, Inc. must accompany the request form. Late fees of $10 per athlete must be submitted if after the deadline. For those USA-S swimmers without USA-S ID’s or inaccurate ID #’s, a written request and fees must be submitted. Email requests are not acceptable.

SES INDIVIDUAL VERIFICATION REQUEST FORM

Please print the following form out and legibly print all requested information. This form must be postmarked and submitted to the LSC SWIMS Chair within two weeks of the last day of the competition. Data entry of times subject to verification that competition was conducted in conformance with all applicable USA Swimming Rules & Regulations. Administrative fees of $5 per athlete, payable to SES, Inc. must accompany this form. Late fees of $10 per athlete must be submitted if after the deadline.

Session: Prelims, Finals, Time Trials, Leadoff, Swim-off

Leadoff splits for individual events and relays must be specifically requested in writing.

Mail completed form to:

Brian Haddad
8607 Marlin Place
Panama City Beach, Fl 32408

SES SWIMS Chair
Attn: Brian Haddad

Please direct all meet sanction and time questions to:

Brian Haddad