GREATER CHARLOTTE SWIM LEAGUE BYLAWS 2024 Season

Updated January 2024 

The Greater Charlotte Swim League (GCSL) provides an opportunity for all eligible children to participate in competitive swimming in a friendly, nurturing, and recreational environment in support of the GCSL guiding principle “let the kids swim.” Team Representatives must set the example and enforce the highest standards of good sportsmanship and hospitality. They are expected to read and understand the current GCSL bylaws and ensure these bylaws are communicated to the coaches, parents, volunteers, and swimmers. Team Representatives will be positive, flexible, and cooperative in resolving inadvertent administrative mistakes and issues which may arise during the season. Compliance with the bylaws below is expected of all teams in the league. Non-compliance will be addressed by the GCSL board, with consequences which could include warnings, reprimands, loss of a disputed meet, and could include expulsion from the league if considered appropriate. Team representatives may request a change in a bylaw in writing and that request will be considered by the board in a timely manner. 

I. LEAGUE STRUCTURE 

A. Teams and Divisions The league will be limited to a maximum of forty-nine teams, subdivided into a maximum of seven divisions. Each division will have a minimum of five teams and maximum of eight teams. Teams will be assigned to divisions based on their competitiveness and size. Teams outside of the geographic area of the current teams, will be considered for admittance on a case-by-case basis by the league board. 

B. Division Team Adjustments Team assignment to divisions will be adjusted after the conclusion of the current season and prior to the start of the next season. Assignments for the next season will be based on the current season’s dual meet results as follows: 

• First place teams of each division will move to the next higher division (Division I excluded) 

• Last place team in each division will move to the next lower division (lowest level division excluded). 

1 • In the event of a two way or three-way tie in dual meet results from the current season’s head-to-head meet scores between the tied teams will be used as the tiebreaker. The GCSL Board reserves the right to move teams as necessary for administrative reasons or to keep the divisions competitive. 

II. LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION A. Board (Officers) 

The GCSL Board consists of the following officer positions: President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past-President, who serve for one-season term except the Treasurer and Secretary, who serve for two season terms. Terms begin at the end of the season after the fall meeting and terminates at the end of the next season. All member-teams in the GCSL must provide representatives to serve on the GCSL Board on a rotating basis as listed below. The Treasurer, in addition to a President every three years, must be on the GCSL bank account. Each board member listed on the bank account must go through a background check. The background check will be set up by and pass on from Treasurer to Treasurer. 

The GCSL Board will meet as needed to conduct league business and will be responsible for: 

• Planning, organizing, and executing all activities within the guidelines of the GCSL Bylaws using the officers’ collective best judgment. 

• Assignment of teams and divisions. 

• Scheduling dual meets, scheduling, and organizing the Division All-Star meets. 

2 • Collecting of and accounting for annual membership fees. 

• Evaluating new teams for membership. 

• Procuring and distributing needed supplies. 

• Disbursing of GCSL funds for expenses incurred. 

• Evaluating and amending the GCSL Bylaws as needed. 

• Scheduling, organizing, and leading the annual Team Representative meeting. 

• Managing the communication of the functions and guidelines pertaining to SwimTopia, including all adhoc billing associated with SwimTopia. 

• Maintaining the League SwimTopia site. 

B. Team Representatives Each GCSL team will assign a Team Representative. The Team Representative is an unpaid volunteer who is responsible for their team’s compliance with the GCSL bylaws. They are expected to know and understand the current GCSL bylaws and ensure they are communicated to their coaches, parents, volunteer workers, and swimmers. Team Representatives will be positive, flexible, and cooperative in resolving inadvertent administrative mistakes and issues. Agreement between Team Representatives in a positive manner will be the primary and preferred method for resolving issues. Each Team Representative must be present at all meets and ensure the meets run smoothly and be available to resolve disputes. Additional duties include: 

• Representation of their team and its members to the GCSL Executive Board (including suggestions for changes and improvements). 

• Attendance at the GCSL Team Representative meetings. 

• Communication to the League as required (i.e., insurance certificates) 

• Disbursement of league communications to own team. 

• Dual meet and Division All-Star meet preparations in a timely fashion including paperwork and volunteer worker assignments. 

• Ensure league dues and other payments are paid in a timely manner. Team Representatives will make sure the Team is signed up and equipped with SwimTopia Software. League will collect Team Rosters and meet results using SwimTopia software. SwimTopia Software is a requirement to be a member of the GCSL 3 as of the 2022 Swim Season. 

C. League Meetings Two GCSL Team Representative meetings will be held each season. • 

The fall meeting will: o Summarize the previous season. o Update financial information. o Provide next season’s All-Star meet information. 

o Address any bylaw changes for the next season. o Discuss any issues from the previous season. 

o Present the preliminary schedule for the upcoming season to the teams. 

• The Spring meeting will: 

o Finalize team and division assignments and meet schedules. 

o Announce any results from issues brought up during the fall meeting. o Make any other announcement about the upcoming season. 

o Allow teams to break off into divisions. A Division Captain will be chosen. The Division Captain will collect each team’s contact information and communicate and provide that to the division. The Division Captain will be the primary liaison between the GCSL Board and the Division. The DC will be the point person for the Board at the All Star Meet during the volunteer check in process. o Allow teams to pick up ribbons for the upcoming season. 

D. League Dues Annual league dues for each season are $800 per team and are due by the fall meeting or a date predetermined and communicated by the GCSL Board. Annual dues are NOT refundable. This is subject to change. League dues are used for dual meet ribbons and league meet expenses such as All Star Meet facility rent, ribbons, and any miscellaneous expenses deemed necessary by the GCSL Board. Teams wanting to leave or join the GCSL, must do so, in writing to the GCSL Board, by October 15th. If the league is dissolved by mutual consent, all clubs will divide treasury monies equally. 4 

E. Insurance Each team must email a current Certificate of Liability Insurance by June 1 to [email protected]. The certificate must name the All-Star Meet facility as a certificate holder and continue in effect through the date of the last Division All Star Meet. Each representative must verify with the insurance agent that sporting events are included in their liability coverage. Teams not providing the certificate will not participate in the Division All-Star Meet. 

III. SWIMMER ELIGIBILITY AND AGE GROUPS 

A.  Age and age groups To be eligible for the current season, swimmers must be the following age on the May 31 that falls during, or immediately prior to the start of, the current season. 

GCSL AGE GROUPS 

6 and Under: Six years old, or any age less than six years old 

8 and Under: Eight years old, or any age less than eight years old 

10 and Under: Ten years old, or any age less than ten years old 9-10: Nine or ten years old 

11-12: Eleven or twelve years old 

13-14: Thirteen or Fourteen years old 

15 &Over: Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen or nineteen years old who are either high school students or high school graduates who have graduated from high school either during, or immediately prior to the start of the current season. *You are not eligible to swim in the Greater Charlotte Swim League the season after you have graduated High School. Each swimmer will swim in their age group (current age on May 31 st ) for the entire season. A swimmer may choose to swim in the next higher age group for the entire season. This decision needs to be communicated to the GCSL board before the start of the first meet or June 1 st.Once the decision is made it cannot be reversed later. There is currently no way to note this permanently in SwimTopia, which is why it needs to be communicated to the Board. Until this changes, the Board will communicate a “Swim Up” list per division to the Division Captains for each Division prior to the start of the first meet. Eligible 6 and under swimmers may swim in all 8 and under events. All 6 and under swimmers can only 5 swim in one individual freestyle event. All 10 and under swimmers may swim in the IM event without officially aging up. Each team is only permitted 3 swimmers in the 10 and Under IM events regardless of swimmers’ age. Each team must understand the event list and names (Section IV-A), and the Age Group definitions to ensure swimmers are entered in events appropriately. 

B. Team Membership Swimmers must be in good standing with their member teams. Good standing is but not limited to: • Current on annual private club membership or Homeowners Association (HOA) dues. Non-Residents/Non-Members Private clubs and HOAs may offer “Family Summer Pool Memberships” to summer swim team members. “Family Summer Pool Membership” must allow equal pool access as those of residents or club members. “Family Summer Pool Memberships” to summer team members and their immediate household family members are for the entire current summer pool season. Country Clubs/Swim Clubs are not permitted to offer summer swim team swimmer only memberships. Swim Team only memberships are not deemed as valid memberships for GCSL eligibility. Swimmers may not swim for more than one team in the GCSL in each season. Combining of teams is not allowed unless express approval is granted by the GCSL Board. This will be ruled on a case-by-case basis. Swimmers must swim for their neighborhood team if the neighborhood has a summer swim team. If a family has a membership to a club that has a summer swim team, the swimmer may swim for that club. If a neighborhood’s team is “full,” a swimmer may swim for another neighborhood team if that team allows non-members and the GCSL Bylaws for non-members are followed. The Team Representative must verify with the said “full” Team’s Representative that the swimmer was not able to join the team. The said swimmer must try to join their own neighborhood team the following year. Memberships under any circumstances other than those described above must be reviewed by the GCSL Executive Board prior to the first meet to confirm swimmer 6 eligibility. Guards or Coaches who have received a free membership as part of his/her employment are prohibited from swimming on a GCSL summer swim league team. C. Team Rosters Team Rosters must be complete on SwimTopia by June 1 st or prior to the first meet (whichever event occurs first). Any amendments to the team roster must be e mailed to the [email protected] by June 10 and approved by the Board prior to the participation of the added swimmer in any meets. No swimmers may be added to the roster AFTER June 10th . IV. COMPETITION EVENTS A. Events (Event Names) and Order of Events Pools may be in Yards or Meters. Pool dimensions are added to SwimTopia team profiles. 7 V. RULES OF COMPETITION A. Governing Rules The Greater Charlotte Swim League uses USA Swimming Rules as guidelines to govern starts, strokes, kicks, turns and finishes, unless otherwise defined. B. Meet Officials – Compliance with Rules of Competition Judgments of and disqualifications of swimmers relating to starts, strokes, kicks, turns and finishes are the responsibility of the Stroke & Turn Judges. C. Starter The Starter will be responsible for the start of all races in the meet. The starter should also announce the events/swimmers that should be reporting to the clerk of course area in advance of their events. D. Stoke & Turn Judge(s) Stroke & Turn Judges work in pairs (one judge from each team, per pair) to disqualify swimmers when they see infractions to the rules relating to relay take-offs, strokes, kicks, turns, and finishes. During dual meets one pair of judges will be stationed at each end of the pool, in a location with visibility of the pool and swimmers that is mutually agreed to by the pair. Each pair is responsible for one half of every lane closest to their end of the pool and positioned with an unobstructed view of take offs and finishes and turns. Both must see and agree on the infraction. If both do not see and agree, then there is no disqualification. Stroke & Turn Judges must complete a GCSL DQ Slip for all swimmer disqualifications. The DQ Slip must be legible and signed by both judges. Judges may not inform swimmers directly of a DQ. Coaches should not approach and dispute a DQ with the Judges during the meet. Any questionable disqualification should be appealed to and resolved by the Team Representatives. If an agreement cannot be reached by the time the representatives leave the meet, the disqualification will stand as written. An appeal of the disqualification can be made to the GCSL the night of the meet and the board will respond within 24 hours. 8 Greater Charlotte Swim League Specific Rules of Competition. The following are rules which apply in GCSL competition: Infractions seen by Stroke and Turn Judges will result in a DQ. False Start: No Movement prior to the start of the race False Start Relays: Feet/Toes remain in contact with starting block until finishing swimmer touches the wall Backstroke Race Starts and Turns: Swimmers must start and end on their backs. And follow USA Swimming guidelines for turns. Butterfly Race Starts and Turns: After the race start or a turn, swimmers may kick under water before surfacing so long as the swimmer surfaces prior to reaching the 15 meter mark of the pool. In Pool Start/ Relay: Swimmers starting in the water must have, in full view, the palm of one hand in contact with the wall or starting platform. For relay starts, the team of the swimmer who has lost touch with the wall before their preceding teammate touches the wall will be disqualified, unless the swimmer in default returns to the original starting point on the wall. Shrimp Assistance: No one other than the swimmers in a heat shall be in the water with the swimmer during the race, except for the 6 and under swimmers. Prior to the first meet, each division will determine whether assistance in the 6 and under division may be continued after the second meet. Children using assistance will not receive place ribbons. Swim Caps/ Swimsuits: No Caps or suits visibly representing year-round, or school swimming programs shall be worn while competing in GCSL meets. Caps should be plain or GCSL team. Performance enhancing or high-tech suits are not permitted for use. Swimmers shall be limited to a suit constructed of a woven/knit textile material that does not aid in buoyancy and not contain zippers or other fastening systems. The GCSL is a family centric organization with kids ranging from 4-19 at swim meets. Suits worn for competition should be full coverage on both female and male swimmers. E. 8 & Under and Special Exceptions 8 and Under swimmers will only be disqualified in the first three scheduled GCSL swim meets for stroke infractions during dual meets if those infractions are blatant. After the first three scheduled meets (regardless if a team has a bye) all swimmers in the 9 8 and under group will be subjected to the same swimming standards as all older swimmers regarding disqualifications. BLATANT is defined as an obvious infraction in which a swimmer gains an advantage. Coaches should observe their swimmers’ strokes and correct and teach their swimmers to swim the strokes correctly. Prior to the meet, the coach or Team Representative must notify the opposing Team Representative of any swimmer who may be swimming with a disability that would otherwise cause that swimmer to be disqualified in an event. F. Code of Conduct Good sportsmanship is expected of all swimmers, coaches, parents, and spectators. Any issues between swimmers, coaches, parents, or spectators must be resolved by the Team Representatives. They must take responsibility with parents to control and maintain behavioral issues especially as it relates to the safety of another individual. In the event of any safety issues that result in the physical harm to another individual, one or all participants must be removed from the swim meet. In any event an individual participates in a second related offense, they must be removed for the remainder of the swim season. The GCSL Board must be notified in writing of any individual removed from a meet and/or the season for safety issues. VI. DUAL MEETS A. Schedule Each team will swim every other team in their division. Every effort will be made to schedule the same number of dual meets for all teams. Every effort will be made to schedule the same number of home meets for each team, and to schedule alternate home and away meets between teams from one season to the next. The GCSL Board can make exceptions when scheduling as necessary for administrative reasons. B. Start Times • Evening meets start promptly at 6:00 p.m. with every reasonable effort being made to complete in three (3) hours. 10 • Morning meets start promptly at 8:30 a.m. with every reasonable effort being made to complete within three (3) hours. • Warm-ups will begin forty (40) minutes prior to the scheduled meet time. Each team will get a fifteen (15) minute warm-up with the Home Team warming up first. • The GCSL Executive Board may approve a different start time for an individual meet if the facility requests such a change, and it is acceptable to both team’s representatives. C. End Times Meets scheduled must be completed by the following times unless otherwise agreed by both teams prior to the start of the meet: • Prior to the end of the school year meets must be completed by 10 pm. If all events have not been completed prior to 10 pm, the meet must be scored, and a winner determined. • After the end of the school year meets must be completed by 11 pm. D. Facilities Pools for dual meets either have five or six lanes for competition. All starts will be at the deep end of the pool and diving blocks should be used if the pool depth is 4 feet or more. If a pool does not have a minimum water depth of 4 feet at each end of the pool, then in-water starts are used. Swimmers starting in the water must have, in full view, at least the palm of one hand in contact with the wall or starting platform. All pools must have: • One end of the pool that is at least 4 feet in depth and should have diving blocks for starts. Any teams already in the league that does not meet this requirement (or does not have blocks) are grandfathered into the league. • Adequate lighting to complete a meet after dark to include underwater lights and/or overhead deck lighting. • Backstroke flags within fifteen (15) feet from each end of the pool. • Lane lines. • Provide adequate deck space to accommodate the visiting and home teams with a designated area for each team and spectators • Designated Clerk of Course area for the swimmers to line up prior to their events. Ideally on deck near the diving blocks. Due to facility limitations, some pools may need to have this area outside the pool deck, but it should be near the 11 deck and in a safe and secure area for the swimmers. Pool equipment such as lifeguard stands, diving areas and separate pools must be off limits to all swimmers during meets for safety purposes. The entire neighborhood pool area must be closed to all non-swim team swimmers. Spectators are welcome, but other pools in the designated pool area must be closed during the duration of the meet. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at meets. This includes selling, distributing, or consuming of alcohol. Each Team Representative must ensure compliance by their members and team. Team Representatives will be responsible for removing any intoxicating individuals from the premises. Any exception to the Alcohol policy must be submitted in writing and receive approval prior to the event by the GCSL Board. E. Meet Materials Team Representatives must ensure that all materials listed below are provided at each meet. • Heat Sheets for Clerk of Course (2) Computer Operator, Starter, Judges (2), Team Reps (2) Coaches (8) • Lane sheets for times – (6 sets) • Air Horn/ Starter System – For Starter • Stopwatches: Each Home Team is responsible for providing 2 stop watches per lane and 2 stop watches for the Head Timer. Visiting Team is allowed to use their own manual stop watches. • Tables with seating, electricity (for the Computer Operators and Ribbon Handlers) • Ribbons (provided by the GCSL*) and Labels (for Ribbon Handlers) • DQ Slips (provided by the GCSL) • Pencils or Pens (for all meet officials and volunteers) • Clip Boards – Clerks of Course, Timers, Stroke and Turn Judges, Starter • Calculator – For manual calculations in the event of a power outage. • Refreshments (water at a minimum) For all meet officials and workers • Computer and Printer – Computer Operator runs meet using SwimTopia Meet Manager system. Print Ribbon labels and any reports needed. 12 Ribbons: First Place – Blue Second Place – Red Third Place – White Fourth Place – Yellow Heat Winner – Bright Yellow (for all Individual 10 and under events / except IM) I Did My Best – Blue – 6 and under Only (Event 1 and 2) F. Dual Meet Documentation • The Away Team must check ‘meet file ready’ in SwimTopia by 6 pm the day before an 830am dual meet and 10am the day of a 6pm dual meet. • The Home Team must check ‘meet file ready’ in SwimTopia by 6 pm the day before an 830am the dual meet and 10 am the day of a 6pm dual meet. • The Home Team is responsible for merging the meet by 6:15pm (this can be done PRIOR to 6:15p if both teams have clicked “meet file ready” earlier in the day) and sending the heat sheets by 8pm the day before an 8:30am dual met to the Away Team. The Home Team is responsible for merging the meet by 10:15am and sending the heat sheets by 12pm the day of the 6pm dual meet. • Once the meet is merged and the heat sheets are sent to the Team Representatives, there will be NO unmerging of the meet. No one is allowed to go into Meet Maesto to amend the meet. After the meet has been merged, any changes are limited to scratches for individual events. If a swimmer has been scratched and is in a relay, that swimmer may be replaced by another eligible swimmer on the team. If a swimmer is “suddenly” available, both Team Representatives must agree to add the swimmer to individual events only. Any changes must be communicated and agreed to by both Team Representatives on the meet deck when both teams arrive and updated in Meet Maestro. *Failure to follow proper protocol in filing the meet can result in an automatic disqualification for those events changed without approval from both teams. The Home Team can combine events of a similar nature in order complete the meets timelier. The events being combined should be of the same stroke and distance. The Home Team must notify the Away Team prior to the start of the meet. The Home Team must seed the meet from fastest to slowest. Pools with six lanes for competition, the Home Team entries will be in the odd number lanes and the Away Team entries in the even number lanes. Pools with five-lane for competition, the Home Team entries will be in the three odd number lanes and Away Team entries will be in the 13 two even number lanes or the fifth lane may alternate home and away swimmers each heat. Related meet materials from the computer should be ready by the start of the meet. The Home Team must do the following at the end of the meet: • Provide the copies of any DQs to the Away Team. • Retain all meet documents for a period of thirty days after the completion of the Division All-Star Meet, and if requested provide documents to the opposing team or the GCSL Board. G. Swimmer Entries • Teams are not limited in the number of eligible swimmers they may enter in each individual event, except the Individual Medley, which are limited to one heat per event (five-lane pools may swim two heats). • No exhibition swimmers are allowed to swim in individual events. There will be no aging up of swimmers in individual events unless the swimmer has been permanently aged up for the entire season. • Each eligible swimmer may enter a maximum of three individual events and two relays in their age group. Listing a swimmer as an alternate in an event counts as an entry in the event for the swimmer. • Teams may enter only one relay team (“A” team) in each relay event. Upon agreement between Team Representatives, exhibition relays (“B” and/or “C” relays) may be entered in relay events but do not score points. Meets with 5 lanes pools should not schedule “C” relays. *B and C relays MUST be entered in SwimTopia as exhibition. • Teams may list eligible alternate swimmers for each relay event. If alternates are not listed and a swimmer is out, a change can be made prior to the start of the meet providing the team has an eligible swimmer and the change is approved by both Team Representatives. • If a team does not have four eligible swimmers in the designated age group to make a relay, that team may age up one or two younger, eligible swimmer(s) to make a relay under the following conditions: 14 o At least two of the relay swimmers are eligible swimmers in the designated age group. o There are no other eligible swimmers in the designated age group (other than those entered in the relay) available to swim during the entirety of the meet. o The eligible swimmer(s) who age up for a relay event are from the next lower age group. o Aging up a swimmer in these conditions to swim a relay will not count as an entry for the aged-up swimmer. H. Meet Officials and Workers Each Team Representative must ensure that all volunteers (officials and workers) required for a meet are scheduled, assigned, and present. A timer meeting should be held approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet. All timers should report to this meeting. Coaches, swimmers, and spectators must not interfere with the meet officials and meet workers, nor the running of the meet. I. Timing Personnel, Duties and Rules: The following timer positions must be at every meet: Head Timer (provided by Home Team): Ensures all timers are ready. Head timer starts two MANUAL stopwatches at the beginning of each race and is ready to respond to any issues a lane timer may have and supplies a back up time or swaps one of their stopwatches with the timer in that lane. Lane Timers: There should be a minimum of one timer per team per lane. Timer Equipment Operator (if applicable)- Home Team: Is responsible for the semi automatic timing equipment and advising both Team Representatives of any system issues that might affect the accuracy of times. Stopwatches and Timer Sheets MUST be used in each lane regardless of timing system 15 J. Timing Systems • Manual: Consists of Lane Timers manually starting and stopping a stopwatch. Only hand-held, battery-powered, digital read-out type watches designed for timing purposes will be used. Every meet must have a minimum of one manual stopwatch and the use of timer sheets to record the manual times per lane. • Semi-Automatic: Activated by a starting device and stopped by a button (plunger) pushed by the timers at the end of a race. One manual stopwatch time must be used in case of malfunction of the system. The only semiautomatic system that has been reviewed by the GSCL is Colorado Timing systems with an Infinity Automatic Start System. Timer sheets are required in each lane to record times for the manual stopwatch times. Before any team implements any new timing systems or methods of timing other than those noted in the bylaws, they must submit a request with supporting details and get approval from the GCSL Executive Board. K. Official Times The method of determining official times must be decided before the start of the meet and agreed upon by both Team Representatives, and includes the following options: • Two plungers or stopwatch times are taken as primary times, then both times are entered into the meet management system and averaged by the system. Note: If plungers are used, and the meet software identifies a significant discrepancy (more than .3 seconds) between the two times, then the manual stopwatch may be used to verify the discrepancies. If there is a backup time that is within 0.3 seconds of one of two plunger times, then that closest plunger time will be used. If the backup time is more than 0.3 seconds to either plunger time, the stopwatch is used as the third time, as noted in (1) above. • Only one time is available due to error, then that time is used. Unless both 16 Team Representatives agree to use an order of finish determination, then another appropriate time based upon an agreed upon order of finish can be used. The Computer Operator and the Assistant Computer Operator will resolve any timing discrepancy based on the timing procedures noted above (or by agreement of the two team representative) to determine the official time. L. Computer Systems and Computer Workers Meet Maestro Meet Manager via SwimTopia is the program used for the management of dual meets. Each Home Team should have this program setup in accordance with the bylaws for scoring, order of events, etc. SwimTopia provides a Team Manager program that integrates with Meet Maestro all from your Team’s SwimTopia Website. Teams must have the following computer workers during the meet: Home Team Computer Operator: • Familiar with SwimTopia’s Meet Maestro program. • Responsible for entering in swimmer’s times from the timer sheets and DQs. • Identifying any issues if times are consistently different from each other. • Adjusting swimmer information if timer sheets/clerk of course area show deck changes in an event. • Printing out ribbon labels and other meet reports. • Scoring the meet. • Uploading times from the timing system if a semi-automatic plunger system is used and reviewing the upload to ensure that there are two times per swimmer, that the uploaded times look reasonable compared to seed times and investigate any discrepancies in times. Assistant Computer Operator – Away Team • Assists with the entry of the times by reading off times from the timer sheets to the Computer Operator. • Ensures that the Operator enters all information accurately from the timer sheets and DQ slips. • Assists the Computer Operator as needed to ensure the efficient running and scoring of the meet. • Review the uploaded times, if a semi-automatic system is used, to ensure 17 that the two times uploaded per swimmer match up with swimmers, that they appear reasonable (fall in line with seed times) and assists in investigating any discrepancies and obtaining back up stopwatch times, as necessary. M. Scoring Individual events (first through fourth place): 5:3:2:1 Relay events: (first and second place): 10:6 Ties: • First place - Individual: Both swimmers receive 4 points and there will be no 2nd place. • Second place - Individual: Both swimmers receive 2.5 points and there will be no 3rd place • Third place - Individual: Both swimmers receive 1.5 points and there will be no 4th place. • Fourth place - Individual: Both swimmers will receive .5 points. • First place – Relay: Both teams receive 8 points and there will be no 2nd place. Total points for each individual event cannot exceed 11 points and total points for each relay event cannot exceed 16 points. In individual events, a swimmer may place from any heat. N. Awards Dual Meet ribbons are awarded as follows • First through fourth place individual event finishers including 6 & Under freestyle. • First place and the second place relay finishers. • Heat ribbons to all 10 and under individual event heat winners. • Participation “I did my best” ribbons to all 6 & Under Freestyle swimmers upon completion of their race. A Dual Meet Champion plaque for each division will be awarded to Division Champion at the end of each season based on each team’s dual met record. In the event of a tie, the season “head-to-head” meet scores between the two teams 18 will be used as the tiebreaker. The plaque will be presented at the conclusion the Division All-Star Meet and will remain with the team. O. Postponed Meets All teams must report for scheduled meets. Normally, only thunder will cause a delay or postponement of a meet. Rain alone may not delay or postpone a meet unless conditions are deemed unsafe. All rescheduled meets must be completed by the All-Star Meet on a date agreed to by both Team Representatives. The Home Team must provide a minimum of three make up dates to the Away Team. If a decision cannot be determined surrounding a makeup meet and either team does not wish to forfeit, Team Representatives may reach out for assistance from the GCSL Board. Virtual Meets are not an option. Prior To The Start Of The Meet: 

• The Meet can be delayed for a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes prior to being called. Team Representatives can agree to delay the start of a meet longer. 

• When a meet is postponed, the same meet file should be used. Original Heat sheets must be saved, and copies given to both Team Representatives. Team Representatives can then decide to unmerge the meet based on swimmer availability and reset the deadlines based on the new date. Swimmer placement for individual events should remain as close to the original heat sheets as possible. Relays can be re-done based on swimmer availability. 

• Rescheduled dual meets must be completed prior to the All-Star Meet. After The Meet Begins: 

• The Meet can be delayed a maximum of 45-60 minutes before the meet is called. Team representatives can agree to delay a meet longer. 

• If all events/heats through the IM have been completed prior to the delay, the meet is considered complete and will not be rescheduled. The team with the most points at the time of delay is the winner. Teams can decide to finish the meet if both Team Representatives agree. 

• If a meet is rescheduled, it will be resumed at the point in the meet where the 19 postponement took place. Events already completed will stand. Copies of the Original Heat Sheets should be provided to both Team Representatives. The Home Team can do one of two things: 

1) Create a new meet file starting with the next event. This will need to be shared on the Away Team’s SwimTopia site. Each team will need to keep track of events their swimmers already swam, as the number of events allowed rules will still apply. Teams should keep Individual events as close to the original heat sheets as possible. Swimmers that were not available at the original date will be permitted to swim. Relay placements are permitted to change. The final scores from the two dates should be sent to the GCS Board by the HOME Team Representative. The GCSL Board add the overall score to the GCSL SwimTopia page for overall standing purposes. 

2) Add a Second Session to the meet file (assistance from SwimTopia will be required). In this case all changes to the meet will be managed as “On Deck Changes.” The Away Team can communicate to the Home Team deck changes, or, with permission, the Team Representative can go into the meet file and manual add the Team’s changes in Meet Maestro in a timely and agreed upon manner. Minimal changes should be made. Teams should keep Individual events as close to the original heat sheets as possible. Swimmers that were not available at the original date will be permitted to swim. Relay placements are permitted to change. If either team elects to concede a meet in the case of a weather delay at any point in the meet, it may be considered completed and will not be rescheduled. However, one team must concede the meet (there must be a winning team and a losing team), and points must be submitted. Lifeguards at a pool will make the ultimate call if a meet can proceed and if conditions are safe to do so. P. Disputed Meets The Team Representatives must work out any disputes at the time of the dispute. If they are unable to resolve the issue(s), either or both Team Representative(s) may request a special meeting of the GCSL Board to review “written protests” of any disputed matters. The written protests should be emailed to [email protected]. 20 

VII. ALL-STAR CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS 

A. Schedule Each team will swim in a Division All-Star Championship Meet against all other teams in their division after the completion of the dual meets. The Division All-Star Meets will be scheduled by the GCSL Board and communicated to the Team Representatives by the Spring Meeting. 

B. Facilities The All-Star Championship Meets will be held at a facility selected by the GCSL Board. Areas will be designated for each team, spectators, coaches, and swimmers. Spectators must not interfere with the meet officials and meet workers, nor the running of the meet. 

C. Meet Responsibilities Each team will receive a list of Volunteer Assignments and items that are assigned to their teams prior to the start of their All-Star Meet date. Team Representatives must ensure that all assignments and items are filled and provided for the meet. Teams may need to bring stopwatches for their head/lane timer assignments. The GSCL board will provide all other general materials. 

D. Meet Documentation Team Representatives must ensure that all All-Star Meet documents are completed correctly and submitted in time. Meet Entry files will be sent to each team at least 72 hours before their All-Star Meet date and are required to be returned on the requested date (which will vary by division depending on their meet date). An Entry Report and psych sheet will be returned to each team for review. All teams must review these and communicate any issues in a timely manner to make corrections prior to the All-Star Meet date. Meet Heat sheets will be available prior to the start of the meet. Each team will receive a Meet Results and DQ report following their meet. 21 

E. Swimmer Eligibility A swimmer must have competed in at least two dual meets during the current season to be eligible to swim in the Division All-Star Meet. 6 & Under swimmers are eligible to swim 8 & Under events. There are no 6 and under only events in the All-Star Meet, 

F. Swimmer Entries Each team is limited to two eligible swimmers in each individual event and one eligible relay team in each relay event. Each eligible swimmer may enter a maximum of three individual events and two relays in their age group. Two eligible alternate swimmers are allowed for each event however, the eligible alternate swimmers must be listed as such on the general entry sheets to be eligible to swim in any event. Listing a swimmer as an alternate for an event counts as an entry in that event for that swimmer. There will be no aging up of swimmers in individual events unless the swimmer has been “permanently” aged up for the entire season. If a team does not have four eligible swimmers in the designated age group to make a relay, that team may age up one or two younger, eligible swimmer(s) to make a relay under the following conditions: 

• At least two of the relay swimmers are eligible swimmers in the designated age group. 

• There are no other eligible swimmers in the designated age group (other than those entered in the relay) available to swim during the entirety of the meet. 

• The eligible swimmer(s) who age up for a relay event are from the next lower age group. Aging up a swimmer in these conditions to swim a relay shall not count as an entry in that event for the aged-up swimmer. Swimmer entries must also comply with the rules for swimmer eligibility in Section III. 

G. Meet Officials and Workers Team Representative must ensure that all volunteers (Meet Workers) required from their team are scheduled and present for the meet. Each division and team will receive a list of their assigned volunteer duties which will include: Head Timer, Lane Timers, Clerk of Course, Ribbon Worker, Runner, Refreshments, Door Monitor, and any other positions deemed needed by the GCSL board or Facility Director. All volunteers must sign-in and meet one-half hour prior to the starting time of the meet. The GCSL will hire meet management personnel, including USA swimming officials for Stroke & 22 Turn Judges, a starter, a timing system operator, and computer operator positions. There will be Stroke & Turn Judges, who may walk the pool and have at least two judges stationed at each end of the pool as appropriate to view swimmers during the event. They will be responsible for relay take-offs, strokes, kicks, turns and finishes as far across and down the pool as they can see. 

H. Timing Personnel, Duties and Rules The timing personnel will have similar duties to those indicated in Section VI, I, except that various teams within the division will hold the position of Head Timer and Lane Timer. The Timing System Operator will either be supplied by the all-star facility and/or hired by the league. 

I. Timing Systems The type of timing system will vary based on the facility however, it will be either a fully automated system, which is activated by the starting device and stopped at the finish by the swimmer touching a pad, or semi-automated system. 

J. Official Times for Scoring When an automated system is used, the pad time will be the official time. If a malfunction occurs, either electronic issue or swimmer incorrectly touches the pad, then the back-up plunger times and/or stopwatch times will be used consistent with the methods in Section VI, 

K. Procedures may vary from year to year based upon the facility and its related timing system capabilities. The meet officials and the GCSL Board will determine the appropriate method to use for any malfunction based on the bylaws and accepted practices under USA Swimming guidelines. K. Scoring Individual Events (First Place through Fifteenth Place): 17:15:14:12:11:10:9:8:7:6:5:4:3:2:1 Relay Events (First Place through Eighth Place): 34:30:28:24:22:20:18:16 If there is a tie, the tying teams will share the total points for the tied place, plus the points for the next place, equally, and no team will finish in the next place. (i.e., a tie for first place each swimmer shall receive (17 + 15)/2 points = 16 points for each swimmer).

L.  Awards First through third place individual and relay event finishers will receive medals. Fourth through eighth place individual and relay event finishers will receive ribbons. 23 An All-Star Meet Championship plaque will be awarded to the First Place All-Star Meet finisher in each division. This plaque is a permanent award specific to the current season All-Star Meet results. A Sportsmanship Award will be given in each division. Sportsmanship is defined as treating opponents with fairness, generosity, courtesy, dignity, and so on. Those who can take loss or defeat without complaint, or victory without gloating are demonstrating sportsmanlike qualities. This award for each division will be voted on by the Team Representatives in that division and awarded at the conclusion of their All-Star Meet. 

M. Disputes The Team Representatives should work out any disputes during the All-Star Meet at the time of the dispute. If they are unable to resolve the issue(s), any Team Representative(s) of an affected team(s) may request a special meeting between the President (or any available member of the GCSL Board) and the affected Team Representative(s) to resolve the dispute during the All-Star Meet. Should any disputes pertaining to the All-Star Meet arise after the completion of the All Star Meet, any affected Team Representative(s) may request a special meeting of the GCSL Board to resolve “written protests” of the disputed matter. The written protest(s) should be emailed to [email protected] within 48 hours of the conclusion of the All-Star.Meet. 

VIII. Bylaws These Bylaws are meant to assist the league in decision making and provide fair competition throughout the league. Any changes to the bylaws need to be voted on by the GCSL board and presented to the league at the Fall and or Spring Meetings for approval. Major changes to the league structure must be voted on by the Team Representatives at the Fall or Spring Meetings. Emergency GCSL board meetings with Division Captains may be called if real time “quick” changes need to be implemented once the season has begun.