Another uniform-related disqualification has stirred up questions on the high school championship scene, not unlike the previous situation we reported on which took place earlier this month at the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships in New Jersey.
At the Missouri High School State Championships (MSHSAA) last weekend, Villa-Duchesne junior, Brigid Andrews, swam two events wearing a same swimming cap in each, only to be disqualified in one race and not other. According to her father, Mike Andrews, daughter Brigid wore the school-issued, uniform swim cap that she had worn all season. The cap markings consisted of a school logo, the school name and a 1/2 inch brand logo on each side.
Andrews swam both the 200 freestyle event and the 500 freestyle event, where she finished in 9th and 4th, respectively. The 200 freestyle event was without incident, however, the later 500 freestyle drew a disqualification for the cap having two brand logos. Same cap, different ruling outcome.
The regulation within the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rulebook pertaining to uniforms reads as follows:
NFHS Rule 3‐3‐2
The uniform consists of a suit and, if worn, cap(s).
a. The suit or cap(s) may display the name and/or number of the competitor, school or mascot.
b. Advertising or name other than that permitted in 3‐3‐2c is prohibited.
c. A single visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference, no more than 2¼ square inches is permitted on each item of the uniform (suit and cap(s)).
d. An American flag, not to exceed 2×3 inches, and either a commemorative or memorial patch, not to exceed 4 square inches and with written state association approval, may be worn on each item of the uniform. NOTE: The FINA mark and/or individual barcode on certain swimsuits designating that the suit has been approved for FINA and/or USA Swimming competition is not considered to be a second manufacturer’s logo nor a form of advertising. Such swimsuits with a FINA marking shall be legal for NFHS competition.
The rule book continues with the penalties associated with an infraction:
PENALTIES: When an official discovers a competitor wearing illegal attire as described in Article 2, the official shall:
1. when observed prior to the start of the heat/dive, notify the competitor to make legal the attire before becoming eligible to compete. If the competitor cannot comply without delaying the start of the heat/dive, the competitor is disqualified from the event/dive and shall not be eligible for further competition until in legal attire;
2. when observed after the heat/dive officially begins, disqualify the competitor at the completion of the heat/dive; nullify the competitor’s performance time/score and he/she shall not be eligible for further competition until in legal attire.
Per her father, Brigid was told of her 500 freestyle disqualification via the public announcer while climbing out of the water post-race. And, although the family isn’t questioning the rule itself, there is the concern that it was enforced for one race, yet not for another, as was the case in the aforementioned situation with Monroe student-athlete Rich Fortels in Middlesex.
At the GMC meet, Fortels, a senior at Monroe High School in Monroe Township, NJ, competed in the conference meet in two events wearing a swim cap bearing his club team’s moniker, not his high school team’s name, which is against uniform rules. Fortels was called out for the disqualification in one swimming event, but not another. As the DQ was rendered in the event in which he broke a meet record, the situation caused debate throughout the swimming community on the asymmetry of the rule’s application.
In the Missouri situation, Mike Andrews was told the disqualifying official was informed of the infraction by another squad’s coach.
“While the NFHS rule is clear, it never crossed our minds that it would even exist,” Mike Andrews told SwimSwam.
this senerio is similar , slightly different two caps for a 200 free style, outer cap that of the school, inner cap a Club cap… the outer cap came off during the swim. it was observed that he had the wrong cap because he had to stop the competition to retrieve his school cap… There was a protest, but, was not overturned…
“never crossed your mind that it would even exist.” Coach. That is your responsibility. The rule book is not a secret. Hopefully you had a clinic or signed something that acknowledged you knew the rules. As far as the nob who finked the swimmer out, as a Meet Ref, I would have mentioned in pre meet coaches meeting that if this sort of “informing” happened from an opposing coach, I would slap a sportsmanship violation on the nob. Those who question missing the violation in other events, well, swim officials are observing a plethora of motions during an event, usually multiple lanes. When a race starts, swim officials, at least good ones, are not preoccupied with uniform violations, they are… Read more »
Wasn’t the coach that made the comment about never crossing their minds, it was the swimmer’s father.
Agree about the rat coach being a nob, but begs the question: why would a school order team issue caps in violation of the rule in the first place?
Out with Coach Snitch’s name, pls.
Maybe he or she’s even reading this! Hi! Please explain your rationale.
as a former coach and avid enthusiast, the coach who point out to technicality is the problem. if there is/was no effect on an outcome, leave it alone. looks like there is a bit of ‘barneyism’ – here. these are kids –
I don’t understand how the kid in new jersey was wearing a club cap. at NCHSAA *EVERYONE* would have noticed and called him out before a race. As for the logo thing, i’ve heard that rule is going away next year. I personally don’t care how big the logo is or how many there are so long as it is of a single brand. Multiple brands like nascar drivers would be an issue with amatuerism, but let manufacturers advertise their product.
Because
a) His High School doesn’t have a swim team and he was not issued equipment
b) His club team shares a name with a local private HS (with a nationally known swim program) and
c) Really? Everyone would have noticed? Unless there are more stringent rules where you are, at a casual glance who would know if a cap with a mascot image of, let’s say a Tiger, was from a swim club from across the country or the official cap for the East Jebip Tigers….if that swimmer were the only East Jebip swimmer?
People would have noticed…..
In NC, every high school official has to work one of the state championship meets. What this means is that there is an abundance of officials. There is at least one at each championship meet whose only jurisdiction is uniform violations. He watches from the starting area as kids head to the blocks. It’s covered in the coaches and captains meeting before the meet, it’s in the rule book. And, yes – given that team titles have been lost this way in the past, everyone looks at every else’s cap. We’ve had disqualifications for caps that said “regional team” or “state team” because that’s also against NFHS rules.
Even FINA officials let common sense prevail in these sorts of things. Just google Leonardo de Deus swim cap. This dude was originally DQed at the 2011 panam games.
“In a venue named for a bank, Leonardo de Deus of Brazil was disqualified after winning the men’s 200-meter butterfly because a cap he wore with the logo of a commercial sponsor was in breach of PASO and COPAG rules. The rules only allow the name of the cap manufacturer……. De Deus was in tears, but about 20 minutes later the ruling was overturned on appeal and he was allowed to keep the gold.” Aroundtherings dot com
#swimcapsmatter. #nationalassociation4theadvancementofswimcaps.
KISS – keep it simple & wear plain colored caps .Problem solved. No one ever read a swim cap.
Actually lots of spectators use swim caps to identify their swimmer. The school logo is important on the cap.