Long Island Swimming Officials Association   Serving Long Island Swimmers for over 60 years!   March 2019

Let's see how this goes ... Thank you and congratulations to our Officers and Board of Directors for their re-election. They work tirelessly, year-round on LISOA business and activities. For the next few months we will be preparing our budget, discussing the Section VIII contract, suggesting changes to our by-laws, working with the sections to improve the quality of our ratings, and planning our 2019-20 season. Many of our changers in the last two years were suggestions from our membership. Please feel free to contact me with your best ideas. Thank you, George Fleckenstein president

THANK YOU FROM THE 2019 NYS CHAMPIONSHIP MEET REFEREE "even though I've sent a short thank you message out to everyone, would you please relay my sincerest thanks to all of the officials from your group who volunteered to make the meet successful. I hope they'll do so again in 2020 and convince others to do so as well."  Paul McClintock The fine looking LISOA contingent working at the 2019 NYSPHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships, March 1, 2 at the Nassau County Aquatic Center The Section XI Spring Boy's Modified Swimming Season begins on April 30 . The assignments were released yesterday for those of you that work those meets and submitted your availability. From the Section XI contract A service charge of a ½ fee will be paid by an official for each rejection or turn back. A service charge of $65 will be assessed if the turnback is on the day of the contest. If the turnback is two hours or less before game time, the fee will be $85.

LISOA Calender Active members are required to attend  a minimum of three (3) meetings and/or clinics . As prescribed in Article I of the By-Laws,   attendance at a rules interpretation meeting is required. Things Every Diving Judge Should Know... The number of team entries in diving shall be the same as the number of swimmers allowed in each swimming event. Diving shall count as one of the athlete’s two individual entries for the meet. The divers from the visiting team have the choice of selecting the odd or even diving positions. A single diver from the visiting team may select any of the odd or even positions, i.e., 1, 3, 5, which may be different than the lanes selected for the team’s swimming lanes. Thank you Maria Protano for taking so many pictures of our Officials and sharing them with us!

Doug Virkus - 50 Year Official Doug Virkus was recogniized for his 50th year of officiating high school swimming with the Long Island Swimming Officials Association at the March 12 Annual Dinner Banquet. Doug is a past president of the LISOA and received the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Certified Swimming Officials Association in 2011. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors.

Highlights from the March 12 Dinner Banquet Thank you Jane Reilly for producing another wonderful event!

Long Island DIVER OF THE YEAR NiICHOLAS SHEN receiving his recognition. Joined by his father and his coach Jim Morrow. Long Island SWIMMER OF THE YEAR JASON LOUSER receiving his recognition. Joined by his parents. LISOA $1000 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE Award Winner JOHN PROTANO JR. with members of the Scholar Athlete Selection Committee and his father John Sr. Guest Speaker JENNIFER ROTHMAN from Discover Long Island.

2019 LISOA MEMBER OF THE YEAR JANE REILLY

2019 LISOA TEAM PLAYER AWARD BARBARA DAVIS-WENDT

2019 LISOA RISING STAR AWARD CHRIS HUGO

2019 LISOA ROCK STAR ROOKIE WALTER OLSEWSKI

Re-elected Officers and Board of Directors Swearing-In at the Long Island Swimming Officials Association Banquet/Dinner

George Fleckenstein, President Ray Willie, Vice President Barbara Wendt, Treasurer Chris Zimmet, Secretary Douglas Virkus, Director Larry Wachter, Director Frank Dowd, Past President Bob Kersch, Rules Interpreter

Please patronize our Banquet/Dinner sponsors! 

St. Charles Sports Medicine Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group Long Island Premiere Swim Camp Eagle Abstract Shemet Dentists Fish Window Cleaning

Swim Long Island - swim lessons Barbara Cronin-Stagnari, USAT Coach Contour Mortgage Nelson Gonzalez Cars and Trucks Sales Chuck Porrazzo - Metropolitan Swimming Officials Association

The ALL-LONG ISLAND BOYS SWIMMING TEAM MEMBERS from Suffolk County . Bob Kersch and George Fleckenstein making the presentations at the Section XI Swimming Awards Dinner. Thank you to ALL-LONG ISLAND Chairman Kerry Fallarino for updating the list and printing the certificates !

The ALL-LONG ISLAND BOYS SWIMMING TEAM MEMBERS from Nassau County . Bob Kersch, Doug Virkus and George Fleckenstein making the presentations at the Section VIII Swimming Awards Dinner.

False Starts 2018-19 NFHS SWIMMING OFFICIALS’ GUIDELINES MANUAL

Subject to the discretion of the referee and starter when dual confirmation is used, an infraction/false start occurs when a swimmer: Unnecessarily delays in reporting for the start, or in assuming a starting position (referee’s duty); Does not step into the water feet first for an “in-water” start (referee’s duty); Does not remain stationary immediately prior to the start; or Leaves the mark before the starting signal. Swimmers in violation of any of these are disqualified from the event and shall not swim. However, when a swimmer leaves the mark before the starting signal, the race shall continue without recall if the starting signal has been given before the disqualification has been declared. The referee shall: Upon observing a false start, record in writing the lane or lanes that have committed a false start. At the completion of the race, compare written records with the starter and, upon confirming that both have observed the same violation, disqualify the swimmer(s). He/she will also notify the swimmer(s) and coach(es) of the violation. An announcement may be made over the P.A. system. The starter shall: Upon observing a false start, record in writing the lane or lanes that have committed a false start. At the completion of the race, compare written records with the referee, when requested, to confirm the potential violation.

After-School Safety, Security – Urgent Issue for Administrators NFHS 1/5/19 Mike Blackburn doesn’t mince words when describing the most urgent topic in interscholastic athletics today. That subject is – without a doubt – after-school safety and security. Communication and organization are simply not optional for school leaders – they are essential ingredients. “It is key to student-athletes, spectators, athletic administrators, educational leaders of schools and school districts as well as our way of life that includes school-based athletic programs,” said Blackburn, CMAA, executive director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), which is based in Indianapolis and has a membership of more than 11,000 athletic administrators. “It is an issue not only at athletic events, but also practice sessions.” Violence continues to be a reality not only in schools, but also across the country overall. According to USA Today, there have been 307 mass shootings in America as of November 8, and there have been 65 school shootings on school campuses as of October 4. CLICK ON THE NFHS LOGO BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE:

Don't Lose Your Passion - Referee.com Think about the last 10 officials with whom you've worked. How many of them brought passion to their game? What was your initial reaction when you learned you would be working with them? Were they excited about the contest? Read more www.referee.com

The Saturday Officials at the 2019 N.Y. State Boy's Swimming and Diving Championships

The primary role of the official is to ensure fair competition which is conducted in a positive, safe and healthy environment and that actions of the competitors, coaches and other team personnel are in compliance with the rules.

liswimofficials.com

The purpose and goals of the LISOA and its members shall be to:    Officiate all meets in a competent and professional manner. Have its members actively work to improve interscholastic swimming and diving officiating. Provide a consistent interpretation and administration of interscholastic swimming and diving rules. Service and collaborate with the swimming and diving community for the improvement of swimming and diving.