2007-2008 Swimming and Diving Information

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. Swimming and Diving is a classified event with two state championships (AAAAA and the combined AAAA/AAA/ AA/A).
   1. Boys and girls compete for separate championships in each class.
   2. The first date for swimming practice is October 23, 2006, and the first date for competition is November 13, 2006.
   3. The maximum number of contests for swimming is ten (10) exclusive of the state meet.
   4. Only one meet may be held per week on a night preceding a school day. A night meet is defined as beginning at 6:00 p.m., or later.
   5. The swimming season ends for a team or individual when that team or individual either does not qualify for the state meet or has completed competition at the State Meet.
   6. It is permissible for coaches to use “split squads” during the regular season. However, the use of split squads will count as two (2) of that school’s maximum allowed competitions.

2. The National Federation Swimming Rules shall be the official rules for all GHSA competitions with the exception of any special regulations found in this section.

3. In those school systems where facilities are limited and one coach is hired to coach more than one high school team, or coaches from several schools use the same facility, the gathering of these students for practice purposes will not violate GHSA regulations. Competitions between schools during these practice sessions must be avoided unless they are counted within the number of allowable contests.

4. Each school with a participating student(s) must have a school representative present at all GHSA meets.

5. ORDER OF EVENTS: (boys events precede girls events)
   1. 200-yard Medley Relay
   2. 200-yard Freestyle
   3. 200-yard Individual Medley
   4. 50-yard Freestyle
   5. 1 Meter Diving
   6. 100-yard Butterfly
   7. 100-yard Freestyle
   8. 500-yard Freestyle
   9. 200-yard Freestyle Relay
   10. 100-yard Backstroke
   11. 100-yard Breaststroke
   12. 400-yard Freestyle Relay

STATE MEET (GENERAL INFORMATION):

1. In order to participate in the State Swimming and Diving Meet:
   1. A participant must qualify at a meet governed by National Federation and GHSA rules.
   2. Qualifying times are listed at the end of this section, and entry deadlines must be met.
   3. Proof of performance (POP) for swimming events must be verified by two GHSA coaches who are in attendance at that meet.

2. All eligible relay swimmers must be listed on the entry form. It shall not count as an entry unless the competitor actually competes in the event. Any individual listed on the entry form may swim in the prelims, swim-offs, and/ or finals provided he does not exceed the permitted entry limit for the meet.

3. Qualifying standards for the State Meet will be established by the GHSA Executive Director.

4. A coaches’ meeting will be held at the site preceding both the diving competition and the swimming competition.

5. Only the coaches/faculty members listed on the entry form will have access to the pool deck.

6. Rules and Restrictions for Meet Entries:
   1. A school may enter only one (1) relay team per event.
   2. A school may not have more than four (4) entries in an event in which the contestants compete as individuals.
   3. A contestant may enter a maximum of four (4) events, no more than two (2) of which are individual events.

7. No team points will be allowed to a swimmer or relay team if the qualifying standard for that event is not met or bettered in either the prelims or the finals. No team points will be awarded to divers if they do not equal or better the qualifying point total for eleven (11) dives.

8. Reservation of seating space for spectators is not allowed.

9. The State Diving Championships will be held on February 6-7, 2008, and the State Swimming Championships will be held on February 7-9, 2008 at The Westminster Schools, Atlanta.
   SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

   Wednesday, February 6	1:00 p.m.	Diving – AAAA/AAA/AA/A
   Thursday, February 7	10:00 a.m.	Diving – AAAAA
   		Prelims – AAAAA
   Friday, February 8	5:00 p.m.	Prelims – AAAA/AAA/AA/A
   Saturday, February 9	1:00 p.m.	Finals – AAAAA
   	6:00 p.m.	Finals – AAAA/AAA/AA/A

10. Team championships will be determined by scoring sixteen (16) places as noted in the National Federation Swimming Rule Book. The top eight (1-8) qualifiers will compete in the championship heat, and the next eight (9-16) will compete in the consolation heat.

11. The lead-off 50-yard Freestyle split in the 200-yard Freestyle Relay, and the lead-off 100-yard Freestyle split in the 400-yard Freestyle Relay will be considered for State records in their respective events. NOTE: If the relay team is disqualified for any reason, the lead-off time will not count for qualifying or for a state record.

12. Admission fee for the GHSA State Swimming and Diving Championship is $7.00 per day, or, 2 days for $10.00, 3 days for $15.00, 4 days for $20.00.

13. Free admission will be allowed for the following: 1. Swimmers and divers qualified and entered in the State Meet; 2. Coaches that are listed on the Swimming and Diving Coaches list; 3. Four girls and four boys designated as substitutes by the coach on the team list; 4. Two team attendants or trainers as listed on the team roster; 5. Those normally allowed free admission such as GHSA passes will continue to be admitted by signing the pass list.

STATE MEET (ELIGIBILITY/PROCEDURES):

DIVING

1. A diver may become eligible for the State Meet using a 6-dive sheet or an 11-dive sheet.
   1. 6-DIVE FORMAT: This format is slightly different than the normal 6-dive dual meet format as defined in the NFHS Rule Book. If the 6-dive format is utilized and submitted, the first dive will continue to be from the group as specified by the NFHS and in the NFHS Rule Book. The first dive will maintain its assigned degree of difficulty, unless it is more than 1.8, in which case it will receive no more than 1.8 degree of difficulty. Dives 2-6 shall be one dive from each of the 5 groups (forward, backward, reverse, inward, and twisting). The degree of difficulty of dives 2-6 when totaled shall be equal to or more than 10.4 for both boys and girls. The score to be achieved must be 200 points or more.
   2. 11-DIVE FORMAT: If the 11-dive format is utilized and submitted, it will be on the official 11-dive sheet. For girls the minimum degree of difficulty for optional dives shall be 11.5 when totaled and the score to be achieved must be 270 points or more. For boys the minimum degree of difficulty for optional dives shall be 12.0 when totaled and the score to be achieved must be 270 points or more.

2. In both the 6-dive and 11-dive formats, the meet must be scored by a least, but not limited to 3 judges. The official dive sheet that is submitted must be completed with all necessary signatures and information provided, such as phone, and e-mail information for the coach.

3. Proof of Performance:
   1. Only one Proof of Performance (POP) diving sheet per diver may be submitted to the GHSA office. The coach of a diver who has qualified for the state championships via a six or eleven-dive meet must record the diver's performance with no point total on the gasports.com link from the ghssca.com website within seven days of the performance.
   2. If the diver meets a qualifying score with the proper degree of difficulty required and with the diving sheet approved and signed by an oficial from a recognized GHSA officiating organization, the coach must submit the performance as a qualifier for the state championships on the gasports.com link from the ghssca.com website.
   3. The coach must also fax a copy of the qualifying dive sheet and the intent dive sheet for the state chmpionships to the GHSA office, in the time required, for confirmation that the diver did indeed qualify for the state championship.
   4. If the dive sheet is in any way incorrect, the name of the diver will be removed from the gasports.com website and the coach notified of the infraction that denied the diver from qualifying.

4. To prepare for the diving competition, the 11-dive sheet to be used in the state meet must be submitted for the eligible diver to the GHSA office by 4 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2008. This sheet must be completed with the signatures, phone number and e-mail address of both the diver and the coach. A diver will automatically be entered in the State Meet upon receipt of the actual diving sheet by the deadline, and approval of the actual diving sheet by the GHSA. If changes are to be made, they must be made at the championship venue by 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 5, 2008. No changes will be made after that time.

5. If a school has more than four (4) divers per gender that have been deemed eligible after official approval of the POP sheet, the school may submit a maximum of four (4) and only four (4) diving sheets per gender by the deadline.

6. The Meet Director for the State Diving Meet will have jurisdiction over the method of announcing the diving.

7. The Westminster diving pool will be available for diving practice from 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, February 5.

8. Boys will dive first in the odd-numbered years (2009, 2011), and the girls will dive first in the even-numbered years (2008, 2010).

SWIMMING:

1. Coaches shall submit all of their Proof of Performances on the Georgia High School Swimming Coaches Association (GHSSCA) web site found at www.ghssca.com. All eligible relay swimmers must be listed on the site. It shall not count as an entry unless the swimmer actually competes in the event. Detailed submission instructions are also available on the web site. At the end of the dual meet season, the web site will be closed to accepting new submissions and time will be given for coaches to make their final entry decisions. The coach must make the actual entry for the swimmer to compete in the State Meet on the GHSSCA web site by Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

2. Qualifying times are as follows:

   BOYS	EVENT	GIRLS
   1:52.00	200 yard Medley Relay	2:08.00
   1:56.00	200 yard Freestyle	2:08.00
   2:12.00	200 yard Individual Medley	2:24.00
   23.50	50 yard Freestyle	26.50
   58.00	100 yard Butterfly	1:05.00
   52.00	100 yard Freestyle	58.50
   5:20.00	500 yard Freestyle	5:40.00
   1:41.50	200 yard Freestyle Relay	1:54.00
   1:00.00	100 yard Backstroke	1:06.00
   1:08.50	100 yard Breaststroke	1:16.00
   3:46.00	400 yard Freestyle Relay	4:14.00

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